A call by National Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has resurfaced in the heat of the debate on the semantics of the use #RevolutionNow for the organisation of series of protests against bad governance in Nigeria.

Tinubu made the call five years ago on September 29, 2014, in a statement titled, ‘A Return to Decency’.

Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist and pro-democracy campaigner was abducted Gestapo-style and taken to Abuja by the Department of State Services (DSS) on August 3, 2019, for using the phrase #RevolutionNow to plan peaceful demonstrations.

Tinubu’s comments which were reported in national newspapers such as The Punch, DailyPost, PM News, The Nation as well as other news platforms.

When SaharaReporters conducted research on Wednesday, however, The Punch, The Nation, and DailyPost had deleted the online version of the story.

But Punch made the error of leaving behind a 2014 tweet which it posted after publishing the story on Twitter.

The story was tweeted on the verified Punch Newspaper Twitter page, @MobilePunch, at exactly 12:36 pm on September 30, 2014.

The 2014 call by the leader of the APC did not attract operatives of the DSS and was not regarded by the Goodluck Jonathan administration as a treasonable felony.

In the report, Tinubu described the 16 years of PDP rule at the federal level as a period of steady decline into disaster.

He said, “The longer they rule, the less benefit the people derive.”

The Punch report quoted Tinubu as saying, “Nigeria now needs a ‘common sense revolution’, a revolution that calls forth a return to decency, probity, transparency of process and fairness in outcome.“

“This is done not by subterfuge, divide and rule and turning Nigeria in a field of discord or a street of broken institutions.

“It is accomplished by honouring the principles of democratic good governance and economic justice.

“It is done by persuading the people they are better off as one instead of better off tearing at one another’s throats.“Nigerians should be prepared for change.

“We must rescue Nigeria from those set to cause it irreparable harm. The change I talk about is the only route to our deliverance from 16 years of the PDP locusts.”

He described Jonathan’s transformation agenda as an avenue to siphon funds through a dubious blueprint.

Tinubu stated, “They do not have a national blueprint or vision. They do have a blueprint and vision for excessive self-enrichment.

“Their equation is simple: You work, they feast. You toil, they grow fat. You seek a decent wage; they pilfer the collective treasury to enjoy a king’s ransom.”

Other popular Nigerians in the past had also called for a revolution.

On November 30, 2018, Kingsley Moghalu, presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party in 2019 in an interview with The Guardian called for young people to “rise up for a revolution in 2019”.

Popular Nigerian televangelist, Tunde Bakare, and running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2011 presidential election on April 3, 2016, called for a revolution to correct the current “leakages in government”.

In a story reported by The Punch, Bakare had said: “While appreciating the positive developments in our democratic experience, especially the attempts by past and current governments to eliminate systemic leakages, I shall seek to prove that, by a fair preponderance of the credible evidence, the state of the nation calls for a revolution.

“This is a revolution that transcends politics or policies; a revolution that means far more than any change of government; a revolution that means a radical reformation of values as they impact upon the social, economic and political landscapes of our nation.”

On May 15, 2019, the Nigerian senate debated a “poverty-triggered revolution in the country”  following a motion by Senator Chukwuka Utazi.

In a report by PremiumTimes, Utazi had affirmed: “The Senate recognises that what we are witnessing today is a culmination of long years of neglect of the welfare and future of younger generations and unwillingness by both the government and the elites to plan for the future, or read the signs of upheaval.

“Today, the chicken has returned home to roost: the downtrodden are revolting. Hitherto docile beggars have risen in arms forcing those with powers of patronage to beg for safety. The elites are being attacked. We have in our hands a dictatorship of the beggars, fuelled by drugs and poverty,

“What we are witnessing is not a spike that will go away. It is the incipient seeds of a revolution and we need to concertedly handle it with care.”

By Sahara Reporters

Press Release

By Tony Orilade, Ag. Head, Media & Publicity

Justice Archibong Archibong of the Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo, on Wednesday, August 7, 2019, convicted and sentenced Archibong Effiong Edem to seven years imprisonment over N28, 234, 735 fraud.

The convict was arraigned by the Port Harcourt’s Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, on two-count charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence.  The case was later transferred to an Akwa Ibom State High court, Uyo owing to issues of jurisdiction.

Edem’s journey to jail began when a petitioner, Godwin Utumude, alleged that sometime in 2004, in the United States of America, he met the convict who showed him a property in Texas that was up for sale.

According to the petitioner, the prize of the said property was initially $218,000 (Two Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Dollars), but the convict eventually agreed to sell at $200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Dollars) which was an equivalent of N28, 234, 735 (Twenty Eight Million Two Hundred and Thirty Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Five Naira) at the time, and on September 1, 2004, he paid N20million to the convict who assured him that by December 2004, all documents regarding change of ownership of the said property would be handed over to him.

To ensure that the necessary change of ownership was perfected,  the petitioner said the convict further requested the balance payment of N8,234,735 which he made on January 17, 2015. 

All efforts by the petitioner to get the said documents proved abortive, hence the petition.

In the course of trial, the Commission called three witnesses: Godwin Utumude, the petitioner (PW1); Michael Adukwu,  an operative of the EFCC (PW2) and Chukwuma Ekezie Amadi, Deputy Compliance Officer, Zenith Bank  (PW3).

The EFCC also tendered several documents which were all admitted in evidence.

The documents comprised: A copy of the petition dated November 22, 2016 as exhibit A; a cover page of a document showing the picture of a building as exhibit B; Pages 1 and 2 of a document also showing the building as exhibit B1; Pages 3, 4 and 5 of a document titled: “Seller Disclosure Notice” as exhibit B2, amongst others.

Delivering judgement, the court noted that the prosecution had overwhelmingly established a case of obtaining by false pretence against the defendant through the evidences tendered before the court by the three witnesses.

Justice Archibong said that:  “The prosecution has satisfactorily proved his case beyond reasonable doubt against the accused person to warrant his conviction in counts 1 and 2 of the charge against him. The defendant is hereby found guilty as charged and is accordingly convicted on counts 1 and 2 of the charge”.

Before the convict was sentenced, the judge asked him if he had anything to say.

The convict, without showing any remorse, maintained that he never admitted to have collected the said amount: “it is not true that I admitted under cross examination that I collected N28million from the petitioner. I have always told him that I will pay him his money and I will do so if permitted”, he said.

At this point, the defence counsel, S. A. Ngbe, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy on age and health grounds, “consider his age and ailing health. My lord, he is over 70 years of age”, he pleaded.

The court immediately sentenced Edem to seven years imprisonment on each of the two counts without an option of fine. The sentence runs concurrently from the date of his conviction.

Justice Archibong also ordered the convict to restitute by paying the petitioner the entire sum which is N28, 234, 735.00.

The Nigeria Police has initiated investigations into how three of its own and a civilian were shot and killed by soldiers, and an alleged kidnap kingpin got released by the soldiers.

Meanwhile, another account says the policemen were killed by youths of Ibi town in Taraba State.

Police spokesman, Deputy Commissioner of Police Frank Mba, in a statement said the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, has ordered full-fledged investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death of the three (3) Police operatives and one (1) Civilian, and serious injury to other Police operatives.

According to him, they were on investigation activities to Ibi, Taraba State, to arrest one Alhaji Hamisu indicted in a series of high-profile kidnap incidents in the State.

Said Mba, “The Police Operatives, led by ASP Felix Adolije of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) reportedly came under sudden attack and serious shooting by soldiers of the Nigerian Army, along Ibi – Jalingo Road, Taraba State. The Operatives, who were taking the arrested suspect, Alhaji Hamisu to the Command Headquarters in Jalingo, were shot at severally by the soldiers despite sufficient proof that they are Police personnel on legitimate duty.

“Three Policemen (comprising one Inspector and two Sergeants) and one civilian died as a result of gunshot injuries sustained in the attack while others sustained serious gunshot wounds. The soldiers thereafter released the handcuffed suspect, Alhaji Hamisu, who is now on the run.

“Alhaji Hamisu, a notorious kidnap kingpin, has been on the Police wanted list for his complicity in several high-profile kidnap cases including the recent abduction of an Oil-Mogul in Taraba State wherein a ransom of about One Hundred Million Naira (N100,000,000) was paid.

“The IGP has ordered the AIG Medicals to proceed to Jalingo to ensure concerted efforts in the treatment of the injured Police officers. The remains of the deceased have been deposited in the morgue.

“Meanwhile, the Force has commenced full investigation into the bizarre and unfortunate incident.”

The Army statement of the tragedy is different. It says:

“On the unfortunate incident that occurred on the 6th of August 2019 in which troops of 93 Battalion Nigerian Army Takum pursued and exchanged fire with some suspected Kidnappers who indeed turned out to be an Intelligence Response Team from the Police Force Headquarters Abuja on a covert assignment from Abuja resulting in the death and injury of some members of the Team.

“On the 6th of August 2019, the said Nigerian Army troops, while responding to a distressed call to rescue a kidnapped victim exchanged fire with the suspected kidnappers along Ibi-Wukari Road in Taraba State.

“The suspected kidnappers numbering about ten (10) and driving in a white bus with Reg No LAGOS MUS 564 EU refused to stop when they were halted by troops at three consecutive check points. The flagrant refusal of the suspected kidnappers to stop at the three checkpoints prompted a hot pursuit of the fleeing suspects by the troops. It was in this process that the suspected kidnappers who were obviously armed opened fire at the troops sporadicaly thus prompting them to return fire.

“In the resultant fire fight,  four (4) suspects were shot and died on the spot while four (4) others sustained various degrees of gunshot wounds and 2 others reportedly missing. It was only after this avoidable outcome that one of the wounded suspects disclosed the fact that they were indeed Policemen dispatched from Nigerian Police, Force Headquarters, Abuja for a covert assignment.

“However,  following inquiries from a Police Station officer who was asked by the commander of the Army troops whether he was aware of any Nigerian Police team being dispatched to operate in the LGA, the Divisional Police Officer of Ibi Police Division responded that he was not informed about any operation by the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters thus lending credence to the distressed call from members of the community that the suspects who turned out to be Policemen on a covert mission were rather suspected kidnappers.

“This incident is indeed quite unfortunate and could have been avoided through proper coordination and liaison as the Nigerian Police Force are partners in the fight against crimes such as kidnapping amongst myriads of other internal security threats confronting our nation of which the Nigerian Police is the lead Agency.

“In order to avert future occurrences of this nature, the Army Headquarters and the Force Headquarters of the Nigerian Police have agreed to constitute a Joint lnvestigation Panel to be headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Criminal Investigation Department, DIG Mike Ogbizi, to jointly investigate and report on the true circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident. Therefore, until the Joint Investigation Panel concludes and submits its report, it will be premature to officially conclude and speak on the real circumstances that caused this unfortunate but very avoidable unfortunate incident.”

Meanwhile a news report gives a different account.

According to online newspaper, forefrontng. com, a false alarm raised by youths led to the death of the police detectives on special duty from the Force Headquarters Abuja.

The report reads: “It was gathered that the four detectives had gone to the town for the arrest of one Hamish Wadimi over alleged gun running.

“However, it was further after the arrest of Wadimi, the youths in the town raised alarm claiming that the detectives were kidnappers which led to a mob action resulting in the death of the four detectives.

“A source at the Police command headquarters in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital confided in Forefront News that the killed detectives had on their arrival from Abuja reported at the state Police command headquarters in Jalingo before proceeding to Ibbi Local Government for the arrest.

“The team, it was also gathered, on arrival in Ibbi equally reported to the Divisional Police officer (DPO), and the Chief of Ibbi to intimate them of their mission before arresting Hamisu Wadimi.

“However, in spite of their adherence to laid down procedure with regards to area of jurisdiction, trouble started shortly after the arrest of the suspect when the youths began (to) protest over the arrest of Wadimi and began chasing the detectives shouting “kidnappers, kidnappers” up to a military check point located few kilometers from the Ibbi town.

“The villagers allegedly informed soldiers at the check point few killometers from the village that the visitors were kidnappers.

“It was further gathered that on sighting the Humma Toyota Bus conveying the detectives, the soldiers allegedly opened fire on the vehicle thereby forcing the driver to stop.

“According to an eye witness who spoke to Forefront News under cover, the youths of Ibbi numbering over one hundred armed with assorted weapons chased the detectives to the military check point and forced them out of the vehicle and killed four of them while two escaped into the bush.

“It was also gathered that based on findings, the military men at the check point later discovered that the victims were police detectives from the Force headquarters, Abuja.

“As the time of filing this report, a combined team of soldiers and policemen have been deployed to Ibbi Local Government to search and arrest the killers of the four police detectives.

“The Taraba state police command spokesman, DSP David Misal, replied to a text message sent saying; “we are gathering details of the unfortunate incident and we will brief the press soon.”

“Meanwhile, the suspected gun runner, Hamisu Wadimi has been rearrested and taken to the police headquarters in Jalingo.”

Culled from: 

… 6 of 24 notables make the finals

Days after a Nigerian lady made headlines following her appointment as a  minister in the United Kingdom, Nigerians are yet blazing a trail as six men and women have been recorded among 24 notable scientist in Africa for 2019.

The six specialists emerged in the Third Class of Next Einstein Forum (NEF) fellows that had 24 from the entire continent.

With six openings dominated by these experts, Nigeria completely leads the continental pack that featured about 14 countries.

All, under 42 years, have research and innovations that are contributing to solve Africa’s and the world’s most pressing challenges.

An initiative of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), the NEF will award the NEF Fellows at its NEF Global Gathering 2020 in Nairobi, Kenya on 10 March 2020, under the patronage of President Uhuru Kenyatta. The NEF Fellows will continue the tradition of presenting their groundbreaking research at the global gathering.

“I am excited to announce the 3rd class of NEF Fellows for two reasons. The first is that we are almost at parity, with 11 women in the class. The second is the variety of fields and countries from where the Fellows come from.

“The selected Fellows are doing cutting-edge research in renewable energy, nanomaterials and nanotechnology, food security, precision medicine, health systems, climate science and urban planning.

“Also a first for the Fellows cohort is the two social scientists selected in this class. We strongly believe their current and future discoveries will solve global challenges and we are excited to introduce you to them,” said Thierry Zomahoun, Founder and Chair of the Next Einstein Forum and President and CEO of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS).

NEF Fellows are selected by an International Scientific Program Committee, using a rigorous process that comprises academic and scientific merit, a strong publication record, patents, awards and a track record of funds independently raised for research.

Fellows are also required to demonstrate the relevance of their research or innovations to humanity’s grand challenges, as well as a passion for raising Africa’s scientific profile and inspiring the next generation of scientific leaders.

“We are tremendously pleased to welcome the new class to the growing NEF Community of Scientists, and the Thirty-five Fellows that preceded this cohort.

“This Class was selected in record timing because of the quality of their profiles and we look forward to their contributions to our foresight work and public engagement programs like Africa Science Week,” said Dr Youssef Travaly, Vice President of Science, Innovation and Partnerships.

The second class has been at the forefront of groundbreaking research in Blockchain for micro-credits, bioinformatics for improving agricultural outputs, non-invasive malaria detection among other innovations.

Several Fellows received million-dollar awards for their research. NEF Fellows lead the editing of the NEF’s Scientific African journal which is on its fourth volume since March 2018.

In recognition of their achievements and scientific excellence, three fellows have joined the NEF’s International Scientific Programme Committee.

Meet the 2019-2021 NEF Fellows

Dr. Badre Abdselam (Morocco) seeks to contribute to the design and implementation of regional policies on young scientists’ intentional mobility within Africa to optimize brain circulation.

Dr. Ademola Adenle (Nigeria) is leading research in science and technology policy in addressing sustainable development challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, energy and health innovation in Africa.

Dr. Fanelwa Ajayi (South Africa) seeks to develop various nanoparticles particularly with the use of edible substances, such as fruits and vegetables and finding additional applications for them.

Dr. Daniel Akinyele (Nigeria) is immersed in unveiling deeper insights into planning, developing and managing new electrification systems for energy-poor communities using the social-technical-economic-environmental-policy, or STEEP.

Dr. Zaheer Allam (Mauritius)investigates the dynamics shaping urban life in the Anthropocene to better build policies enhancing both livability and economic levels in future cities, set to host the majority of humans on earth.

Dr. Ibrahim Cissé (Niger) is interested in developing high-resolution methods of microscopy that go directly inside living cells, and single bio-molecules which could decode human genome from DNA into RNA.

Dr. Menattallah Elserafy (Egypt)studies DNA repair mechanisms, working to understand cellular processes which deciphered will change diagnostics and pave roads for personalized therapies.

Dr. Obidimma Ezezika (Nigeria) is studying processes that help contribute to developing new industrial models for effectively taking health interventions to scale in sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr. Jesse Gitaka (Kenya) works on malaria elimination, prompt diagnosis and management of sub-clinical maternal bacterial infections that eliminate stillbirths, prematurity, maternal and newborn sepsis and mortality.

Dr. Alpha Keita (Guinea) hopes to develop, together with his team in the Guinea and France, the reservoirs of viruses to better understand the natural history of Ebola virus spread.

Dr. Agnes Kiragga (Uganda) hopes to merge data science and machine learning methods to available “large data” and existing health records to predict and prevent HIV among high-risk groups in Africa.

Dr. Eric Lontchi (Cameroon)investigates ways of combating the burgeoning epidemic of obesity and diabetes, hoping to uncover new insights into the pathogenesis of and potential treatments for diabetes.

Dr. Salome Maswime (South Africa)leads a research initiative to scale up the implementation of the perinatal problem identification program model to four other healthcare systems in Africa.

Dr. Blesssing Mbabie (Nigeria) seeks to cover the real-time status of antimicrobial resistance and social factors that drive it, discovering natural drugs with high potential inhibitors of the antimicrobial resistance mechanism.

Dr. Ebele Mogo (Nigeria) is involved in research that aims to transform societal systems that recognize African contextual realities when designing healthy communities and preventing non-communicable diseases.

Dr. Vidushi Neergheen-Bhujun (Mauritius) is determined to connect the dots between the role of functional food and cancer prevention.

Dr. Marian Nkansah (Ghana) focuses on developing public knowledge on toxic chemicals from unusual places, and the associated risk on local communities, strengthening the intersection of scientific evidence and policy.

Dr. Eucharia Nwaichi (Nigeria) leads research projects that aim to find sustainable and safe sanitation strategies for the remediation of petroleum-impacted environments in the Niger Delta.

Dr. Cecil Ouma (Kenya) leverages current research on energy materials and associated technologies, with hope to innovate cheap and small-scale off-grid technologies for rural and peri-urban settlements in Africa.

Dr. Dyllon Randall (South Africa)hopes to change our modern sanitation systems to focus on resource recovery rather than mere treatment, moving communities to rethink “waste” as valuable resources.

Dr. Samson Rwahwire (Uganda) is using his knowledge of material science and nanotechnology to modify bitumen for road construction utilizing green nanoscience as a crosslinker for plastic waste.

Dr. Cheikh Sarr (Senegal) is interested in developing a prototype of a self-driven vehicle, equipped by a lot of sensors networks in order to facilitate the mobility of people with disabilities.

Dr. Geoffrey Siwo (Kenya) hopes to combine artificial intelligence with genetic data and scientific knowledge as a means of accelerating the discovery of fundamental principles that could enable equitable development of precision medicine.

Dr. Sara Suliman (Sudan), co-inventor of a four-gene biomarker, investigates why genes involved in electrolyte regulation across mammalian cell membranes might confer susceptibility to the world’s deadliest pathogen: Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Dr. Jessica Thorn (Namibia) uses social-ecological system modelling and participatory scenario planning to investigate and measure the impact of development corridors in land use, livelihoods, ecosystem, and social coherence.

BY PAUL TENTENA

Read more: https://punchng.com/6-things-to-know-about-nigerian-appointed-uk-minister-for-children-and-families/

… say trafficking in persons is not only a transnational but also a domestic issue.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Tuesday reiterated its stance against Human Trafficking and Child Abuse. In an event at Abuja to commemorate the 2019 World Day Against Human Trafficking and Child Abuse with the theme ‘ CALL YOUR GOVERNMENT TO ACTION,’ the agency once again stirred hearts with its call on all to join hands with government to fight the evil of Human Trafficking and Child Abuse.

Participants at the well attended event were sensitized on the scourge of human trafficking globally and in Nigeria.  Top government officials and the diplomatic community were also engaged on the need to intensify efforts in eradicating human trafficking in Nigeria.

Members of the International Federation of Women Lawyer (FIDA) and several senior members of the bar were in attendance.

Earlier, the International Federation of Women Lawyer (FIDA), Abuja had issued a press statement warning that trafficking in persons and child abuse are grave Human Rights Violations that affects the family which is the core of the  society.

FIDA Abuja in the statement signed jointly by its Chairperson, Rekia Rachael Adejo-Andrew and Mojirayo Ogunlana-Nkanga, Public Relations Officer disclosed that children account for one third of the victims of human trafficking worldwide, while women and girls make up 80% of the global trafficking.

“Today the 30th day of July 2019 is the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and Child Abuse.  The United Nation’s General Assembly by resolution A/RES/68/192, in 2013, designated this day as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons. This resolution declared that such a day was necessary to “raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.”

“Trafficking in persons is the criminal exploitation of children, women and men for various purposes including forced labour, forced marriages, slavery and sexual exploitation. It is a crime frowned at under our Nigerian laws including the Constitution, Child’s Rights Act, Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP Act), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Act, Criminal and Penal codes, etc. Trafficking in persons and child abuse involves grave Human Rights Violations that affects the family which is the core of the Nigerian society. As a result of trafficking, immeasurable pain have been suffered by families. Some have experienced shame and stigma while others have been ridiculed from the impact of trafficking. Some victims of human trafficking have experienced devastating psychological effects during and after their trafficking experience. Many survivors end up experiencing post-traumatic stress, difficulty in relationships, depression, memory loss, anxiety, fear, guilt, shame, and other severe forms of mental trauma.

“One obvious fact is that trafficking in persons is a very lucrative business for its peddlers. It has been reported that millions of victims fall into the hands of traffickers lured by deceit and fake promises. This is the reality in Nigeria as victims in search of greener pastures have fallen prey to these predators, who majorly subject them to commercial sex exploitation and forced economic exploitation, including domestic work, agriculture and other economic activities.

“Trafficking in persons is not only a transnational issue but also a domestic one that has eaten deep into every strata of the Nigerian society. It was reported in the 2018 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime(UNODC) Global Report on Trafficking in Persons that trafficking happens all around us as the share of persons trafficked within their own country has doubled in recent years to 58 per cent of all detected victims. This has become a very big global issue hence a need to intensify steps in advocating and raising awareness against human trafficking and child abuse.

“Furthermore, In line with our core mandate of advocating for the welfare of women and children, FIDA (Nigeria) Abuja branch has been and remains a relevant stakeholder in advocating for the eradication of trafficking in persons and child abuse. We are aware that often times women and girls constitute a large number of the victims of this scourge.
In September 2015, the world adopted the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and embraced goals and targets on trafficking in persons. These goals call for an end to trafficking and violence against children; as well as the need for measures against human trafficking, and they strive for the elimination of all forms of violence against and exploitation of women and girls. Furthermore, according to the report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), children account for one third of the victims of human trafficking worldwide, and women and girls for some 80% of the global trafficking.

“All these are within our mandate as an organization and we stand out to condemn every form of trafficking, especially of women and children.

“This year, we join the world in commemorating this day and call the Nigerian government to action. It needs to do more to protect its citizens and take more proactive steps to eradicate poverty and unemployment. The state of the Nigerian economy has led a lot of its citizens to take detrimental steps to promote trafficking as it has been reported that most people willingly submit to exploitative relationships for economic reasons. Thus, it has a lot to do especially in the area of education, providing adequate support for its citizens and generally achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We also call other stakeholders to action. FIDA (Nigeria) Abuja branch is committed to working with other stakeholders whether in Government, Nongovernmental, Civil society, Private sector, National and International, in executing projects to raise awareness against this heinous crime. FIDA (Nigeria) Abuja branch has been visibly and actively carrying out sensitization projects to schools to educate children on their rights and awareness against trafficking in persons and we are looking forward to continuing with this project especially to local communities and Internally displaced Persons (IDP) camps within Abuja, where such activities are prevalent.
“FIDA (Nigeria) Abuja branch stands against trafficking in persons (particularly women and children) and condemn very strongly every form of child abuse.
#HumanTrafficking
#EndHumanTrafficking

“Thank you.”

(Press statement) I commend and celebrate British Prime Minister, Mr. Boris Johnson, for appointing a British citizen of Nigerian heritage as a minister in his government. 

Your cabinet has a lot to teach the world. With an average age of 47, it is the UK’s youngest ever cabinet, and with over 25% minority representation, it is one of the world’s most diverse governments. It is also a gender balanced administration, with 24% female representation. Putting together such a well represented government is a testament to your ability to connect, include and unite. 

Like I said in both my private and public messages to you, I am confident that under your leadership, Anglo-Nigerian relationships will be greatly strengthened.

Let me also congratulate Mrs. Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch on her appointment as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families. I have repeatedly said that Nigerians, especially her youth, are natural leaders, with advanced intellect and abilities. I said this when I congratulated Kelechi (Kaycee) Madu on being made a minister in Canada and Mrs. Badenoch only corroborates my assertions. 

I urge Nigerians all over the world to note that global leaders acknowledge that we are hardworking people, with a community spirit that we take wherever we go. Nigerian youths are not lazy as is shown from these appointments, and I look forward to the day that we can show by our youth representation in Nigeria’s government, that they are as appreciated at home as they are abroad.

Atiku Abubakar 
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007

The Guardian (UK) had reported that Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, appointed Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch, aged 39, as Children and Families Minister, as part of his government reshuffle. Badenoch is a British Conservative politician and Member of Parliament (MP) for Saffron Walden.

She was born in Wimbledon, London to Nigerian parents. Her childhood was spent in Lagos and the United States. She moved to the United Kingdom at the age of 16. She has been the MP for Saffron Walden since 2017 after replacing Nadhim Zawahi.

She once told MPs in Parliament about her own experiences of poverty and how she used to do her homework by candlelight.

A software and IT engineer, Badenoch studied systems engineering at Sussex University and also has a law degree. She has worked in the banking sector for Coutts and RBS and is a mother of two.

Tweeting about her appointment, Badenoch @KemiBadenoch posted on 29 July: “Thank you for all good wishes and kind messages of support received. I also look forward to working not just with @Conservatives colleagues but cross-party and grateful for the warm welcome from @TracyBrabin and @Steve ReedMP who no doubt will be keeping me on my toes!”

The minister’s responsibilities include early years policy, including inspection and regulation. Her portfolio includes delivery of 30 hours free childcare offer, special educational needs including high needs funding, safeguarding in schools and disadvantaged pupils – including pupil premium and pupil premium plus.

In her 2017 maiden speech as MP, the daughter of a GP and a physiology professor, described the vote for Brexit as “the greatest ever vote of confidence in the project of the United Kingdom”.

(The Guardian)