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CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE FEATURES ON THE COVER OF TELEGRAPH MAGAZINE

Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was featured on the cover of the October 27 issue of Telegraph Magazine, where she discussed Nigeria, misogyny, and the #MeToo movement.

Chimamanda talked about losing faith in Nigeria after her father was kidnapped in 2015, how she feels he was kidnapped because of her.

She said:

It was because of me. That incident affected my father – it robbed him of something; there’s a distrust that he didn’t have before. He comes from a generation with a certain kind of integrity. For a long time he didn’t understand things like bribery – it just perplexed him. My father had given his everything – he got his PhD in the US and he had job offers there in the 1960s, but he was keen to come back to Nigeria. It was post-independence, everyone was very enthusiastic and my father spent his life teaching. I felt that Nigeria had failed him – for a man of his age to be thrown into the boot of a car …That incident broke my heart and it’s the first time I started to seriously question Nigeria.

The cover story is up on the Telegraph website, and you can read it here.

 

 

Credit: Bella Naija

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ACTIVISTS CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO END CHILD BOXING AS 13-YEAR-OLD BOY DIES

The death of 13-year-old Anucha Thasako has led people around Thailand to mount pressure on the government to ban child boxing.

Thasako, according to the BBC, has been fighting in the ring since he was 8 and has been in 170 bouts.

Thasako and his 14-year-old opponent had not been wearing protective headgear during the fight, and Thasako got repeated knocks to the head before falling to the floor.

Thasako’s opponent, Nitikron Sonde, wrote on Facebook that he was saddened by the death.

I regret it. But I have to do my duty to win so I can make enough money to sponsor myself through education.

Thai Boxing, known as Muay Thai, is incredibly popular in the country and children are known to get involved in the sport very early in a bid to support their families.

People in the country have been calling for a reform, with the Thai parliament currently drafting a law that would ban children under 12 from fighting in Muay Thai matches.

The draft, if passed, will require those aged 12 to 15 to be registered, have the permission of their parents. and wear protective gear for professional fights.

Photo Credit: @912CroozeFM

 

Credit: Bella Naija

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REBRANDING: DEBBIE RISE CHANGES NAME TO DEBORAH RISE

Big Brother Naija 2017 housemate Debie Rise has rebrand to Deborah Rise.

In a series of announcements on her Instagram page, the singer announced that she will now be known as Deborah Rise. She has also announced that her next project will be officially released on the 15th of November.

She says:

The 2nd Announcement!
With so much Joy and a heart full of thanksgiving,
I’ll like to announce that:
“The project that has taken me the whole year to work on will finally be out tomorrow with visuals.” Anticipate with Joy..
#DeborahRise
#StillNervous

 

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MO ABUDU AWARDED HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE BY THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER

The University of Westminster has awarded Mo Abudu, founder and chief executive of EbonyLife Media, an honorary degree of Doctor of Arts, in recognition of her outstanding services to broadcasting and enterprise in Nigeria.

The presentation was made during the university’s annual graduation ceremony at the prestigious Royal Festival Hall in London.

The broadcaster and filmmaker attended Westminster in 1993 when she completed a master’s degree in Manpower Studies. After successful careers as a corporate executive and human resources entrepreneur, Mo entered the world of media as the host and producer of Moments with Mo, the first pan-African talk show. In 2012, she went on to found EbonyLife TV, which has grown into a media group, encompassing movie production and global video-on-demand (VoD).

Despite a challenging business environment, 2018 has been a landmark year for Mo Abudu, beginning in March with the announcement by Sony Pictures Television that they had struck a three-project production deal with EbonyLife. The media group celebrated its 5th anniversary in July with the launch of EbonyLife ON, its global VoD service.

In October, Mo was included in The Powerlist, the top 100 most influential people of African and Caribbean heritage in the UK, alongside Meghan Markle, Anthony Joshua and Lewis Hamilton. December marks the release of Chief Daddy, the fifth feature produced by EbonyLife Films.

In her acceptance speech at the ceremony, an impassioned Mo spoke directly to the graduates from the School of Arts and School of Media and Communication:

The most important thing in life is to find your God-given purpose and passion – I mention God because I am a strong Christian and I truly believe he directs my every step. But going back to purpose – please find that thing you are passionate about, that you feel you were born to do. Then, spend every day planning and carrying out that purpose. It’s not always easy to find – but if you persevere, it will never fail you.When things get tough – and they will – just keep forging ahead – stay focused – be tenacious – and eventually your purpose will multiply and become unstoppable!

According to the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Peter Bonfield:

Westminster University awards honorary degrees to those who have made outstanding contributions in their personal and professional lives.

 

 

Credit: Bella Naija

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STEPHANIE LINUS LECTURES STUDENTS OF DILLARD UNIVERSITY, NEW ORLEANS

Over the weekend, Stephanie Linus was invited to speak to the students at Dillard University

The filmmaker, human rights advocate and actress was invited to celebrate the school’s annual Ray Charles Week.

During her visit, she gave a lecture on “The Emergence of African Storytellers and Their New Narrative” and also screened her self-produced and directed movie ‘Dry’ which focuses on fistula and the practice of under-age marriage among young women.

The award-winning actress told the group of young college students at Dillard University in New Orleans:

You have the power to change the narrative of every wrong representation of who you think you are. There is so much you can achieve by telling a story. When I think of a story, I think of it as a connection between myself and my audience, an opportunity for me to take them on a journey that inspires them to learn about themselves and the world around them.

Speaking at the Ray Charles Week hosted by Dillard University Ray Charles Program, Dillard University Film and Dillard University African World Student Organization, the filmmaker encouraged the college students to tap into the power of the media and growth in technology to create a new narrative for themselves.

The media is such a powerful tool of influence that if used properly, can bring about a positive change in almost every sphere of life. It is time for you to look inside yourselves and see the gaps within your society, and find ways to fill these gaps with your narratives. I ask you here today, what is your story? What is that new narrative you desire when you think of black people and black history and what kind of impact do you want it to create?

She encouraged the students to be fearless about telling their stories, adding that by doing so, they could create a better representation of themselves and who they ought to be.

Credit: Bella Naija
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4 WOMEN AMONG 28 CANDIDATES TO CONTEST IN ADAMAWA GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two other women have also been cleared by INEC to run for the position of deputy governor.

The women cleared to run for governor are: Lami Musa of People’s Party of Nigeria (PPN), Na’ama Bulama of Progressive People Alliance (PPA), Rukayya Audu of Action People’s Party (APP) and Elizabeth Isa of Change Advocacy Party (CAP).

Those cleared to run for the position of deputy governor are: Hadiza Mohammedof Democratic Alternative (DA) and Rashida Balarabe of Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD).

Other candidates for the governorship seat are incumbent Gov. Muhammed Bindow of All progressives Congress (APC) and former Adamawa Assembly Speaker and acting Governor, Umaru Fintiri who is Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer.

Others are serving Senator of Adamawa Central Senatorial District who defected from APC to African Democratic Congress (ADC), Abdul-Azeez Nyako is the candidate of ADC, while former House of Representatives member for Gombi/Hong federal constituency is the candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Bappare Umaru, an Islamic Cleric who is the Imam of Jamaatul Nasril Islam (JNI) Friday Mosque in Jimeta area of Yola town, is the candidate of KOWA party and a Christian cleric, Rev. Eric Theman is the candidate of MRDD.

NAN reports that this is the highest number of governorship candidates ever recorded in Adamawa since inception of democracy, a development many say is a positive one and a pointer that people are becoming more interested in participating in politics.

Credit: NAN, Pulse News
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19 BLACK WOMEN RAN FOR JUDGE SEATS IN HARRIS COUNTY AND THEY ALL WON

All 19 black women who ran for various judicial seats in Harris County, Texas, won their races last night, marking the single biggest victory for black women in the county’s history.

The women are being referred to as the #Houston19. Their victory has obvious local impact seeing as Harris County, which encompasses most of Houston, is the third-largest county in the country, and one of the most diverse.

19 Black women ran for Judge seats in Harris County and all won

19 Black women ran for Judge seats in Harris County and all won

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5 FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS TO PITCH FOR #5M IN FUNDING AT THE DEMO DAY OF SHE LEADS AFRICA ACCELERATOR

On Saturday, November 17th, 5 female entrepreneurs will be pitching for N5m in funding at the Demo Day of the She Leads Africa Accelerator.  The Demo Day is the closing ceremony for the 3-month program designed to identify, support and fund the next generation of Nigeria’s brightest entrepreneurs. During the Demo Day, each entrepreneur will have just 5 minutes to pitch their case to a panel of esteemed judges including Odun Eweniyi (Co-founder, Piggybank), Akintunde Oyebode (Executive Secretary, LSETF), and Adia Sowho (VP of Commercial, Mines.io).

Date: Saturday, November 17th, 2018

After a rigorous application process, 10 entrepreneurs were selected from hundreds of applicants to join the 2018 accelerator cohort. The 10 candidates convened in Lagos for 3 residency weeks over 3 months where they received training in business strategy, financial modelling, digital marketing, talent acquisition and more.

The final stage of the process is the Demo Day where the top 5 participants, as selected by their peers have the opportunity to pitch for funding. First place gets N5m, second place, N2m and 3rd place, N1m.

Limited seats are available for this event. If interested in attending, please email programs@sheleadsafrica.org with your name and company.

 

 

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MEET RASHIDA TLAIB AND IIHAN OMAR, THE FIRST MUSLIM WOMEN TO BE ELECTED TO THE US CONGRESS

Palestinian-American Rashida Tlaib and Somali-American Ilhan Omar have become the first Muslim women elected to US Congress.

Tlaib took Michigan’s 13th congressional district in a race in which she was the sole major party candidate. Omar won Minnesota’s strongly Democratic fifth congressional district, replacing the first Muslim congressman, Keith Ellison, who vacated his seat to run in the state’s attorney general race.

Who are Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar?

Tlaib, 42, was born in Detroit to Palestinian immigrant parents.

She made history in 2008 by winning a seat on the Michigan Legislature, becoming the first Muslim woman to do so.

Her campaign platform included pledges to secure a $15 minimum wage, preventing cuts to welfare programmes, such as Medicare and Social Security, as well as stopping tax relief to large corporations.

Omar, who arrived in the US at the age of 14 after fleeing civil war in Somalia, campaigned on a similarly progressive platform, which calls for universal healthcare and tuition-free colleges.

She said her political life began attending local Democratic Farmer Labor party caucuses with her grandfather after arriving in the US.

 

Credit: Al Jazeera

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PRESIDENT BUHARI APPOINTS ABIKE DABIRI AS CEO OF NATIONAL DIASPORA COMMISSION

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Abike Dabiri-Erewa, as chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Diaspora Commission.

This was contained in a letter of approval sent to the national assembly which was read by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to the rest of the Senate during plenary on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Abike Dabiri, who was a former member of the house of representative, was the Special adviser to the President on Foreign affairs and Diaspora prior to this new appointment.

Credit: NAN

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