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Human rights activist, Dele Farotimi has said that President Bola Tinubu cannot isolate himself from the failures of his predecessor’s administration.
Farotimi insisted that Tinubu actively marketed Muhammadu Buhari to Nigerians in the buildup to the 2015 general elections, hence his involvement in the deeds of the past government.
The pro-Labour Party activist stated this during an appearance on Channels Television on Friday.
He argued that nothing has changed since May 2015, when the All Progressives Congress (APC) took over from ex-President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“The evidence of the last nine months are unimpeachable and cannot be denied. I know that the convenient excuse is that Buhari had damaged it (Nigeria) and he (Tinubu) is repairing it but who brough Buhari? Who was the chief marketer of Buhari in 2014/2015 when the ‘Change’ lie was sold to Nigerians?” he queried.
Speaking further, Farotimi advised Nigerians to prepare for more economic hardship caused by the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange windows.
“I am going to be 56 years old this year and in my entire lifetime, we have never been far away from greatness than we are today. The future of Nigeria appears bleak than it has ever been in my entire lifetime,” he added.
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He blamed the rot in Nigeria on “each and every one of us” but “most importantly, the “complete breakdown of the rule of law”.
Veteran Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic, has disclosed the delay in getting married was intentional.
Naija News reports that the movie star made this known in an interview with JOY TV.
Recall that in 2022, Rita Dominic, at age 46, married Nigerian Publisher, Fidelis Anosike, in a star-studded ceremony.
The thespian gave reasons for marrying late, saying she wanted to ensure she was marrying for the right reasons and not because of societal pressure.
She said, “We were friends for a long time, we found love date and we got married. I waited for so long because I wanted to be sure I was marrying for the right reasons and not for societal pressure. Even before I got married, there were pressure but I just turned deaf ear because if anything goes wrong in the marriage, I will be the one to pack up the pieces and you know the society. I promise to do it at the right time, and I believe I married at the right time.”
Blames insecurity, killings
Restiveness and killings in Anambra State and the Southeast geopolitical zone in general will deny women the opportunity of having spouses.
The declaration was made in the report of the Anambra Truth, Justice and Peace Commission (ATJPC), the Executive Summary of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka, the state capital, yesterday.
It noted that restiveness and killings had resulted in a structural problem of demographic sustainability because women were finding it difficult to find mating partners.
The report stated that women are some of the worst-hit victims as they have suffered and might continue to suffer from killings, rape, loss of husbands and sons, and denial of livelihoods.
It noted also that thousands of young people had been killed since 1999 when restiveness became pronounced in the region, just as many had fled the rural areas.
“The killings from the ongoing violence in Igboland generally and in Anambra in particular due to violent crimes and claims of agitation have once again disproportionately affected the stock of young males in the region.
“It has reduced the likelihood that women will be able to find suitable mating or marriageable partners while also increasing the likelihood that females will end up unmarried and reproductively unfulfilled.
“It will further swell the number of unmarried women in the region, particularly among those who reside in the homeland and have limited interaction outside the boundaries of home.
“These women could remain unmarried or wait out their productive years in search of a suitor who has likely been killed.
“They may feel intimidated about giving birth to a child outside marriage for fear of being labeled wayward and humiliating their families for birthing children into illegitimacy,” it declared.
The report recalled the case of Amaka Igwe, the lawyer who was killed in Onitsha alongside her husband.
It also recalled the killing of Harira Jubril near Umunze in Orumba South Local Government Area on May 25, 2022 alongside her four daughters.
It stated that the killings had resulted into destitution or dependencies among men and had led to economic impoverishment for many women, mass widowhood and enforced childlessness.
It noted that in rural or farming communities, polygamy had remained prevalent and women’s access to land depended on their relationship with the men in their lives.
The livelihood consequences of the killings for women could be very severe, it stressed.
“Married women who have no sons can lose access to land and to subsistence in a political economy in which re-marriage can be quite difficult for a woman with children.
“Naturally, the additional stress of this kind of life on top of the trauma of the disappearance of the husband or bread-winner can lead to diminished outcomes for physical and mental health.
“As many communities devolved subsequently into more generalised forms of atrocity and violence, hospitals and healthcare facilities had been destroyed in the restiveness.
“Healthcare workers had become afraid of showing up for work and access to reproductive healthcare and facilities had become more rarefied in the rural areas.
“Unlike most other parts of Nigeria which have a problem of girl-child school enrolment, Anambra leads the states of Southeast Nigeria in a unique regional problem of diminishing boy-child school enrolment and retention,” it stated.
It noted that women typically contributed to the livelihood and education of their children, but with their sources of income cut off, their children were denied access to basic nutrition and to social services.
The report stressed that consequences of insecurity had negated previous progress made on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Anambra as young boys abandoned education and fled their communities for fear of being killed or abducted.
The United Nations created 17 world development goals called the SDGs in 2015 with the aim of peace and prosperity for people and the planet, then and into the future.
The goals have 2030 as their attainment target date.
Anambra’s 14-man ATJPC was inaugurated in June 2022 to investigate insecurity in Anambra and the Southeast in general.
It submitted its final report to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Wednesday.
It had Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, a human rights lawyer and former Chairman of Nigeria Human Rights Commission, as its chairman.
Says 24 million Nigerians currently in food crisis
Customs intercepts 880 bags of beans, 584 bags of onions, others
About 31.5 million people, including 83,846 IDPs in 26 states and the FCT, are expected to be in crisis or worse between June and August 2024, a report, Cadre Harmonisé, has said.
The report also stated that 24.7 million people including 14,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will be in food crisis or worse between March and May 2024.
Cadre Harmonisé is a food and nutrition insecurity analysis by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with technical partners including the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Analysiing the result further, it noted that about 1.1 million people in Adamawa State are expected to be in crisis or worse between June and August 2024, and about 2.1 million people in Borno are expected to be in crisis or worse between June and August this year, while 1.5 million people in Yobe are expected to be in crisis or worse between June and August this year.
Also, deteriorated food consumption situation was also observed among populations in the inaccessible areas and the IDPs in Adanawa, Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.
It noted that the deteriorating food consumption results from a significant spike in food prices due to high production and transportation costs caused by the removal of fuel subsidies and its resultant impact on inflation and consumer price index rates on both food and basic non-food items.
The report noted that the high cost of transport, inflation rate, and the volatile dollar-naira exchange rate have negatively affected households’ income.
In the projected period (June to August 2024), poor microeconomic conditions and conflicts are expected to drive limited access to livelihood opportunities.
“The nutrition situation in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) and northwest states of Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara revealed the prevalence of malnutrition for Under-5 children to be in crisis in the current situation.
However, the report said key drivers of the crisis include conflict and insecurity, fuel scarcity, naira devaluation currency crisis, and rising inflation and Consumer Price Index (CPI) rates.
In his remarks, Country Representative of the FAO to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Koffy Kouacou Dominique, said the FAO will continue to support the Cadre Harmonisé process, especially in terms of funding as well as technical support and capacity building, across the country.
Dominique, who was represented by the Deputy FAO Country Representative, Suleiman Abubakar, said the Cadre Harmonisé analysis produces the most reliable and widely acceptable data/results for humanitarian programming and food security.
Read Also: NLC to Fed Govt: let salaries, wages be commensurate with cost of living
Also, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Temitope Fashedemi, who was represented by the Director of Special duties, Adedayo Modupe, said the government has put machinery in place to address the challenges to food and nutrition insecurity.
Meanwhile, the Seme border command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, Ikeja has intercepted 880 bags of white beans, 584 bags of onions and 400 sacks of grains on the verge of being smuggled into Benin Republic.
The unit also intercepted export bound trucks loaded with 18 bags of dry pepper at Ajilete/Idiroko Road in Ogun State.
During a press briefing in Lagos yesterday, its Area Controller, Hussein Ejibunu, said instead of seizing the food items, the unit ensured the trucks were re-directed to the Nigerian markets where they were sold to Nigerians by the owners.
The Customs chief also raised the alarm over smugglers new defined means of smuggling foreign parboiled rice in petroleum Jerry cans.
According to him, the act is not only illegal but also exposes the potential consumers to the risk of eating contaminated grains that have ingested poisonous properties possibly from premium motor spirit (PMS), diesel or other petroleum products.
“Due to violation of various sections of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, and the federal government import and export prohibition guidelines, we vigorously and relentlessly prosecuted our anti-smuggling campaign which resulted in a total number of 93 seizures, arrest of nine suspects made to prevent smuggling and protect our national economy. The seizures made are worth a total duty paid value of N751.1million.
“As usual, rice was top on the list of our February 2024 seizures in terms of volume and value. A total of 3,779 X 50kg bags of suspected foreign rice equivalent to over seven trailer loads worth over N365 million were seized from various parts of the South West.
“Other items seized in the month under review include one locally made gun and six pieces of empty cartridges at Abeokuta road, 731 parcels of Indian hemp weighing 482kg, 1 X 40ft container found to contain 286 cartons of new rubber slippers, seven units of used motorcycles, 28,000 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS) and 2,420 pieces of used tyres.
“Worthy of note is the interception of export bound three trucks headed to the Republic of Benin laden with 880 bags of white beans, 584 bags of onions and 18 bags of dry pepper at Ajilete/Idiroko road in Ogun state.
“Instead of seizing the food items, this Unit ensured the trucks were re-directed to the Nigerian markets where they were sold to Nigerians by the owners. The seizures made are worth a total duty paid value of N751.1million,” he stated.
Ejibunu also disclosed that N78.16 million was recovered as revenue into the federation account through the issuance of Demand Notice (DN) on Customs duties that were discovered to be underpaid.
“We also prevented the smuggling of eleven exotic used vehicles worth over N200 million into the country through our area of responsibility. Smugglers of these vehicles met our stiff resistance against their duty evasion and deviant behaviour.”
Ejibunu added that the “sum of N78,164,255.20 was recovered as revenue into the federation account through the issuance of demand notices (DN) on Customs duties that were discovered to be underpaid.
“These outcomes were achieved despite the unrepentant behaviour of economic saboteurs who deploy many tricks and antics to beat our checks but they failed.
As we approach the Easter celebration, he said, “we have strengthened our intelligence-led anti-smuggling operations strategies to forestall any attempt by smugglers and duty evaders to circumvent the law.”
Taraba state chief judge, Justice Joel Agya, on Friday, sentenced one Yusufa Adamu and Adamu Abdullahi to death by hanging for kidnapping Balkisu Kambe and Maryam Musa in Gashaka Local Government area of the State.
Agya, who delivered the judgment at the Taraba High Court 1 in Jalingo said the prosecution counsel has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the duo committed the crime in 2019.
He also found them guilty on the charges of criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms, and he sentenced each of them to 10 years without the option of a fine for each of the offences making it 20 years each.
The judge explained that the sentence on criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms would take effect from 2019 when they were arrested and detained.
According to him, the defendants had made confessional statements individually about the kidnapping of Balkisu Kambe at Angwan America in Baruwa on Sept 29, 2019, and that of Maryam Musa on Sept 2, 2019, at Serti and others in Gashaka Local Government area where they collected ransom.
He noted that one of the victims, Kambe identified the defendants as members of the gang that abducted her in her house when they could not find her husband in his room on that day, saying they unmasked themselves when they took her to the bush for two days before her husband sent them N1,000,000 ransom.
“Based on Section Three, paragraph eight of the Kidnapping and Abduction Law of Taraba 2019, I hereby sentence you to death by hanging on the neck, may God have mercy on your souls.
“You however, have the right to apply to the Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy to for the sentence to be committed to life imprisonment especially since no life was lost in the process of kidnapping,” he said.
Mr Samson Gimba, the Prosecution counsel hailed the judgement as sound and commendable.
Mr Mahanar Puki, counsel to the defendants had pleaded for mercy when the guilty verdict was pronounced before the judge passed the sentence.
Puki had told the court that the convicts were first-time offenders and had shown remorse throughout the period of trial and should be shown some mercy.
The Nigeria Police, Abia Command, has rescued 16 pregnant women and eight children at a baby factory in Aba, its Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, said in a statement on Friday in Umuahia.
Chinaka, however, refused to disclose the location of the baby factory in Aba, opining that further details could compromise ongoing investigation.
She said the Police also arrested one Onyinyechi Okoro (29) and Ekene Okezie (32), suspected operators of the baby factory.
According to the statement, the rescued persons are: Joy Mathew (27), Stella Okon (22), Bella Okon (19) and Idara Emmanuel (24).
Others are: Blessing Okon (19), Blessing Edet (20), Promise Akpan (22), Joy Edet (17), Josephine Asuquo (19) and Glory John (19).
Goodness Peter (20), Ifeoma Ozoemena (22), Victoria Robert (20), Blessed Monday (17), Victoria Liberty (21) and Anita Sunday (21) were also rescued by the Police.
Among the eight children rescued are five females – China Marvelous (11), Nancy Sunday (9), Marvelous Sunday (6), Martha Ubong (2) and Deborah Ndifreke (2).
Three male children among those rescued are: Praise Answer (2) Goodness Destiny (4) and Victor Aniebeti (2).
Chinaka said the victims were rescued when the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Aba, using credible information, raided the baby factory on March 7.
According to her, the rescued girls and children are kept by Mrs Onyinyechi Okoro from Ihechiowa in Arochukwu LGA and from Arondizuogu in Ideato LGA of Imo.
The PPRO said that discreet investigations were ongoing regarding the baby factory’s operations.
She, therefore, urged people to be security conscious and support police activities by volunteering information on suspects and criminal activities.
Chinaka said the police remained committed to protecting law -abiding citizens, adding that it would continue to ensure the safety of lives and property of residents of Abia.
The remains of the late Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, as well as those of his wife and son, have arrived Nigeria.
The corpses of the Wigwes arrived the Port Harcourt International Airport from United States, US, on Friday.
The funeral of the trio will hold on Saturday at Isiokpo, his hometown, in Ikwerre LGA of Rivers State.
Wigwe, alongside his wife, son, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the former group chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), died in a helicopter crash at the border of Nevada and California in the US last month.
Since their death, tributes have continued to pour in for Wigwe as sympathizers recalled his deeds while alive.
An Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun State, on Friday remanded nine persons for allegedly kidnapping and killing six girls for money ritual.
The Police charged the defendants, whose addresses were not provided, with kidnapping, murder, robbery and conspiracy.
The defendants are: Moses Aruwaji, 45, Adebayo Azeez, 32, Mariam Aruwaji, 42, Akinwunmi, 20 and Sheriff Agbani, 23.
Others are: Samuel Monday, 42, Osojieahon Aijonohouria, 24, Peter Oluwalolese, 48 and Jamiu Yufuf, 48.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, CSP Adaramola Felix, informed the court that the defendants and others still at large, committed the offenses between September 28 2023 and January 11.
Felix said the defendants conspired among themselves to kidnap and kill the victims – Sulaimon Adijat, Lucy Blessing, Lawal Adunni, Olarewaju Abosede, Ezeh Chom and one Pretty – for ritual purposes.
He said they also robbed Adijat of her cellphone valued at N70,000.
The prosecutor said the offenses contravened Sections 23(2), 24(2), 319(2) and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr D. O. Ilo said the defendants should be remanded in Ibara Correctional Centre, pending advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The magistrate did not take the plea of the defendants.
She adjourned the case until May 8 for further hearing.
Famous Nigerian singer, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has spoken about his relationship with colleague, Burna Boy.
Wizkid, speaking in his latest interview, explained that they initially met while working on Burna Boy’s album “African Giant.”
Sharing a humorous incident from their collaboration studio, he said things took an unexpected turn after his inebriation
despite the initial hiccup.
Wizkid further referred to Burna Boy as his family, adding that having two great people in the same room will undoubtedly result in some amazing music.
In the video, Wizkid said; “Burna Boy and I are like family, when you have two great people in the room, you are bound to make amazing music.”
The son of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Bello El-Rufai, has submitted that the Labour Party (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi is not in the league of President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, Tinubu is far better than Obi, and the former Anambra State Governor can’t even be compared to the likes of former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola or his father, Mallam El-Rufai.
The younger El-Rufai made the submission during a chat with Seun Okinbaloye on the latest edition of the Mic on Podcast.
He added that if the opposition parties really wanted to defeat Tinubu in the last general elections, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Obi himself should have worked together.
On those with the habit of dragging people online or offline, El-Rufai said he is not afraid to be called out and is ready to reply accordingly.
See the video.
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A human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has called for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the financial dealings of cabinet members and appointees who served under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The former president’s tenure, which spanned from 2015 to 2023, has come under scrutiny following the trial of ex-Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
In a statement released on Friday, Olajengbesi highlighted the urgent need for such a probe, pointing to “startling revelations” that have emerged from Emefiele’s trial, notably the alleged forgery of signatures belonging to Buhari and the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
These allegations, part of a $6.2 million fraud case related to funding for foreign observers in the last elections, have raised serious concerns about the integrity of financial transactions conducted during Buhari’s presidency.
Olajengbesi praised the EFCC’s efforts in bringing to light these allegations and emphasized the importance of extending the investigation to cover all individuals who held positions of power during the eight-year period.
He argued that auditing the financial transactions of Buhari’s government officials is crucial to ensuring accountability and transparency within Nigeria’s public sector.
The lawyer’s call for an expanded probe comes at a time when the EFCC is intensifying its efforts to combat corruption and financial crimes within the country.
By investigating former cabinet members and government appointees, the EFCC would be taking a significant step towards dismantling corrupt practices and reinforcing the principles of good governance.
Olajengbesi said, “The audacity of those in power and their criminal influence is becoming too much and must be stopped.
“The EFCC must not stop at just the former CBN Governor Godwin, Emefiele, but should carry out an entire audit of principal actors who served under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. There should be a deterrent for bad behavior.
“Again, the case of the suspended Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency, Ahmad Salihijo over alleged N1.2bn fraud is fresh, and a pointer to the gross abuse of power by those who served under Buhari.
“Emefiele and all those who served under the Buhari adminis8⅞ÿÿtration should be properly audited and given a chance to clear their names as the corruption that manifested under that government is gargantuan.”
The apex Igbo sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has urged President Bola Tinubu to strategically overhaul his economic team.
Ohanaeze said strategically overhauling his economic team would address the escalating crisis in the Southwest and North.
It said Tinubu should emulate former President Olusegun Obasanjo and allow globally renowned Igbos steer his restructured economic team.
In a statement he signed, factional Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said: “President Tinubu should promptly consider a strategic overhaul of his Economic Team to address the escalating crises witnessed in the North and Southwest regions.
“It is paramount for President Tinubu to recognize the prevailing atmosphere of relative peace in the Southeast, underscored by the absence of rampant looting of essential resources that has plagued regions such as Abuja, parts of the North, and Southwest.
“Acknowledging the integral role played by Ndigbo as the economic backbone of Nigeria, President Tinubu is implored to draw inspiration from the leadership demonstrated by former president Obasanjo’s economic team, which was steered by globally renowned Igbo economists. Central to this proposal is the establishment of a new economic consortium led by Igbo professionals and advocating for Nigeria’s integration into the BRICS economic bloc, fostering a robust Naira that can compete effectively with other currencies through the discontinuation of the Dollar in Nigeria.”
Are you aware Yoruba is not only spoken in Nigeria? It is predominantly across some other countries you will read about here. Yoruba is one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria; it is mostly spoken in the Southwestern part of the country. The language has its roots as a Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo language family.
Farming is a major occupation; trading too is an integral aspect of the lives of Yoruba people. Cocoa is a major cash crop including maize, plantains, yams, groundnuts, and millet. In terms of artistic skills and productivity, Yorubas have always been among the best in Africa. Traditionally, women engage in basket weaving, cotton spinning, and cloth dyeing. Bronze casting was at its peak in Yoruba land between the 13th and 14th centuries and has since been a symbol of excellence across West Africa.
1. Salvador, Brazil
Brazil, one of the Yoruba-speaking countries, has a history of African descent. Salvador is a city and capital of Bahia in Brazil. It is located in the southern area of the country which separates it from the Atlantic Ocean. Yorubas are quite predominant there and they worship Ogun, Yemoja, Sango, and Egungun.
The existence of this tribe in Salvador can be traced to the migration that happened during the “Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade” centuries ago. One of the unique traits of these people is their relentless effort to practice their tradition despite the sorrow and struggles they went through as slaves.
The worshippers of the Yoruba gods are known to always dress in white garments led by priests and priestesses. It is always quite interesting whenever they make sacrifices at the shrine and dance to the melodious tune of a traditional drum called “Ilu Agere”. Another cultural trait exhibited by the Yorubas in Salvador is their love for bean cake known as “Akara” – it is highly consumed; and prepared with the same recipe as in Nigeria like palm oil, onions, beans, and pepper.
2. Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is a Western African country. A Portuguese explorer called “Pedro de Sinatra” was the first to discover Freetown harbour in the 15th century. “Serra Lyoa” (Lion Mountains) refers to the different hills that surround the harbour. Sierra Leone is one of the most prominent Yoruba-speaking countries in the world. The liberated Yoruba slaves in the mid-19th century who later settled in this country are referred to as “Oku or Aku. ” They reside mostly in Banjul and are found in Fourah Bay, Fula Town, and Aberdeen Village.
The slaves discussed here were mostly Yoruba business people from Abeokuta and Lagos. In addition to what we mentioned earlier, Oku people are descendants of liberated Yoruba Africans who later settled in Sierra Leone – they eventually formed a distinctive community right from the 1840s.
3. Benin Republic
Benin Republic, formerly known as Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. The capital city is Porto-Novo; the seat of governance is in Cotonou — the economic capital and the most populous city. The economy of the country is heavily dependent on agriculture.
As one of the Yoruba-speaking countries, Benin Republic shares history with Nigeria ethnically. “Ketu” is the name adopted by the Yorubas and their traditional ruler is called “Alaketu” — related to Ile-Ife, Nigeria. According to history, Ketu is one of the original kingdoms established by the children of Oduduwa but some sources claim the kingdom was much dependent on Oyo; they paid annual tribute to them.
Regardless of the different narrations, without a doubt, Oyo and Ketu have maintained close friendships due to their historical, cultural, and ethnic ties. When the kingdom was part of Oyo’s forces, they often fought Dahomey but they were eventually defeated in the 1880s and sold into slavery. The Benin Yoruba has a unique accent because of the influence of some languages like “Egun” spoken in the country.
4. Togo
Togo, a country in West Africa also part of the Yoruba-speaking countries, shares formidable similarities with its counterparts in Nigeria. The capital is called “Lome” – it extends to the Gulf of Guinea. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, the coastal region was the European slave trade post — it is referred to as “The Slave Coast.”
Atakpame, a town in Togo, shares similarities with Abeokuta and Oyo. This small town in Togo is surrounded by seven mountains just like the aforementioned state in Nigeria – that has Olumo Rock and Oke Ibadan as their ancestral symbols. Atakpame also shares historical similarities with Idanre in Ondo state — a town with huge and beautiful mountains.
The Ife Togo – a dialect of Yoruba is spoken by about ninety thousand people in Atakpame. The Ife settlers migrated from Dahomey into the Togolese territory and founded Atakpame. Ife Togo dialect retains all the originality and tonal features of the Yoruba language; every word is tone marked but just the mid tone which is no longer marked in the current writing system of Yoruba in Nigeria is still marked. Another angle is, two consonants that are no longer allowed to be used together are still present in Ife Togo; for instance “Oshogbo’ should be “Osogbo’”, and “Ogbomosho” is now “Ogbomoso.”
5. Côte d’Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire is located in the Western part of Africa. Its capital is called Yamoussoukro; the largest city and economic centre is Abidjan. The official language of the country is French; indigenous languages are also widely used. One of the first set of migrants in Côte d’Ivoire were the Ejigbos but they first settled in Ghana, Togo, and Benin.
Ejigbo is a city in Osun state, Nigeria founded by Akinjole Ogiyan — a descendant of Oduduwa. Together with his brother, the founder of Ikire-Ile, left Ile-Ife with Oranmiyan to establish their own town. Akinjole became the paramount ruler of many villages across Yoruba land.
Ejigbo people have a long history as emigrants mostly to Côte d’Ivoire since the 1900s. They refer to their community leader as “Oba”. It could be “Oba Aboba”, “Oba Treichville” and so on. The Oba of Abidjan is referred to as “Oba Abidjan ” – he is the head of the Ejigbo community leader of Cote d’Ivoire. The love of trading has made the Ejigbos more comfortable in Abidjan and has become a welcoming place for Yoruba speakers.
Celebrating the Resilience of Nasarawa Women: Invest More in Women to Accelerate Progress: A tribute by Amina Omeri to the women of Nasarawa
AdminIn the heart of Nigeria, lies the Home of Solid Minerals-Nasarawa State. A land with a profound tapestry of culture and resilience woven by its women, a testament to their unwavering strength, tenacity, and unyielding spirit of purpose and drive. As we commemorate International Women's Day on March 8, 2024, under the theme "Inspire Inclusion," it is imperative to pay homage to these unsung heroes whose perseverance has shaped communities and inspired change locally and internationally.
Despite facing formidable challenges, Nasarawa women have stood tall, confronting adversity with grace and determination, making their mark and weaving a ribbon of hope across sectors. As the economic landscape continues to shift, Nasarawa women adapt and innovate, harnessing their academic and entrepreneurial spirit to navigate uncertain terrains. In doing so, they have kept their farms and motherhood, promoting their culture and community through enterprises and non-classified businesses while helping to sustain societal life wire by educating their children in difficulty yet happy to do so. From the bustling markets and the serene villages to urban professional realms, their presence resonates with a quiet yet formidable power, driving progress and fostering unity within their families and the society at large.
Through entrepreneurship, education, and community initiatives, they have defied odds, are breaking barriers and shattering cultural and religious stereotypes along the way to emerge as beacons of hope. Their resilience knows no bounds, serving as a reminder of the boundless potential that lies within each woman.
The road ahead remains fraught with obstacles, underscoring the urgent need for investment in women's empowerment. In times of economic uncertainty, women often bear the brunt of financial instability, facing systemic barriers that hinder their progress and limit their opportunities. Yet, it is precisely during these challenging times that investing in women becomes even more critical. By encouraging and providing access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, we not only uplift individual lives but also catalyze progress on a societal scale. Nasarawa women are not just content to be beneficiaries of investment; they want to be catalysts for transformative change, driving innovation, and fostering inclusive growth across diverse sectors. Nasarawa women are among several others that have proven their capacity to contribute to statecraft and nation building. They are educated, motivated, and inspiring role models for the young and next generation of Nasarawa women, many of whom are doing wonders in sports, the arts, fashion, education, and the public service. Inspite of it all, the road is still a distance in politics and big business. By their disposition and resilience, they are conquerors and time shall tell even sooner than later.
As we celebrate the resilience of Nasarawa women this International Women's Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to their empowerment. Let us amplify their voices, champion their causes, and create an enabling environment where every woman can thrive. Together, let us harness the power of diversity and inclusion to accelerate progress, realizing the full potential of our nation and beyond.
This tribute by Amina Omeri is dedicated to the following noteworthy women of Nasarawa both young and old who have set the milestone on attainable pedestals of hope and possibility.
Dr. Halima Doma
Dr. Hauwau Mainoma
Dr. Comfort Adokwe
Mrs. Martina Ibrahim Shuaibu
Mrs. Elizabeth Ogabo mni
Mrs. Zainab Abdulmumuni
Mrs. phoebe Ayenaje
Hajiya Iman Suleiman
Hajiya Lantana Ahmed
Late Dr. Fatima Othman
Late Mrs. Rebecca Umaru
The Unknown Woman of Nasarawa