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Activist Gets Endorsement to Run for President

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An activist and former Commissioner for Women Affairs in Washington DC in the U.S., Dr. Carol Nwosu, has been given endorsement by some women groups to run for the presidency of Nigeria.

Nwosu received the endorsement at a ceremony held at Ado in the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on Saturday, where she received the traditional title of “Udemba – The People’s Ambassador’’.

The title was given to her by the Eze Igbo of Ado Kingdom, Igwe Ochendo Chukwudi, who described Nwosu as a consummate politician, grassroots activist and nationalist, whose services would be needed in Nigeria at a time like now.

He called on women in the country to rise to the challenge of leadership in the country by participating in politics and supporting each other to make a difference and give Nigeria a sense of direction.

Chukwudi said that Nwosu had shown consistency in her political career, urging Nigerians to look beyond the APC and PDP parties in choosing the next president to pilot the affairs of the country in the next political dispensation.

In her remarks after receiving the honour, Nwosu pledged that she would use her experience and international connections to mobilise men and women in Nigeria to work for a united and indivisible nation.

She said she was ready and able to serve Nigeria at the highest level of leadership, noting that she was no stranger to international politics and the politics of Nigeria, where she said she had made her mark over the years.

The activist said that she was passionate about building a united, peaceful and progressive Nigeria, where women would have a voice and where everyone would benefit from the ethos of equity, justice and fair play.

She said the title bestowed on her would encourage her to fight for the recognition of women and to give them their pride of place in the politics of the country.

“This title has made me not only a member of the palace but a warrior in and bearer of peace to all Nigerians.

“I will ensure that I contribute immensely to unifying different ethnic nationalities and I will always push for peaceful co-existence among the different ethnic groups and religions in Nigeria.

“I will do my best to advance the cause of women in Nigeria. I did exactly that when I was a Commissioner of Women Affairs in the U.S. I will replicate here in my country,’’ she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nwosu has held several positions in the U.S. bureaucracy, where she also made her mark in international engagements and negotiations.

She was the founder of Nigerians in Diaspora Integrated Agency, which later translated into the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.

In 2002, Nwosu successfully organised first Nigeria and U.S. Economic and Democratic Summit in Washington DC.

In 2014, she negotiated with King Goodwill Zwelithni of Zululand in South Africa on the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa, to bring the attacks to an end.

In the year 2000, Nwosu single-handedly facilitated the release of over 1,000 Africans, 420 of whom were Nigerians, who were stranded in Ghana after being deported from various countries.

She also through diplomatic engagements, saved the lives of some Nigerians facing death penalty in Indonesia for drug-related offences.

NAN reports that various interest groups, including the Market Women Association of Nigeria attended the event.

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Nigerian officials probe plan to marry off scores of female orphans

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May 15, 2024

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ABUJA, NIGERIA — Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Women Affairs says it is investigating a plan by a lawmaker in central Niger state to marry off some 100 female orphans of unknown ages later this month.

Speaker of the Niger State Assembly Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji announced the mass wedding last week but called off the ceremony following widespread outrage.

Minister of Women Affairs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, speaking to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, condemned the plans.

Kennedy-Ohanenye said she had petitioned the police and filed a lawsuit to stop the marriages pending an investigation to ascertain the age of the orphans and whether they consented to the marriages.

“This is totally unacceptable by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and by the government” of Nigeria, she said.

Last week, Sarkin-Daji announced his support for the mass wedding of the orphans, whose relatives were killed during attacks by armed bandits. He said it was part of his support to his constituents following an appeal for wedding funding by local traditional and religious leaders.

The mass wedding had been scheduled for May 24.

“That support I intend to give for the marriage of those orphans, I’m withdrawing it,” he said. “The parents can have the support [money], if they wish, let them go ahead and marry them off. As it is right now, I’m not threatened by the action of the minister.”

Despite national laws prohibiting it, forced or arranged marriage is a common phenomenon in Nigeria, especially among rural communities in the predominantly Muslim north, where religious and cultural norms such as polygamy favor the practice.

Poor families often use forced marriage to ease financial pressure, and the European Union Agency for Asylum says girls who refuse could face repercussions such as neglect, ostracism, physical assault and rape.

Raquel Kasham Daniel escaped being married off as a teenager when her father died and now runs a nonprofit helping children, especially less-privileged girls, get a formal education for free.

She said the ability of women to avoid forced marriage in Nigeria depends on their income and education.

“I was 16 when I lost my dad and I was almost married off, but then I ran away from home. And that gave me the opportunity to complete my education, and now I have a better life,” Daniel said.

“So, the reason why I prioritize education is to make sure that other girls have access to quality schooling so that it will help them make informed decisions about their lives. Education not only increases our awareness as girls about our rights but also enhances our prospects for higher income earning,” she said.

Thirty percent of girls in Nigeria are married before they turn 18, according to Girls Not Brides, a global network of more than 1,400 civil society groups working to end child marriage.

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Shell investigates smoke near Gbaran oil facility in Nigeria

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May 15, 2024

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YENAGOA, Nigeria, May 14 (Reuters) – Oil major Shell is investigating reports of smoke early Tuesday near its Gbaran Ubie oil and gas facility in Nigeria’s coastal Bayelsa state, a spokesperson said after residents reported hearing explosions and seeing smoke near the area.
The incident would not immediately lead to an operational shut-in, the Shell spokesperson said.
A fire was reported around 0600 GMT by residents in the nearby community, who said blasts were heard where pipeline repair works had been ongoing.
The Gbaran facility, which began operations in 2010, is by far the most important Nigeria LNG gas feedstock project, processing almost 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.
“We are actively monitoring reports of smoke detected near our Gbaran Central Processing Facility in Bayelsa State. While the source appears to be external to our facility, we are in close communication with regulatory authorities to look into the incident and ensure the safety of the surrounding communities,” a Shell spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
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Shell did not immediately respond to the accounts of residents in the area.
Resident Ovie Ogbuku told Reuters: “At about 7 a.m. I heard the sound so deafeningly and it shook the foundation of the earth and we ran for our dear lives. The result is the thick smoke you are seeing now.”
Another resident Uche Ede said; “We have no idea of the cause of the explosion but we are grateful no life was lost because it was far away from homes.”
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Land operations in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta are prone to sabotage, theft, and pipeline vandalism, forcing oil majors to exit such fields to focus on deepwater drilling.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Nigeria tour: A Round Up

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May 15, 2024

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Meghan and Harry spent three days in the African country, Nigeria in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent time in Nigeria as part of a three-day tour, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of The Invictus Games.

The couple were personally invited on the trip by Nigeria’s chief of defence staff, General Christopher Musa; they are not there in any official capacity on behalf of the royal family or the UK. The tour schedule, which started in the bustling capital of Abuja, has been jam-packed, including a visit to primary and secondary school Lightway Academy, where they met with students, and experiencing the work of Nigeria Unconquered, a charitable foundation dedicated to aiding wounded, injured, or sick servicemembers.

Naturally, the trip also provided the opportunity for Meghan to showcase a multi-day “tourdrobe”, the likes of which we haven’t seen since the couple stepped down as senior working royals in early 2020 – and she hasn’t disappointed, in a series of summery maxi dresses, elegant tailoring and striking separates.

See highlights from their trip so far, below.

On day three, the couple arrived at Lagos airport, where they were given an official state welcome.

The couple posed for a photo with children and Nigerian dignitaries.

 

The couple were greeted by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

 

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They then attended a basketball exhibition training match at Ilupeju Grammar School in Lagos. After the match, they posed for a photo with the Toronto Raptors basketball team president, Masai Ujiri, and the principal of Ilupeju Grammar School, Josephine Egunyomi.

 

The couple attended a reception hosted by the charity organisation Nigeria Unconquered, held at the Officers’ Mess in Abuja.

 

A visit to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

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