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Haminatu Usman, a student of Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State was in the school dormitory on February 19, 2018 when Boko Haram terrorists stormed the place and successfully kidnapped 110 of her schoolmates.

“When we heard the gunshots, all the students ran to the school gate. When we reached the school gate and were trying to open it, two vehicles parked in front of it”, Usman tells Pulse in an exclusive chat in her school compound.

On the chalkboard in her classroom, the words “the day I will never forget in my life; 19 Feb 2018,” are scrawled in bold letters.

The school itself is deserted. It’s been that way since the mass abduction, a teacher mutters to Pulse.

Dapchi schoolgirl tells Pulse how Boko Haram kidnapped 110  

The school dormitory has stayed the same since the abduction

(Pulse)

The beds in the hostel still have the sheets of February 19, the plates in the school dining have been left the same way and in the distance, a bird chirps inconsolably.

Dapchi town itself wears a ghost look these days. A couple of men show us round the school while watching their backs in trepidation.

The air around Dapchi is dry. The atmosphere on the street is tense.

“When we saw the vehicles parked before us,  we jumped over the school fence. About half of the students were standing outside.  Some of us ran towards the vehicles believing it was the police”, Usman continued, her eyes welling up with tears and palpable grief.

Usman says a Boko Haram commander grabbed her hijab as she made to flee.

Dapchi schoolgirl tells Pulse how Boko Haram kidnapped 110  

Dapchi school compound where the abduction took place

(Pulse)

“After seeing others go in that direction, I went in that direction too. When I saw him, I remembered that Boko Haram members wear turbans wrapped around their faces so I exclaimed and withdrew.

“I was about to escape when one of them grabbed my hijab. I pulled it off and managed to escape. I ran back to the hostel but they followed us inside with their vehicle. But some of us ran to the bush and managed to escape”, she says in an emotion laden voice.

A teacher at the school says the terrorists arrived during prayers.

“When we were praying, they just came. So we heard them shooting in the town. Everyone was sad because of the fear and shooting.

“So we were running here and there but they didn’t kill anyone. Their aim I think was to capture the children and they got some of them which they left with”.

Another staff who preferred that his name be left out of this story, reels out the names of the missing girls from a sheet of paper spread before him; whilst sat on a mat with other teachers and parents crest-fallen behind him.

Dapchi schoolgirl tells Pulse how Boko Haram kidnapped 110  

A staff reads out names of abducted Dapchi girls

(Pulse)

“…She was in JS3. You’ll see her phone number. My child has been abducted. She was named Aisha Kachalla. She was in SS2C. Behind me here is Garba Tella.

“His daughter’s name is Zainab Abubakar and she was abducted too.

“Habiba Musa Jakana. She was in SS3 and she was 20 years old. If you see her, she is crippled”, he continues, his voice trailing off.

Another staff at the school says Boko Haram members who led the operation pretended they were there to help the girls; a deception that led to more girls ending up in their arms and trucks.

“They took so many students from the hostels. The leaders were shouting ‘come let us help you”’.

He adds that there’s still no security in the school.

“We don’t have any security for such situations. In order to avoid future occurrence, I’m pleading with the government to provide security because the moment the government says the school should be reopened, the parents will not allow their children to come because everyone is now thinking that we are not safe.

“You have gone round the school. Have you seen any security men? No. We are now just living on our own”.

Culled from Pulse News

Wife of the President of the Senate, Toyin Ojora-Saraki, has been named as special adviser to the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO).

The Media Office of Toyin Saraki, in a statement in Abuja on Monday, said the appointment was made earlier this month by WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti.

“This move is intended to bring Mrs Saraki’s considerable frontline experience to bear on WHO’s strategy and policy.”

Toyin Ojora-Saraki had since accepted the appointment based on the Advisory Group’s focus on women and children’s health and in view of her role as a global champion for Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC).

“I welcome the Advisory Group meeting’s focus on the health of women, children and adolescents as flagship indicators for Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) progress.

“As a global champion for UHC, I advocate for a fuller understanding of its benefits, which go beyond health outcomes and include improved gender equality, higher levels of preparedness for epidemic outbreaks and transformative economic effects.

“As Global Goodwill Ambassador for the International Confederation of Midwives, I particularly welcome the introduction of WHO AFRO’s focused curriculum for the professional qualification education of Midwives and Nurses in Africa,” she said.

“I am looking forward to hitting the ground running in my new role as special adviser at the Independent Advisory Group meeting this week in Johannesburg.

“The experience I have gained as Founder-President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, working closely with our midwives on the frontline, as part of the global Every Woman, Every Child Strategy to end all preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths, including stillbirths, by 2030, will inform my advice to the WHO,” she added.

Nigerian-American afro-futuristic writer Nnedi Okorafor will write a 3-part spin-off series off the world-acclaimed superhero movie, Black Panther, Marvel, producers of the blockbuster have announced.

Marvel decided to portray the Dora Milaje characters in Black Panther in a more independent light with the 3-part series.

One of the major highlights of Black Panther was the Dora Milaje, the all-female special forces team that protects the secretive fictional African country of Wakanda.

The first part of the series will be “Amazing Spiderman: Wakanda Forever #1” in June, followed by “X-Men: Wakanda Forever #1” in July and finally “Avengers: Wakanda Forever #1” in August

The Dora Milaje women in the superhero movie, Black Panther (Marvel Studios)

Speaking to Vogue, Okorafor elaborates on the series.

She said, “Typically when you see them, they’re with T’Challa, representing and protecting him. Now you’re going to see the Dora Miljae for the first time as an independent entity; they’re not under the shadow of the throne.”

On how she felt about writing the series, the award-winning author said it felt natural telling an African story.

“It’s been amazing, and I’ve learned so much along the way. Presenting a vision of the African continent through the sci-fi lens felt completely natural. I like to write the future; the Africa I feel can be and the Africa that will be, that has always been my vision. With Wakanda, a place set in the present but with a futuristic outlook, it wasn’t a hard transition—it made a lot of sense”, she added.

Nnedi Okorafor is an international award-winning novelist of African-based science fiction, fantasy and magical realism for both children and adults.

Born in the United States to two Nigerian parents, Nnedi is known for weaving African culture into creative evocative settings and memorable characters.

In 2016, she won the Hugo Award in the Best Novella category for her book Binti, making her the first Nigerian to win the award.

In 2017, Nnedi  announced via Twitter that she would be crafting her first story for Marvel, an 8-page comic titled “Blessing in Disguise”.

The comic is set in Lagos, and will feature as part of Marvel’s Venomverse anthology.

According to the Global Competitiveness Report, Rwanda is the best place to be a woman in Africa, followed by Malawi, Mauritius and Namibia; and fourth globally after Iceland, Norway and Finland.

While other African countries have mostly ignored women empowerment movements, Rwanda is a global leader in commitments related to the #HeforShe campaign – the global solidarity movement for gender equality, developed by UN women and spearheaded by men in support of justice and equality for women.

While Rwanda is not perfect yet, according to the UN, rates of domestic violence are considered high in the country, it still sets an example for Africa and the world in terms of women’s participation across industries.

Nigeria is still (the ninth worst place in Africa and the world to be a woman).

Credit: konbini.com

Multi Award winning artist Rihanna has slammed International  multimedia messaging app Snapchat  for it’s  insensitive advert .

Snapchat recently posted an AD for a game called “Would You Rather?”, featured photos of the two singers and asked users if they would “rather slap Rihanna or punch Chris Brown.”

Brown pleaded guilty in 2009 to assaulting Rihanna during an argument when they were dating.
The “Would You Rather” ad was removed earlier this week, and Snapchat released an apology saying “The advert was reviewed and approved in error, as it violates our advertising guidelines”

Rihanna slammed the company via a statement on  her Snapchat account, criticizing the company for making light of domestic violence.

She wrote”Now SNAPCHAT I know you already know you ain’t my fav app out there! But I’m just trying to figure out what the point was with this mess!” the singer wrote. “I’d love to call it ignorance but I know you ain’t that dumb. You spent money to animate something that would intentionally bring shame to DV victims and made a joke of it.”

 

Credit: fabwoman.ng

Uju Christy Okoye is a (Life Savvy) Lifesyle Entrepreneur who helps self Drive
​ individuals create their Niche and earn income online.​ ​The Ceo Jidekaijitv has a multi passionate personality, with a vision to touch and impact lives through mentoring and ​coaching,. She ​fe​lt ​ inferior ​while ​growing up because her dad wished she and her sisters came to the world as boys s​. Uju s​hares her story of self discovery in this interview

Growing up
I have grown past​ my pain​, ​my struggle and my presumed worth as a girl child when I was born the last child of 7 children 6 girls and a boy.I was expected to be a boy. I was just 5 years when my dad brought in a second wife and introduced to my mum, who had 7 children 6 girls and a boy. The only reason was he wanted more boys. I felt neglected l felt not worthy, I felt not up to standard on boy.

I kept asking why? Why the discrimination, Then, it effected my view on Marriage and life but not anymore.I am a woman a strong woman. It took me years after of self discovery and personal love and development to understand my worth. I’m a girl not different compare to boy.

Uju!
I’m multi passionate personality. (Life Savvy) Lifestyle Entrepreneur Helping self Driven individuals create their Niches doing what they love, what makes them happy.I am the Ceo of Jidekaijitv, Founder Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Hub, Coach/Mentor @Lifestyle mastery Academy an online Course. Travel consultant, Lifestyle Entrepreneur Influencer. Tele communication, reseller. Teens/Young Adult Advocate. Touching and impacting lives positively, branding, unveiling happiness, success not just our nation but around the globe, is very crucial to me. I have gotten an experienced in the uniqueness of cultural diversity from opportunity I got previous years to travel to at least four different countries,
My 2008-2018 journey of self discovery, young wife, then, young mother then personal and business development seminars workshop, trainings with like minded professionals in their various filled.
Struggle to understand Portuguese language in other to cope with good communication, trying to get clear details of who I really want to be my passion and vision getting more clarity on it, trying to perfect in my Lifestyle entrepreneur niche. Weeping and waiting upon the Lord for another child after traumatic miscarriage that almost take my life. I found solace in writing books which later become part of my success story today.

My 7 Intriguing, informative, inspiring, Books has a lot to say about Lifestyles daily events of life. Unveiling shocking secret in different angle of our life events. My favorite scripture ; Phil 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ that strengthen me.

Tell us more about Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Hub?
Lifestyle Entrepreneur Hub is a group Where we brand, influence, Teach, Learn, impact and give values to great Leaders, extra ordinary Entrepreneur, We Learn/Teach everything that has to do with lifestyle, career, money, love, relationship’s, adventures The group is for all individual to Live a happy, successful, Lifestyles because you deserve. Life is a journey we got to be sure of where we going, enjoy the process no matter the bombs on the way we have to keep moving till we get to our final destination. Living our dream lives. Living outstanding legacy behind.

Jidekaijitv
JIDEKAJI It’s a TV show and Reality series, coming to WAP TV, African magic Igbò! and other like minded television channels! Our show offer a chances to showcase interested businesses/companies owners, if you’re Public figure or Not, You’re qualify if your Private business owners. You don’t have to be a celebrity before the world see your talents, brands, products. I know there are Many Extraordinary people doing extra ordinary things.. We believe that you all exist. Our priority is to help you showcase and Advertise your products/brands not just to Local potential clients/customers but also global and international limelight in all major Television channels,social media, our websites and cable Networks.

Let the world get to see what value you offer to your customers, what motivate/drives you. If you’re God fearing, inspiring, hard working business entrepreneurs with a vision to touch lives positively through your brands/ products and recommendations to your customers to put smile on their faces and get value for their money. We show up and take your business to global level to the glory of God.

Challenges
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, my line of work is huge, and its cost a lot, anyone that’s familiar in Media/Telecommunications business will agree with me, that it’s not walk in the park. It’s tough, expensive, and energetic.

My discrimination and emotional trauma experience
Yes The emotional trauma I went through while growing as a result of gender discrimination left me with some sort of fear of marriage, but my marriage to my husband is one of the best thing that happened to me, because he he proved to be totally different from my fear, He does not bother about gender, going through secondary infertility, after we had our daughter, he always assured me God will bless us again at His time, I will purposely ask him what if we have another girl, He will tell me baby, its God gift, whether girl or boy. Its give me great confidence that he understands. After Waiting for six years we welcomed our 2nd child a son. I have come to embrace the woman I am. I have come to love me for who I am.

Other Projects and Activities
We are currently running offline/online training, empowering self driving individual the need to make extra income doing what they are passionate about. Ranging from Media, Telecommunications, Entrepreneur, Networking, we are on digital world where we do a whole lot legitimately using our internet connected smart phone.

How I unwind
I listen to my body, as a Lifestyle Entrepreneur, Living a healthy, happy adventurous life is a way of life to me, I know when to rest, when to go for Spa, and beauty treatment, when to travel for vacation, when to take time off work and relax have fun with my lovely family, my Adorable Extraordinary kids (Princess and prince) they know exactly how to make mummy happy and relaxing with them see new movie at cinema or just have a quite private moment listening to my favorite lyrics at home it’s one of best feelings

Greatest Reward
My Lovely Husband and my Adorable children are my greatest reward. Great supportive, my prayer warrior our mum, my Families/ friends, my Co-host (My Twinny) my Partners, & crews. God gave them to me for a divine purpose they always support me and be proud of me. To me its the best reward ever.

Where I see my brand in the next five years
Like the saying goes, if your dream does not scare you, it means it’s not big enough. I see JIDEKAIJI GLOBAL SERVICES In the next 5 years to become not just a household name for our nation but around the globe, just like our Name. Jidekaiji means (keep it up) We will keep up our great work globally touching, impacting, influencing, changing lives positively.

Over the weekend, a clip of young Nigerian girls dancing to DJ Spinall and Wizkid’s new song, ‘Nowo’ went viral. It was shared by Rihanna, who used it to celebrate her Apple Music streaming milestone, and Naomi Campbell, who called them ‘dancing queens’

The girls are part of a dance group called Dream Catchers, a team of less-privileged children whose welfare — from education to shelter — are taken care of by its founder, Seyi Oluyole. She uses dance to encourage them to stay in school.

The group took to Instagram to thank Rihanna, Naomi and Diddy — who also shared a clip of the dance group over the weekend — for the publicity. “All our lives, people have looked down on us, but an acknowledgement from [Diddy] has given us hope”, they said on Instagram.

Speaking about the dance crew, Rihanna said:

“I speak on behalf of the entire social media when I say you really brought pure joy to our spirits just by seeing how happy you are when you dance!”

You can follow Dream Catchers on Instagram and learn more about their journey on Oluyole’s website.

 

Credit: konbini.com

Nigerian singer and rapper, Saeon Moruda a.k.a Omo Ibadan has shared the story of her battle with endometriosis and it is very inspiring.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Saeon took to Instagram to recount her ordeal last year after suffering from Endometriosis, a Cystic Ovary and Fibroid, which she went through surgery for.

Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus called “the endometrium”, is found outside the uterus, where it induces a chronic inflammatory reaction that may result in scar tissue.

Now advocating for a walk against Endometriosis and campaigning for a walk against the ailment, the young beautiful musician wrote;

“Last year I went through a tough ordeal. I had been experiencing really excruciating menstrual cramps for a year and they got worse with every cycle. I eventually found out I had been dealing with Endometriosis, a Cystic Ovary and Fibroids; all of which I had to be operated on for.

Prior to the diagnosis, I hadn’t really heard of or paid attention to Endometriosis and I catch myself wishing I had been educated on it as this knowledge could have helped in earlier diagnosis and my not having to go through the stress of some symptoms I dealt with experiencing really excruciating menstrual cramps for a year and they got worse with every cycle.”

 

 

 

Source: fabwoman.ng

 

Oluremi Comfort Sonaiya is a Nigerian politician, educationalist and writer. She was Nigeria’s only female presidential candidate in the 2015 presidential election under the  KOWA Party , she has also declared her desire to run for president again in 2019 under the same party.

Oluremi Comfort Sonaiya was born March 2, 1955 in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state. She completed her primary and secondary school education at St. Luke’s Demonstration School, Ibadan, and St. Anne’s School, Ibadan.

In 1977, she graduated from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where she studied French.She later obtained a Master of Arts degree in French Literature from Cornell University in the United States, and another master’s degree in Linguistics from a university in Nigeria in 1984.

She returned to Cornell in 1988 to pursue a Ph.D. in Linguistics. After which she returned to continue lecturing in the Department of Foreign Languages of the Obafemi Awolowo University which she had joined in 1982 as an Assistant Lecturer. She became a professor of French Language and Applied Linguistics in 2001.

Political Career

In 2010, she retired from her position at Obafemi Awolowo University and became politically active, joining the KOWA Party where she was voted its National Public Relations Officer and went on to be the party’s candidate for the 2015 Presidential election.At the election, she received 13,076 votes and finished in 12th place.

Mrs. Sonaiya contributes regularly to Nigerian media discourse.  she is currently a columnist with The Niche, a weekly (Sunday) newspaper. She has published three books on the Nigerian (and African) condition: A Trust to Earn – Reflections on Life and Leadership in Nigeria (2010); Igniting Consciousness – Nigeria and Other Riddles (2013); and Daybreak Nigeria – This Nation Must Rise! (2014).

She also a recipient of various international research grants and fellowships, including the French Government Grant for Advanced Researchers and the German Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship and the first Nigerian to be appointed as the Ambassador Scientist of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, a position she occupied from 2008 to 2014.  In 1986 she received the American Association of University Women.

Mrs. Sonaiya is married to Babafunso Sonaiya, a professor of Animal Science, and they have two grown children and two grandsons.

 

 

 

Credit: fabwoman.ng