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Chimamanda Adichie receives Harvard’s highest honour
Globally-renowned Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has received the highest honour of Harvard University, the W. E. B. Du Bois Medal.
She received the medal at a ceremony on Thursday.
The W. E. B. Du Bois Medal is Harvard’s highest honour in the field of African and African American studies. It is awarded to individuals in the United States and across the globe in recognition of their contributions to African and African American culture and the life of the mind.
The Hutchins Center for African and African American Research had stated that the medal was for people “who embody the values of commitment and resolve that are fundamental to the Black experience in America”.
Other recipients include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Laverne Cox, Agnes Guns, Raymond J McGuire, Deval Patrick and Betye Saar.
Director of the Hutchins Center, Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., in an official statement, had said that the 2022 honourees represent “unyielding commitment to pushing the boundaries of representation and creating opportunities for advancement and participation for people who have been too often shut out from the great promise of our times.”
Dubois was the first African-American to earn a Harvard Ph.D. in 1895. Past recipients of the medal have included scholars, artists, writers, journalists, philanthropists, and public servants.
#harvard#chimamanda ngozi adichie#W. E. B. Du Bois Medal#sage response#likesforlike#sageglobalresponse
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New US rape lawsuit filed against boxer, Mike Tyson
(FILE PHOTO) Mike Tyson
A woman in New York state has filed a civil suit against Mike Tyson, accusing the former boxing champion of raping her in a limousine in the early 1990s, according to court filings.
The woman, who asked the court to remain anonymous, filed her complaint in early January under a temporary New York state law allowing victims of sexual assault to seek civil damages regardless of the statute of limitations.
Tyson spent three years in jail beginning in 1992 after being found guilty of raping model Desiree Washington, who was 18 at the time.
In a short affidavit dated December 23, 2022, the plaintiff states that she met the boxer at a nightclub “in the early 1990s,” then followed him into his limousine, where he allegedly assaulted her before raping her.
“As a result of Tyson’s rape, I suffered and continue to suffer from physical, psychological and emotional injury,” she said.
She is seeking $5 million in damages.
By late Tuesday, Tyson had not issued any public statement.
Born in Brooklyn in 1966, Tyson had a turbulent childhood before becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion in the 1980s, terrifying his opponents with his fury in the ring and a phenomenal punching power.
But after his prison sentence, he could not retain his titles.
In a notorious 1996 matchup, Tyson bit off a piece of his opponent Evander Holyfield’s ear.
Gripped by depression and addiction, he continued to make headlines, notably for a one-man show in which he described his life’s many ups and downs.
He has recently launched into the cannabis industry with his own brand of marijuana products, and hosts a podcast.
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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever dominates Thanksgiving box office
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever maintained its benign hold on the box office, earning $64 million in just five days.
The MCU sequel already has a domestic revenue of $367.7 million after only three weeks with $180 million in its first week of release.
The movie starring Lupita Nyong’o, Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett, Winston Duke, and Tenoch Huerta, achieved the second-highest launch of 2022. With a weekend grab of $78 million and a global haul of $676 million, Wakanda is also performing well outside.
According to Forbes, over the five-day extended Thanksgiving holiday, the movie generated a respectable $64 million domestically and an additional $32 million worldwide.
It has an open route for the next few weeks before James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water makes its international premiere. It defeated a modest challenge from fellow Disney film Strange World.
However, to oversimplify a little, the movie has already paid for itself and will probably bring in at least another couple hundred million dollars at the box office, with around half of the money going to the studio.
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Five facts you need to know about International Women’s Day
Every year on 8 March, International Women’s Day is celebrated to commemorate and honour women's accomplishments, raise awareness about gender disparities and discrimination, as well as promote global support for women.
But what do you know about IWD? We’re here to answer five important questions…
How long has International Women’s Day been celebrated?
On 28 February 1909, the then-active Socialist Party of America celebrated the first National Woman’s Day in commemoration of the 15,000 women who protested in New York against harsh working conditions and lesser wages.
In 1910, Clara Zetkin, a women's rights advocate and the leader of Germany’s Women’s Office for the Social Democratic Party, proposed the idea of a global International Women’s Day.
On 19 March 1911, the first International Women’s Day was held, with more than 1 million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland taking part.
It took until 1975 for the United Nations to recognize and begin celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD). Since then, the UN has served as the major sponsor of the yearly event, encouraging more countries to recognize “acts of courage and resolve by ordinary women who have played an outstanding role in the history of their countries and communities.”
And for those wondering and feeling left out (get over it), there is an International Men's Day, which is celebrated on 19 November in more than 80 countries worldwide, including the UK. It has only been marked since the 1990s and isn't recognised by the UN.
What is the symbol and colour of International Women’s Day?
The symbol for International Women’s Day is a female gender symbol. It is usually accompanied by the colours purple, green and white.
According to the International Women's Day website, purple stands for dignity and justice, green for hope, and white for purity. "The colours originated from the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in the UK in 1908."
Is it a holiday?
The day’s purpose varies by country. In some, it's a day of protest, while in others, it's a means to promote gender equality. In some countries, International Women's Day is observed as a national holiday.
IWD is recognized as an official national holiday in Afghanistan, Armenia, Belarus, Cambodia, Cuba, Georgia, Laos, Mongolia, Montenegro, Russia, Uganda, Ukraine and Vietnam.
In certain countries like Albania, Macedonia, Serbia and Uzbekistan, Women's Day has been combined with Mother's Day, a merger to highlight the importance of women as mothers.
In China, many women are given a half-day off work, while the Italian Festa della Donna is celebrated by the giving of mimosa blossoms.
Why is it a historical celebration in Russia?
In 1917, the celebration of Women's Day in Russia got them the right to vote.
Women in Russia commemorated the day that year by going on strike for 'bread and peace' in order to protest World War I and campaign for gender equality. Tsar Nicholas II was far from happy and authorized General Khabalov of the Petrograd Military District to shoot any woman who refused to stand down. They did not back down and the protests remained and led to the Tsar’s abdication. The interim government granted women the right to vote as a result of their protest action.
What’s the theme this year?
Ever since 1996, each International Women’s Day has an official theme.
The first theme adopted by the UN in 1996 was "Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future".
Last year, the theme for IWD was #Breakthebias, which highlighted the issues women face due to gender bias.
This year, the International Women's Day website has stated that it’s #EmbraceEquity. As the website states, 2023 focuses on how gender equity needs to be part of every society's DNA: “It’s critical to understand the difference between equity and equality. The aim of the IWD 2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme is to get the world talking about Why equal opportunities aren't enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action.”
The images linked to this year’s IWD all feature the hugging gesture, promoting giving equity a huge embrace.
Another highlight of this year is the UN's theme, which is 'DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality', aiming to to make people aware of the importance and contribution of digital technology in unveiling issues of gender inequality and discrimination. IWD will explore the impact of the digital gender gap on inequality for women and girls, as the UN estimates that women's lack of access to the online world will cause a $1.5 trillion loss to gross domestic product of low and middle-income countries by 2025 if action isn't taken.
"From the earliest days of computing to the present age of virtual reality and artificial intelligence, women have made untold contributions to the digital world in which we increasingly live," the UN stated. "Their accomplishments have been against all odds, in a field that has historically neither welcomed nor appreciated them."
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Tinubu’s Victory Will Of God – Aisha Buhari
The first lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, on Thursday described the victory of APC’s Sen. Bola Tinubu in the just concluded Presidential Election as the will of God.
Mrs Buhari said this when she received the wife of the President-Elect, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, and the Wife of the Vice President-Elect, Hajiya Nana Shettima, on a thank you visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
She said: “ Regardless of our interests and diversity, we should all accept it as a will of Almighty God; we wouldn’t have done it without his grace.
“It is a victory for all Nigerians. I am optimistic that the President-Elect will not betray the trust and confidence that Nigerians reposed in him.
”It is now time to move on and focus on the path of `a renewed hope’ for Nigerian women and youths.
“ So, my sister we count on your experience and interest in promoting the cause of women, youths and girl-child education,” she said.
She however reminded the wife of the president-elect of the challenges ahead and prayed for God`s guidance and direction as she prepare to take over the affairs of the Office of First Lady of Nigeria.
The task is arduous but with your determination I believe is surmountable. I pray that come May 29, your position as first lady will be marked with joy and continued success.
We look forward to the advancement of Nigerian women and their inclusion in the affairs of our nation`s development,” Mrs Buhari said.
Sen. Oluremi Tinubu had earlier informed the gathering that they were at the Presidential Villa on a thank you visit to appreciate the support and wise counselling of the first lady towards the success of APC at the presidential election.
“We want to thank you sincerely for how you’ve been able to bring us together as a campaign team for the APC, especially the women presidential campaign team.
”You really showed a lot of wisdom, dexterity and courage in the way you put us together” she said.
“I remember coming here to ask for your permission and also to solicit for support when we are about to begin campaign,” she said.
While acknowledging the motherly role of the first lady, Mrs Tinubu prayed for good health and divine intervention in the affairs of the firstlady.
“As you’ve come here safely, you will live to your home in good health, divine health and whatever you decide to do; God will be there with you, thank you so much for the love you have shown to us,” Mrs Tinubu prayed.
The meeting was attended by the wives of some APC governors and associates of the first lady. (NAN)
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Osinbajo heads to Canada for ‘first high-level visit from Nigeria since 2000’
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on Sunday, departed Nigeria for a three-day official visit to Canada.
Laolu Akande, his spokesman, in a statement on Sunday, described the trip as “the first high-level visit from Nigeria since 2000 when former President Obasanjo visited the North American country”.
Akande said the visit will deepen diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Canada.
The vice-president is expected to meet Chrystia Freeland, Canadian deputy prime minister, and other top parliamentarians and members of the Canadian government in Ottawa, on Monday.
During the visit, issues and events around educational collaboration, technology, the creative industry and climate justice, among others, will also be discussed.
“For instance, the Vice President will give a public lecture at the Queen’s University in Kingston on Wednesday. Established in 1841, Queen’s University is one of Canada’s leading research-intensive academic institutions and is famous for its role in advancing the goals of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development,” the statement reads.
Osinbajo is also expected to give a public lecture at the Queen’s University in Kingston on Wednesday.
Before the lecture, Osinbajo will be received at the Ontario-based Carleton University, “which has significant engagements and collaborations with some educational institutions in Nigeria, with ongoing efforts to deepen the mutual relationships around issues including research and curriculum development”.
Akande said Osinbajo will also meet with the leadership of the Nigerian community, including Nollywood actors and notable Canadian government officials with Nigerian origins.
He will also meet with representatives of the Canadian business community and investors, especially from the creative industry and technology sector.
The vice-president is expected back in Abuja later in the week.
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Kenya’s Asset Recovery Agency drops fraud charges against Nigerian fintech startup, Kora
The Kenyan Directorate of Criminal Investigation also cleared the company of any wrongdoing
Kenya's Asset Recovery Agency drops fraud charges against Nigerian fintech startup, Kora
Kenya’s Asset Recovery Agency (ARA) has dropped the fraud allegation charges against Nigerian payment infrastructure company, Kora.
The agency in new court documents filed at the High Court of Kenya at Nairobi Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division said that it had withdrawn its suit in its entirety.
The document was drawn and filed on the 19th of October 2022 and signed by state counsel Stephen Githinji on behalf of Kenya’s Asset Recovery Agency director.
Meanwhile, another document issued by the Kenyan Directorate of Criminal Investigation earlier this week cleared Kora of any wrongdoing in the ARA application.
Case not established: The DCI in a document exonerating the company said it could not establish any case against the company after its investigations. Part of the statement from the DCI read:
“Please note that investigations are now finalised. I would like to confirm that allegations of money laundering and card fraud against [Kora] were not established. Please treat this communication as final”
Innocence proved: Reacting to the development, Kora said the withdrawal of the case confirmed its earlier claim that it was innocent of all the allegations. Kora’s Chief Operations Officer, Gideon Orovwiroro, said:
“Kora has always maintained its innocence in this matter and we are glad that finally the ARA and the DCI have dropped all charges and ratified Kora. We’d also like to commend both agencies for their professionalism and thoroughness in seeing this investigation to the conclusive end,” says,
“Kora acknowledges the potential Kenya presents as we pursue our mission to make it easy for global businesses to accept payments in Africa, and for African businesses to accept global payments. We are delighted to get back to building the most robust payment product on the African continent.
“We have some exciting announcements coming soon, including multi-currency bank account products for African businesses. This will empower merchants to have bank accounts in GBP, EUR, USD, and other in-demand currencies. Kora is excited about this development as it is further proof of its commitment to enrich the quality of merchants’ payments and build more meaningful financial products.”
The allegation: Kora had come under the spotlight in July when the ARA filed two suits against the businesses and the Kenyan High Court froze its accounts on the suspicion that they brought over $50 million (KES6 billion) into Kenya as part of a money laundering scheme.
Lady Justice Esther Maina froze $249,990 (KES 29.5 million) held in Korapay’s Equity Bank account while another company being investigated, Kandon Technologies had $126,800 (KES 15 million) in 2 UBA accounts frozen by Justice Maina.
Korapay and Kandon Technologies Limited were accused of card fraud and international money laundering.
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President Buhari unveils newly redesigned naira notes
President Buhari unveils new N200, N500, N1000 notes
President Muhammadu Buhari has unveiled the newly redesigned naira notes today, Wednesday, 23rd November 2022 at the State House, Abuja.
The launch followed yesterday’s disclosure by the Central Bank of Nigeria that the president would launch the new banknotes today. The notes are in the N200, N500, and N1000 denominations.
Immediate circulation: During the MPC meeting on Tuesday, CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele explained that the new banknotes will immediately start circulating after the launch, rather than wait for the initial date of December 15, 2022. According to the Governor, the new notes will help reduce the volume of currency in circulation, hence curbing the rising inflation rate.
Reason for redesign: He also reiterated the need for the redesign, noting that it was due to the higher rates of counterfeiting of N500 and N1,000 banknotes.
On the other hand, Nigeria is battling a record-high inflation rate, partly attributed to the increased amount of money in circulation. According to data from the CBN, Nigeria’s broad money supply rose past the N50 trillion margin in October, which is the highest level on record.
Similarly, currency in circulation is stated at N3.29 trillion, increasing by over N855 billion between January and October 2022. This is an indication of currency hoarding which has kept monetary policies somewhat ineffective against the rising cost of goods and services.
More details: The CBN explained that the new and existing naira notes shall remain legal tender and circulate together until January 31, 2023, when the existing currencies shall seize to be legal tender. Meanwhile, the apex bank has launched a countdown clock on its website showing when the old naira would stop being a legal tender.
This means that Nigerians have about 69 days to deposit their old currencies in the bank and withdraw the new notes. The CBN has also instructed commercial banks in the country to work on Saturdays till the deadline date to enable customers to return their old notes for the new ones.
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FIFA 2022 World Cup: Argentina trashed by underdogs Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, ranked 51st in the world, ended Argentina’s 36-game unbeaten run
The Group C match opener saw Saudi Arabia pull off one of the biggest shocks in the history of the World Cup as they came from behind to stun World Cup favorites, Argentina, winning by 2 – 1 in the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
In the first half, Lionel Messi scored a penalty for his side to put them in the lead and Argentina had three goals ruled out for offside. The Green Falcons came from behind to win the game to make a statement and fancy their chances of progression. Saleh Al-Shehri leveled the score with a low effort and Salem Al Dawsari fired them ahead to seal the win.
Saudi Arabia, ranked 51st in the world, ended Argentina’s 36-game unbeaten run, which also saw them winning the 2021 Copa America. Argentina now has it all to do to qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup as they still have Mexico and Poland to play.
Reactions: “This hurts a lot. We had big hope of starting the World Cup with a win. We lost the game due to our mistakes, more than anything in the second half,” Argentina striker, Lautaro Martinez told reporters after the match.
“There are details that make the difference and we must correct mistakes. In the first half, we should have scored more than one goal, but this is a World Cup and now we have two finals left.” he added.
Argentine fans are trying to find solace in their defeat by comparing their first game defeat to that of Spain who also lost their first game in the World Cup against Switzerland and went on to win the 2010 World Cup.
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The ‘little girl’ from Warri who spoke at US Congress
By Prof. Hope Eghagha
The 385-page book, “I Spoke at the American Congress: The Little Girl from Okere-Warri” published by Rolldat Publications, Lagos Nigeria, in 2022, is Dr. Evelyn Omawunmi Atsiangbe-Urhobo’s bold and detailed account of her life from the early ages till she retired from formal employment. From the remote corners of Okere, despite all odds, Omawumi Urhobo made it big to the international stage through hard work, common sense, courage and God’s help. It is therefore a written narrative that will, should inspire young people.
By their nature, autobiographies capture past personal experiences and how they fit into an institutional, national, or international framework of things which the author believes will be useful to readers by informing, educating, or stimulating them into doing positive things in life. For Dr. Omawumi Urhobo, there is a deliberate attempt to present her experiences from childhood into adulthood through the graceful age of 70 to demonstrate the overwhelming power of disciple, commitment, determination all by the grace of God. So, we are dealing with a book that is introspective and reflective, narrated with the benefit of experience and time. To achieve these, the power of memory is very important. Time obliterates or moderates or plays tricks on memory. However, in the book under review, the author has a knack for recalling intimate details of experiences which she had some sixty-five years ago. And I wondered if she kept a diary from Age 10!
Often, biographies tend to be hagiographical; presenting only palatable experiences, leaving out aspects of their encounters with people and institutions which they believe might portray them in bad light. The fighter in Dr. Urhobo abhors this. ‘I Spoke at the American Congress’ by all standards, is frank, honest and unpretentious in the well-articulated narratives. Indeed, the subtext is that of an activist, a highly focused personality who decided very early the path of life she wanted to tow. With the help of Heaven, she was able to achieve her life’s dreams, concluding at the end of the interesting narrative, that ‘as I cruise on towards my seventieth birthday, I know that God still has a lot lined up for me to achieve.
I Spoke at the American Congress though biographical, falls into the motivational writing category. For, it details the personal determination and rise of a little girl from the poverty-stricken environment that was Okere-Warri in the late 1950s and early 1960s to the glamorous world of diplomacy. With little or no role models to copy, an inner spirit spoke to little Omawunmi that she must not end up like the other girls who were made pregnant and whose lives and dreams were truncated by that social accident. Omawumi was by her on account, ‘a militant child who found a cause to fight on every occasion’, who ‘fought for others more than I fought for my own personal causes, p. 59.
The book is divided into fourteen chapters. The Foreword is written by Zanele Mbeki, wife of Mr. Thabo Mbeki, former President of The Republic of South Africa. It has attestations from such persons as Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, (CON), her children, Mr. & Mrs. Gbubemi Ukubeyinje, Sa’adat (Stella) Adiah Ibrahim, Mr. John Onyeukwu, Mr. Emmanuel Efeni and others. Each chapter captures the events of that period in her life, told with passion and attention to details. The narrative does not start from the beginning, which is the author’s way of drawing attention to issues and ideas that meant a great deal in her life.
The first chapter titled ‘Attending at (sic) the Global Women in Management Workshop’ is an account of a visit to the US when she had the opportunity to address a Committee in the American Congress. That she starts from the middle of the story shows how significant that experience was to her life’s trajectory. The interesting part of this narrative and experience is that she got on the delegation through her commitment to the challenges of the ordinary poor people of society, a woman who never forgot her roots. Because her heart was for helping the less-privileged God continued to give her opportunities that would enable her to fulfill her dreams.
Chapter Two takes us through her birth, circumstances, family, and primary school education. She paints a clear picture of Okere in the period under review. It was a community where there were many mothers and aunties and cousins all living together with a degree of harmony despite occasional fights, but with the absence of a father figure. It was also a community where ‘a rather barbaric tradition of killing of twins and children born from incestuous relationships’ (p.62) and where there was a ‘high rate of sexual openness and freedom (which) the young ones are exposed to’ p. 65. This chapter gives us an insight into character formation and development. Despite the predominant licentiousness, the little girl decided very early that she was not going to be a part of it. Writing about the Awankere festivals she observes:
“In fact, the festival itself has its sexual connotations. And so, very many young people get pregnant quickly and recklessly with this exposure. …Growing up there, then, there was this formed consciousness in me that I was not growing to toe this line of promiscuity. p. 65.
Chapter Three titled Hussey College (1965-1971) chronicles her years in that elite secondary school and how her days there helped to shape her future aspirations. Some of the friends she made there have remained close after many decades. Her brilliance and speed in athletics started manifesting while in Hussey College and she represented her school, the state, and the country at different sports outings. In Chapter Four, she documents her National Youths Service experience at Ibadan. The narrative in this chapter is very interesting starting from how she secured her posting to Ibadan.
Her involvement in the liberation struggle of South Africa using the International University Exchange Fund (IUEF) is captured in Chapter Five, titled ‘My Work with the International University Exchange Fund. The IUEF became a platform which launched her into the global network system. Chapters Seven, Eight, Nine, deal with her interaction with and foray into Education as a medium of developing potentials of individuals in society, Community Banking, and her business ventures. The Morgan Smart Development Foundation narrates activities of this body named for her late father and how it has impacted lives of people. We sense a strong devotion to the memory of her fate father Mr. Morgan Smart Urhobo a boxer who died rather young.
In Chapter Nine, she gives a detailed account of her personal life, especially the issue of single parenting. As usual her frank, unpretentious accounts are riveting, educative, and almost philosophical. Her capacity to recall the details of her romantic relationships is remarkable. It shows the personality of the author — she took deliberate and unpopular decisions and has stood by them despite what people may say. Of course, she acknowledges the fact that she was not mentally or psychologically prepared for some of the consequences of single parenting. This did not stop her from rising to the occasion and doing her best.
While Chapter Eleven — Travels/Award and Recognition Travels – deals with her travels around the world both for work and pleasure, with all the awards she has won in her colourful career, Chapter Twelve — My Sojourn into Politics — focuses on her foray into the world of politics at the grassroots level in Okere under the umbrella of a political party. In her brief romance with politics, she saw firsthand all the shenanigans of politicians and how the most popular candidate does not always win in elections.
Chapter Thirteen, aptly titled ‘The Conspiracy of Silence Against the Women of the Niger Delta’, Dr. Urhobo rails against the neglect which the poor women in the riverine areas of the Niger Delta have suffered over the years. ‘The women live under excruciating poverty, but in most cases, are still breadwinners in their homes and family’. She also blames government officials because ‘when visitations are carried out by top government officials even from the legislative arms, they always end by the water side leading to the riverine communities. p. 371.
Though well narrated in smooth and elegant prose, there are a few infelicities that should be corrected before the next edition is published. For example, the possessive apostrophe in nouns is completely missing throughout the text and the printer makes use of a full stop in its place. At page 369, the word ‘exuberant’ is used in place of ‘exorbitant’. Also, some of the otherwise historical and memorable pictures are blurred. A better production or resolution could have been achieved. These infelicities are minor and do not remove the pleasure of reading a well-written book which contents are inspiring and educative.
I Spoke to the American Congress evinces and promotes the virtues of commitment, love, single-mindedness, caring for the less privileged through advocacy on behalf of the poor, courage, determination, fairness, hard work and a life of purpose. It promotes the culture of sowing positive seeds in life, seeds that later would generate trees. It will be a good read for the younger generation, especially those who have invested in, or channeled their intelligence to the notorious Yahoo Yahoo social menace because of their desire for quick money. It captures the essence of the old life, how schools and parents inculcated discipline in children.
During her career the ‘little girl from Okere’ has won over twenty-five awards from within and outside the country as we read from page 341 of the book. Some of these include:
National award as Woman of Honour (WHO) by the National Council of Women Society (2004) A Merit award by the Student Union Government of Petroleum Training Institute in recognition of her outstanding efforts in elevating lives, especially youths in the Niger DELTA (2005).
Induction into the University of Lagos Sports Hall of Fame Lagos, 2005.
The Corporate Woman of Excellence Award as Community Leader of the Year by Corporate Amazons Magazine Lagos, 2007.
African Icon of our Generation Award in 2007 bestowed on her for exemplary life of excellence.
An international Award as Woman Millenum Development Ambassador by Teachers Without Borders in the USA.
Finally, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the ‘Little Girl from Okere’ author of the well written ‘I Spoke to the American Congress’, the story of the Little Girl from Okere-Warri’ is no longer a little girl; she is now a grand dame at 70, for which we give thanks to God. Congratulations Ma!
*Professor Hope Eghagha is of the University of Lagos
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ASUU members received their rightful salary in October – FG
The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu
The Federal Government has said members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU received their rightful salary in October, which was paid in pro-rata basis.
The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, stated this while briefing correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Federal Government also denied the allegation that it has indirectly made Nigerian lecturers causual workers by paying them half salary in October, saying that nobody can make them casual staff.
Recall that the, called off the eight month strike it embarked on February 14 this year on October 14 and was paid the October salary based on the number of days they worked.
ASUU called off the strike as a result of the judgment by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, NICN, that ordered the union to go back to work before it could entartain its pending case.
Angered by the payment of half salary, ASUU has embarked on protest in different universities to express their dissatisfaction with the government decision not to pay them full in October.
But despite protestations from ASUU over pro-rata October salary payment, the federal government on Wednesday insisted that the lecturers were paid what was due them
The government also insisted that the lecturers would not be paid for work not done.
Responding to the allegation made by the President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodoke, suggesting that paying the lecturers on pro-rata basis was a ploy to make them casual workers, the Minister remarked that government has no such plan.
“Nobody can make University lecturers casual workers,” he said.
When told that the lecturers were threatening a one-day action to protest government’s action, Adamu said he was not aware.
He was also mum when asked to comment on the agreement the union entered into with government.
However, a source in the Ministry of Education has debunked claims in some quarters that the Federal Government entered into an agreement with ASUU.
The source said, “I do know that the government entered into agreement with the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), before they suspended their strike, but I am not sure that there was an agreement with ASUU.
“Remember that ASUU only called off the eight months strike because of the court judgment.”
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How Kemi Badenoch, 42, Grew Up ‘With No Running Water’ In Nigeria To Become Top Contender For British Prime Minister
Tory leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch has gone from race outsider to a serious contender with the backing of Michael Gove and a promise to be the ‘fresh face’ the party needs after chaos of Boris Johnson’s premiership.
The MP for Saffron Walden, 42, who grew up in the UK, US and Nigeria, is known as a culture warrior with anti-’woke’ views on issues including trans rights that make her a hit among right-leaning members of the party.
The former equalities minister threw her hat into the ring with a plan for a smaller state and a government ‘focused on the essentials’ and won the support of Mr Gove, who said the party needs a leader with ‘Kemi’s focus, intellect and no-bulls*** drive’.
It marks a massive boost in profile for Ms Badenoch, a mother-of-three former banker who has only been an MP for five years and remains unknown to most of the population.
She admits her pro-Brexit views put her at odds with her husband Hamish, a Deutsche Bank banker and former Tory Councillor. The couple have three children – two sons and a daughter, who they keep out of the public eye.
Ms Badenoch was born in Wimbledon, south-west London after her Nigerian parents came to the UK so her mother, a professor of physiology, could receive medical treatment.
She grew up in Lagos where her father worked as a GP, although they spent time in the US while her mother was lecturing.
‘I come from a middle-class background but I grew up in a very poor place,’ she once said in an interview. ‘Being middle class in Nigeria still meant having no running water or electricity, sometimes taking your own chair to school.’
Ms Badenoch was born in south-west London after her Nigerian parents came to the UK so her mother, a professor of physiology, could receive medical treatment. Pictured, Kemi Badenoch (second from left) with (l-r) her brother, Fola, Kemi, her sister Lola and mother, Feyi
At 16, Ms Badenoch returned to London to realise her ‘dream’ of completing her studies in the UK and enrolled in a part-time A-Level course in Morden.
At the time Nigeria was in the midst of political chaos that impacted the economy. The family experienced poverty and Ms Badenoch’s father ‘scraped together’ enough money for a plane ticket and £100 for his daughter to start her new life.
To support herself, Ms Badenoch, who lived with a family friend, secured a part-time job at McDonald’s and picked up ad-hoc work elsewhere.
‘Most of the students were from ethnic minorities and the expectations for us were low,’ she recalled in an interview with the Independent. ‘The poverty of low expectations must change. Schools and teachers matter.’
The future politician enrolled at the University of Sussex where she studied Computer Systems Engineering, graduating in 2003.
This led to a job as a software engineer at Logica, followed by by a role as system analyst at Royal Bank of Scotland. She was later appointed as an associate director at private bank Coutts.
In 2009 she began a part-time law degree at Birbeck College and has also worked at the Spectator magazine.
Ms Badenoch joined the Conservative party in 2005, aged 25, and says there were two ‘lightbulb moments’ that persuaded her to stand as an MP.
The first was when she heard a speaker at the Hay Festival ‘claiming that ethnic minorities all suffer from institutional racism’.
She told the Independent: ‘The left and the liberal elite think they have a monopoly on the caring issues, whether it is diversity or refugees.
‘Of course we have a moral obligation to help refugees but what is important – and more difficult to do – is to look at what works when they come; can they find work? Do they integrate? Do they take on British values?’
The second came during the Make Poverty History movement in 2005 when she was struck by the arrogance of ‘white men thinking they can save Africa’.
‘This was the last straw for me. What has helped and is helping African countries is free trade and enterprise, not more aid and more virtue signalling,’ she continued.
She grew up in Lagos where her father worked as a GP, although they spent time in the US while her mother was lecturing. Pictured, Kemi, aged seven, with her grandfather in Nigeria.
After unsuccessfully running for the seat of Dulwich and West Norwood in the 2010 election – a contest won by late Labour MP Tessa Jowell – Ms Badenoch was selected as the Conservative candidate for Saffron Walden, a safe seat for her party, in the 2017 election.
She won and delivered her maiden speech in Parliament just a few weeks later. In it, she described herself as the ‘British dream,’ the African ‘immigrant who came to the UK aged 16 and who became a parliamentarian’ in one generation.
She also described the vote for Brexit as ‘the greatest ever vote of confidence in the project of the United Kingdom’ and hailed
Ms Badenoch has had a rapid ascent through the ranks of the Conservative party, including a post as equalities minister. She resigned from government last week.
After first announcing her candidacy in The Times, Ms Badenoch officially launched her campaign in a speech at the Policy Exchange think tank on Tuesday.
In a wide-ranging speech, Ms Badenoch attempted to add economic heft to her anti-woke foundations, with a slapdown of her rivals over their un-costed tax cut offers.
But she also lashed out at British businesses that focus more on social change instead of making money, as she laid out her free market credentials.
She said: ‘The ability to defend the free market as the fairest way of helping people prosper has been undermined. It has been undermined by a willingness to embrace protectionism because of special interests.
‘It’s been undermined by retreating in the face of the Ben and Jerry’s tendency.
‘They will say a business’s main priority is social justice, not productivity and profit.
And it’s been undermined by the actions of crony capitalists colluding with big bureaucracy to rig the system in favour of incumbents against entrepreneurs.’
The MP for Saffron Walden has the declared support of 15 colleagues, including recent Cabinet minister Michael Gove, who was at her campaign launch.
Standing in front of a union flag-patterned backdrop bearing the slogan ‘Kemi for Prime Minister’, she said: ‘In the debate we’ve been having about the future of our party and our country, there have been lots of promises to cut taxes.
‘I am committed to reducing corporate and personal taxes, but I will not enter into a tax bidding war over: ‘’My tax cuts are bigger than yours’’.’
‘For too long, politicians have been saying you can have it all – you can have your cake and eat it,’ she added.
‘But I’m here to tell you that that isn’t true – it never has been.
‘There are always tough choices in life and in politics: no free lunches, no tax cuts without limits on Government spending, no stronger defence without a slimmer state.
‘Unlike others, I’m not going to promise you things without a plan to deliver them.’
Ms Badenoch and her husband Hamish pictured with one of their daughters. The couple have kept their three children – two daughters and a son – out of the public eye.
Ms Badenoch said she would tackle the economic crisis by cutting spending on international aid, university student subsidies, and ‘superfluous support staff’ including well-being officers and diversity ‘tick-box exercises’.
She said: ‘While the priority of the £300 billion the Government spends on procurement should be value for money, in truth this is being undermined by tick-box exercises in sustainability, diversity and equality.
‘These are good things but they need to be done properly.
‘Why are we spending millions on people’s jobs which literally didn’t exist a decade ago, like staff well-being coordinators in the public sector?’
She added that she would ‘get the police to focus on neighbourhood crime’ rather than ‘waste time and resources worrying about hurt feelings online’.
The Essex MP is competing with prominent Cabinet faces including Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, but she said her lack of experience is a ‘huge advantage’ because she does not come with ‘the baggage of so many of the decisions that have been made’ in recent years.
‘People want a fresh face, and they can’t have somebody who has been in Cabinet a very long time,’ she added.
Ms Badenoch said she has ‘a lot of respect’ for Mr Sunak and Ms Truss, but she is ‘not worried’ about running against them.
She said her Government would be guided by the ‘Conservative principles’ of a ‘limited government doing less, but better’ and a ‘strong nation state’.
Culled from Dailymail
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The history of the Ojuelegba area in Lagos
Imagine if your shop is near the Ojuelegba shrine [Wikicommons]
In the 1970s, Fela’s Shrine, a party hub, made the Ojuelegba famous, but it has even deeper historic roots.
“Ni Ojuelegba o, they know my story,” Wizkid famously sang but what is it about Ojuelegba and what makes it special?
Ojuelegba is at a special location in Lagos State, Nigeria. It connects Surulere, Yaba and Mushin and also links Apapa Wharf to Ikorodu and Agege.
The area currently known as Ojuelegba was formerly a forest and shrine used to worship Eshu Elegbua or Legba. This deity is also worshipped by the Fon people of the Benin Republic, the Cubans and Haitians.
The Haitians call the Legba deity, Papa Legba. He is a fatherly figure that opens the human world for the spirit to enter. The Fon people call it Legba and Cubans call it Echu-Elegua.
Under the Ojuelegba bridge, the Aworis worshipped the Esu diety known as Láàlu ogiri òkò - a deity in charge of orderliness and an enforcer of laws.
Its shrine was made of red earth and stones and covered with cowries. These cowries were used to mark the god’s eyes and mouth, and daily sacrifices were offered to it.
The shrine still exists today, right there at the south of the Ojuelegba roundabout with the inscription, ‘Oju-Ibo Elegba’ which has now been shortened to Ojuelegba - presumably how the area got its name.
The Ojuelegba Bridge view [Wikicommons]
Fela singing about Ojuelegba said,
For Ojuelegba, for Ojuelagba
Moto dey come from south
Moto dey come from north
Moto dey come east
Moto dey come from West
And policeman no dey for centre."
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Nigeria’s Economy And Tech Ecosystem
Though Nigeria has one of the fastest developing technological economies in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) markets, the tech development in the country is still not mature.
The reason, according to tech entrepreneurs, is that the supporting structures to a strong tech economy are still lacking in Nigeria, and until the right infrastructure is deployed, they said, the flowery numbers and rave reviews which are mainly dependent on the population power of the country, will hardly make much difference.
They said instead of promoting smart city initiatives, Nigerians should rather promote smart villages to equip the majority of youths living in the villages and restrain them on perpetual desires to migrate to the urban cities.
Why Nigerian tech ecosystem remains at infancy
According to Funke Opeke, the supporting factors that play a crucial role in creating a robust tech ecosystem such as access to capital, market depth, infrastructure, work spaces, and relevant skills set, are still not enough in Nigeria.
She said: “We have fewer resources per person to invest and to buy. Start-ups face difficulty in scaling and making decent returns to compete globally. More successful ones, such as Andela, Flutterwave, Tizeti among others, quickly go offshore
“Lack of infrastructure is a challenge such as electricity, transportation and broadband.
“There are no government support incentives, grants, direct investments and safeguards for small players and new entrants.
“There are not enough incubators providing early-stage support to start-ups. Part of early teething problems start-ups face is inadequate access to the market for their products.
“Besides these, there is also poor education, lack of skilled talents, and until there is a sector-specific acceleration for all these, we will still remain an emerging tech economy.”
For the past few decades, the economic viability of many developed nations has been traced to their tech ecosystem. Tech ecosystem is an interconnected, interdependent network of various actors that combine to create innovative products and services in technology.
These include tech start-ups and entrepreneurs, global tech companies, hubs/accelerators, investment groups, universities and other research institutes that provide disruption leading to innovations in the existing sectors.
Globally, these disruptions have produced great wealth, changed the narratives and continued to drive productivity while creating trillion-dollar companies such as Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and Alibaba among others.
A recent GSMA report stated that since 2016, the number of active tech hubs across Africa has grown by over 50 per cent; from 314 in 2016 to over 442 in 2018. It said Nigeria, alongside four African countries, is housing over 4,500 of these hubs with Nigeria on the top of the list with 55 of them making it the largest in the African tech ecosystem.
The report, however, said when compared to more established global tech ecosystems in the USA, China, India and the UK, the Nigeria ecosystem is still considered underdeveloped.
However, experts have said to experience exponential growth in the Nigerian economy, it is imperative that Nigeria’s Tech Ecosystem is developed through local content.
But the federal government has given assurances of its support to innovators and tech entrepreneurs in the country.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), who made the promise however urged all players in the tech ecosystem to think and act like Mo Ibrahim with the mindset of creating solutions to solve the country’s problems.
The minister said this at the Co-Create 2022 International Tech Exhibition and Gage Awards. Pantami who was represented by the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the most important part of the innovative process is commercialising it.
He stated that, “Innovation is a process of taking an idea from inception all the way to impact and while many people think innovation and invention mean the same thing, innovation is actually creating a market or democratising access to your solution, product or services.”
Underpinning his point with an illustration, the minister cited that the telecommunications sector which was orchestrated by Mo Ibrahim in Africa about 20 years ago and which encountered so many challenges has now evolved into the biggest sector in Africa.
“In Nigeria, we have many problems and we need more innovations to solve them. These kinds of collaborations we are having here today can open doors for this because you cannot survive in isolation. Everything is about ecosystem”, he noted.
Buttressing his point further, the minister holistically averred that the five critical stakeholders in an ecosystem are the innovators otherwise known as the entrepreneurs who start and grow businesses with ideas and solutions, the human capital developers who discover talents and are the human components of technology, the government who are the enablers of a level-playing field for innovators, the risk capitals that invest money in startups and the corporate organisations that buy the products.
He further asserted that an effective collaboration of these 5 stakeholders in Nigeria will produce an excellent and viable ecosystem in the country. Emphasising the present administration’s commitment to the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) by effectively collaborating with innovators in the industry, Pantami disclosed that the Federal Executive Council has given approval for the ministry and agencies under its supervision to co-create solutions with the ecosystem in areas of procurement, IP & Patenting and giving incentives to encourage the startups.
The minister while giving further disclosure on how co-creating with the ecosystem can be achievable, highlighted that showing clarity on processes by all parties, unleashing energy, building trust, building stronger startups and devising policies to shape the future are key indices into establishing and sustaining a formidable ecosystem in the country.
“Whatever we do, we don’t do in isolation. We work with the ecosystem to co-create policies and co-create the regulations. Whatever we do, we do together. We believe that together, we can do greater things. That is why we are here to work with you and to co-create our future,” he said.
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Man United told to pay £140m for Osimhen
English Premier League side, Manchester United have been told to pay £140m to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen this summer.
The Nigerian international has emerged as a top target for United following his phenomenal display for the Serie A champions this season.
According to The Mirror, the Red Devils had their scouts in attendance for Napoli’s Champions League clash against Milan last month and have identified the Nigerian as the man to lead their attack next season.
The 24-year-old is enjoying one of the best moments of his career with Napoli this season as he currently tops the Italian Serie A scorers chart with 23 goals, three more than Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez, who is in second position with 20 goals
Osimhen’s teammate Kim, 26, already seems destined for Old Trafford despite only moving to Naples last year.
A deal for Kim is said by Naples-based Il Mattino to be in place with the player having no doubts about joining United.
With that almost sealed, Man United believed they could push for Osimhen whom Napoli do not consider as one of their ‘untouchable’ players, according to the Mirror.
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Breaking: S-Court dismisses PDP’s suit, affirms Bola Tinubu’s eligibility for presidency
…says PDP’s appeal lacked merit
ABUJA– The Supreme Court, has affirmed the eligibility of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to contest the presidential election that held on February 25.
The apex court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel, on Friday, held that an appeal the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, filed to challenge the legality of Tinubu’s candidacy, lacked merit.
PDP had in the appeal marked: SC/CV/501/2023, sought Tinubu’s disqualification on the premise that the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, allowed himself to be nominated for more than one constituency, ahead of the 2023 general elections.
It told the court that Shettima was nominated twice, both for the Borno Central Senatorial seat and for the Vice Presidential position.
PDP argued that Shettima’s dual nomination, was in gross breach of the provisions of Sections 29(1), 33, 35 and 84(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act, 2022, as amended.
Consequently, aside from praying the court to nullify Tinubu and Shettima’s candidacy, the Appellant equally applied for an order to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to expunge their names from the list of nominated or sponsored candidates that were eligible to contest the presidential poll.
Meanwhile, the apex court, in its lead judgement that was delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro, held that PDP lacked the locus standi (legal right) to interfere in affairs of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, which nominated both Tinubu and Shettima for the presidential election.
The apex court upheld the concurrent decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court in Abuja, which earlier dismissed PDP’s case.
It agreed with the respondents that section 285 (14) (c ) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and section 149 of the Electoral Act, 2022, did not confer the locus standi (legal right) to challenge the candidature of Shettima on the ground of double nomination.
The apex court held that section 84 of the Electoral Act only empowered an aspirant that participated in the primary election of a political party, to challenge the nomination of a candidate by the party.
It held that the PDP failed to establish the injury it suffered as a result of the nomination by the APC, stressing that the law does not permit a political party to dabble in domestic affair of another political party.
The Supreme Court said the PDP was unable to prove that its civil rights and obligations were in danger of being infringed upon.
It described the appeal as the action of “a nosy busy-body and a meddlesome interloper that is peeping into the affairs of its neighbour.”
More so, the apex court berated the PDP for filing the appeal which it said was frivolous and capable of exposing the judiciary to public ridicule.
The apex court held that evidence before it showed that Shettima duly withdrew as the candidate of the APC in the Borno senatorial election, on July 6, 2022.
“In whichever angle this appeal is veiwed, it is frivolous and bound to fail.
“From the trial court, down to this court, it has been a waste of precious judicial time.
“The instant appeal was unnecessary and counsel should do better to advice their client against filing this sort of suit in future,” Justice Jauro added.
While dismissing the appeal, the Supreme Court okayed N2million damages that was awarded against the PDP, in favour of the respondents.
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