Nigerian Watch - Issue 052

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baltiMore ‘riot’ MUM

the diaspora verdict on america’s ‘mum of the year’ – p13

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US President meets Nigeria’s rising social media star Page 14

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new Mayor HIV champion Donatus Anyanwu becomes First Citizen of Lambeth Page 8 illegally dePorted nigerian PUts braKes on UK’s iMMigration PoliCy – page 6

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Kate Osamor takes the number of Nigerian MPs in parliament to four

NIGERIAN

WATCH CoMMENt

A trail has been blazed o finally, the die has been cast; David Cameron has been elected Prime Minister and in two weeks time general Muhammadu buhari will assume the Presidency. The electioneering is over, the relief is palpable. A trail has been blazed.

In reciprocal messages of congratulation, both leaders have spoken of the special relationship that exists between our two countries and pledged to work together to strengthen ties further.

The Nigerian elections showed how close we remain to home and our strong desire to see the country grow and develop.

The UK elections show just how engaged and interested the diaspora is in what happens in britain.

I am glad to say that we played a significant part in both.

Nevertheless, we need to see more Nigerianheritage candidates having a greater stake in how decisions are being made in the country; people with experience of life as diasporans.

We are naturally excited about Chuka Umunna; the young lawyer of mixed heritage who is the frontrunner to become the leader for the british Labour party. That is inspiring, to say the least.

He has blazed a trail.

S

National Health Service (NHS) manager Kate Osamor has become the fourth Nigerian-heritage elected member of the British House of Commons, having been elected as the MP for Edmonton in north London on May 7.

Representing the Labour Party, who had a generally bad night across the country, Ms Osamor was declared the winner in the north London seat with 25,388 votes. Her closest rival, Gonul Daniels of the Conservative Party ended up with 9,969 votes, making it a comfortable win for Ms Osamor.

She now joins fellow Labour MPs Chi Onwurah, representing Newcastle Central, who was returned with 19,301 votes, and Chuka Umunna, who was returned in Streatham with 26,474 votes.

Helen Grant, the sole Nigerian MP representing the Conservative Party was returned in Maidstone and the Weald, with 24,745 votes.

Ms Osamor, who has worked for the NHS for 15 years, is a trade union activist, a women's charity trustee and a member of the Labour Party's National Executive Committee.

Martha Osamor, Ms Osamor's mother, is a former Haringey councillor.

In February this year, Ms Osamor was selected as the Labour Party's parliamentary candidate for the Edmonton constituency after stiff contest with fellow Nigerian diasporan Kate Anolue.

She made funding the NHS, opposing its fragmentation and standing up to government cuts the centrepiece of her campaign.

NIgErIAN MP’S: Kate Osamor (above) celebrates winning her Edmonton seat and re-elected (below l-r) Chi Onwurah, Chuka Umunna and Helen Grant

London goes Labour While Labour experienced a miserable night on May 7, winning only 232 seats compared to the Conservatives 331, they saw their national support rise by 1.5%.

But they took a hammering in Scotland losing all but one seat to the Scottish National Party and an expected swing to Labour from the Lib Dems failed to materialise.

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Instead disgruntled Lib Dem voters moved en mass to the Conservative party.

In London the story was wholly different. In the capital Labour forged ahead, increasing heir vote by 7.4%. As a result Labour now has 45 MPs in the capital, compared to 27 for the Conservatives. The Lib Dems were wiped out, retaining just one seat.

Labour has gained Ilford North, Enfield North, Brentford and Isleworth and Ealing Central and Acton from the Conservatives and Brent Central, Hornsey and Wood Green and Bermondsey and Old Southwark from the Lib Dems.

Meanwhile, despite losing one seat on 2010, the Conservatives gained three from the Lib Dms; unseating Vince Cable in Twickenham and winning the former Lib Dem seats of Kingston and Surbiton and Sutton and Cheam.

Tom Brake in Carshalton and Wallington is the sole Lib Dem survivor in the capital.

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chukka bids to fulfil the “obama” prophecy booKMAKErS INStALL HIM AS Hot FAVoUrItE to bECoME LEADEr oF tHE LAboUr PArty Shadow Cabinet business secretary and Member of Parliament for the south London constituency of Streatham Chuka Umunna has emerged as the frontrunner to become leader of the British Labour Party.

The 36-year-old lawyer of

consideration as the Black and Minority Ethnic population stands at 14% and is estimated to be 30% by 2030 –; and also attracts a little bit of stardust.

It also reflects his high standing not only within the party but among the electorate.

In the past five years Mr

AboVE: On the Andrew Marr Show, where Lord Mandelson came close to backing Chuka’s leadership bid, saying, “He’s got a bit of a way to go but he will get there.” bELoW: Chuka Umunna and girlfriend, Alice Sullivan, appearing in public together for the first time, on his way to the Andrew Marr show. Alice’s father Richard was a director at Xerox and the family home is a 400-year-old mansion in Gloucestershire. Chuka told the Telegraph, “I haven’t even met him. This is very early on.”

Nigerian heritage, who entered parliament in 2010, bucked the trend on a disasterous election night for Labour on May 7, increasing his majority by 10%. He won his seat with 53% of the vote, attracting 26,474 votes.

Given that increase is the swing Labour would need to claw back the losses and gain ground on the Conservatives it is little wonder the bookmakers have installed him as evens favourite to become then next Labour party leader.

That and the fact he is a champion of business and aspiration; has proved to be a campaigning MP; is a proud Nigerian, who’s life experience means he can empathise and communicate across all diasporas – an important

Umunna has been a high profile MP and shadow cabinet member, touring the country to inspire and stimulate small business growth. He was the force behind Labour’s Small Business Taskforce and led a spirited and successful campaign against the failure of banks to lend to small business owners in the Black and Minority Ethnic community.

He has also been a strong campaigning voice for the constituents of Streatham, using his maiden speech in the Commons in 2010 to champion

school development in the borough, as education is the key to success.

Ever since entering politics the now 36-year-old lawyer has been tipped for the top, famously being prophesied to become “Britain’s Obama” – ie, the first black Prime Minister. It is not a comparison he encourages.

He was, incidentally, for a time dubbed the Fresh Prince of Streatham after he took Hollywood star Will Smith on a tour of Brixton, in response to the actor’s request to “see some real London”.

He is proud of his Nigerian roots and often tells the rags to riches story of his father, who arrived in Britain penniless and worked his way up from being a dishwasher to becoming a hugely successful businessman.

Mr Umunna formally declared his intention to run for leader of the opposition in a Facebook video filmed on Swindon high-street on May 11. He chose the high tech west country town because Labour lost there and they are the kind of seats the party needs to win if they are to get back into government.

He rejected the notion that Labour would take more than a decade to get back on its feet following their election loss, promising that as leader he would put the party back in power within five years.

“I want to lead that effort as part of a really big Labour team getting Labour back into office, and building a fairer and more equal society. That is why we joined the Labour party in the first place,” he said.

He added that during the

“He is a champion of business and aspiration, a proud Nigerian, and also attracts a little bit of stardust” election campaign his party had concentrated its policies too much on the poorest and the richest, ignoring the majority of people inbetween.

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NIGERIAN WATCH 14 May - 4 June 2015

The story of Nigeria’s literary powerhouse From its offices in Suffolk, England, and Rochester, New York, Boydell & Brewer publishes in a range of specialist subject areas. One of its particular strengths is African studies, as it is home to two of the world’s leading imprints: James Currey and the University of Rochester Press.

The latter (widely known as URP) publishes the Rochester Studies in African History and the Diaspora, which has published numerous volumes written and edited by Toyin Falola, one of the most respected figures in African history studies. His expertise has given much of the list a particular Nigerian slant, though his work in books like The African Diaspora is continent-wide.

Now the James Currey imprint has published Achebe and Friends at Umuahia, which uncovers the remarkable education experienced by some of Africa’s finest writers: Achebe, Christopher Okigbo, Elechi Amadi and Chike Momah. It’s such a remarkable story one can’t help wonder why it’s not been told already!

Those readers keen to learn more can follow new publications more closely through the company’s free e-newsletter, The African Griot, which is published twice a year and features exclusive articles and interviews with authors as well as often offering special discounts to subscribers.

To join the list just e-mail ‘Griot subscribe’ to africangriot@boydell.co.uk.

The website www.boydellandbrewer.com is the best place to start browsing the extensive list of books available. Simply search Nigeria to see the most relevant selection.

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No excuses left for our voices not to be heard in mainstream media Documentary film maker Samantha Asumadu has thrown down the gauntlet to the mainstream media in the UK, challenging the print, broadcast and radio industries to open their pages and studios to a more diverse range of voices from black and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds with the launch of the Media Diversified Experts Directory.

The new service – that has been two years in the making and was funded by public donations via Kickstarter – was launched at the London Press Club on April 21 before a who’s who of industry leaders, including national newspaper editors and broadcasters.

The directory is a searchable and managed database that connects broadcast and print outlets with BAME commentators and journalists.

“Accessing people from BAME backgrounds is no longer an excuse,” Ms Asumadu told the gathering. “They are all here [in the directory].”

The need for the directory and problem it aims to resolve are self-evident.

First, the print and broadcast media do not represent the people it serves. In London, for instance, where BAME representation in the media industries is the highest in the country at 8.9%, the overall BAME working population is 28.8%.

Secondly, the lack of representation has stubbornly remained because of a “closed shop” mentality of those in positions to make a difference.

Achebe and and F riends Achebe Friends at Umuahia Umuahia at

EW

The Making of a Literar y Elite T E R R I O C H IAG HA The literrary awakening ooff Chinua Achebe, Elechi Amadi, Chike M Moomah, Christopher Okigbo and Chukwuemeka Ike. This is the fir first in-depth studyy of the literar y awakening of the young intellectuals who became Nigeria’s “first-generation” writers in the Ter erri Ochiagha’s research post-colonial period. T focuses on their education in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s at Government College, Umuahia. She demonstrates how each of them used this ver y particular education to shape their own visions of the world, and examines the implications this had fo for African literature as a whole.

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S Sects ects & S Social ocial Dis Disorder order Muslim Identities & Conflict in Northern Nigeria Musta apha’s volume is an important corrective in the discourse about Boko Haram ssp peciifically and Islamic violence – indeed, all religious violence – generally, and it should be read b byy anyone who claims the authority to pronounce on any of of these matters. ANTHROPOLOGY REVIEW DATABASE 256p pp, 978 97 1 84701 107 7, £50 Africa-only paperback edition: 978 1 84701 116 9

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This issue was addressed at the launch by Pat Younge, who until last year was Chief Creative Officer at the BBC. He revealed how the blackout happens during the evenings keynote address.

“As a journalist you spend your career making contacts, people whose opinions you value and you can trust to deliver, especially when deadlines are tight or where the issues are complex,” he explained.

“So when you are called into action, you first of all go to those you know and then to those you know understand what you need. It’s not hard to see how that becomes a self-selecting group and then a self-replicating system, unless you intervene. This experts directory is one such intervention. ” “One reason this directory exists is that it

didn’t wait for the traditional British media establishment to bring it into being,” he added.

“Instead of waiting Samantha and her team took the initiative and took the idea to the audience, via Kickstarter. And the crowd provided the money. Which suggests to me that the public at large already believe that improving diversity is a bloody good idea. And it is a bloody good idea!”

Closing his speech, Younge made a final plea to his colleagues. “If you are passionate about journalism that is challenging and engaged, that looks, feels and sounds like the society we live in today then please sign up for the directory and play your part in the reinvigorated media landscape.”

For more information visit www.mediadiversified.org

tHE ForCE IS WItH yoU Life on Mars and EastEnders writer Tony Jordan has teamed up with actors Jimmy Akingbola and Fraser Ayres to help set up a new production company – TriForce – aimed at promoting diversity on television and behind the camera.

After Lenny Henry’s call a year ago for new legislation to reverse the “appalling” proportion of black and Asian people in the creative industries, broadcasters have come up with plans to improve the situation, such as quotas and training programmes.

However, Akingbola, who appeared in the BBC2 hit Rev and is in the Channel 4 satire Ballot Monkeys, said, “You need to do something different that’s not been done before. I believe now’s the time to make the difference.”

“Just because they didn’t go to a particular school, a lot of talent is being missed,” said Ayres, who is starring in NBC’s epic AD: The Bible Continues.

He said while it was good that the BBC director general, Tony Hall, was keen to promote diversity, more than training programmes were needed, and TriForce could provide access to “all sorts of people”.

More than a decade ago, Ayres and Akingbola set up a networking event called the TriForce Creative

Fraser Ayres, Jimmy Akingbola, Tony Jordan Network, which stars such as Ben Whishaw and James Corden have attended.

The aim was to bridge the gap between broadcasters and emerging TV talent, holding events in Stratford East in London and leading to the discovery of writers such as Sophie Petzal, one of the authors of CBBC hit Wolfblood.

The new company will draw on the network, making it what TriForce’s chief operating officer, Minnie Crowe said was the only one “with a readymade pool of diverse talent to draw from”.

Henry triggered a rethink in the industry with a speech at Bafta last March, when he said the situation has “deteriorated badly” with the proportion of black, Asian and minority ethnic people working in the UK television industry falling by 30.9% between 2006

and 2012.

Ayres said people found it difficult unless they had enough money to live in London, arguing that television needed “diversity of experience”. He said: “I’m from Leicester, I’m a working-class boy; it was my mum who supported me. She wasn’t in the industry.”

Jordan said, “The issue with diversity in the industry is not a lack of talent, just a lack of avenues for that talent to be reached. We are delighted to provide creative backing to TriForce Productions, to help broadcasters access that talent and engage their audiences with programming that better reflects our contemporary culture.”

Jordan’s company, Red Planet Pictures, will incubate Akingbola and Ayres’s company Triforce, providing a home, production experience and back-office facilities.

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NIGERIAN WATCH 14 May - 4 June 2015

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landmark ruling leaves may’s “deport first, appeal later” immigration policy in tatters A Nigerian mother and her five-yearold son who were unlawfully deported from Britain were flown back to the UK on Thursday April 23 after the British Home Secretary Theresa May lost an 11th-hour legal bid to prevent their return.

The family won a landmark legal victory last week when a senior immigration judge ruled that Ms. May and her officials failed to give sufficient importance to the welfare of the schoolboy when they put them on a plane to Nigeria in January.

Describing the Home Office approach as “flawed”, the judge ruled that they be returned to Britain by yesterday - and that the government foot the bill.

The case threatens to undermine Ms May’s election pledge to introduce a “deport first, appeal later” regime for asylum-seekers by setting a precedent that immigration officers must make the welfare of a child the “primary consideration” when seeking a deportation order - even when the case of a parent has already been dismissed.

Lawyers for the Home Office appeared to acknowledge the significance of the case on Wednesday by telling the Court of Appeal they were seeking permission to challenge the ruling to allow the family's return for “serious policy reasons”. But Lord Justice McCombe threw out an application on behalf of Ms May to postpone the family's return, saying it was “impossible” to find any grounds to overturn the original decision taken by the Upper Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber.

The Court of Appeal judge also criticised the complexity of Britain's immigration laws, describing the multiplicity of rules as a “disgrace”.

The failure of the Home Office’s appeal means the mother and child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were on a plane scheduled to arrive back in Britain yesterday after officials were forced to book tickets or face proceedings for contempt of court.

Campaigners in the community where the mother had settled after coming to Britain illegally in 1991 said they were delighted by the ruling and looking forward to welcoming them home, where they will now make a fresh application to remain in the UK. One friend of the family told the UK Independent newspaper, “We're just delighted” The woman, referred to as “BF”, and her son “RA” were deported in January despite evidence of her fragile mental health and the risk that the family would end up living on the streets.

The fact that the woman was a single mother with no family in Nigeria would place her in danger of prostitution and her son facing child labour or potential trafficking, immigration officials were told.

The mother fled her native country after her parents were killed in a car crash and paid traffickers to reach Britain after relatives had tried to force her into a marriage. She became pregnant and had her son in 2009.

The Court of Appeal heard that the mother, who applied for asylum in 2010, had her claim repeatedly rejected and at one point was admitted to a psychiatric unit with depression linked to the threat of forced return after she was found to have drunk bleach. Her son was put into foster care for a period in 2013.

Stephanie Harrison QC, representing RA, said, “At the heart of this case is an extremely vulnerable child who has so far avoided permanent damage but [is at risk] if he remains in the situation in Nigeria where his mother is unable to protect him adequately.”

The potential precedent set by the case will require immigration officials to balance the requirements for asylum and migration control against the best interests of a child at risk of deportation alongside his or her parent. Under the new “deport first, appeal later” system outlined by Ms May those seeking to enter Britain without prior approval would be automatically sent back to their country of origin unless they could prove that to do so would cause or risk “irreversible harm”.

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ExPErt CoMMENt Unlike fairy tales, real life stories do not always have happy endings, especially when it comes to immigration. This story is particularly sad, because it is one in many.

Its outcome is unusual not only due to particular circumstances of the case, but also due to almost unprecedented legal marathon won by the victims’ lawyers, social workers, Amnesty International and community that supported their case. As a result, the court found that the child’s best interests had not been given their due regard before the removal and ordered that the child and his mother be returned.

Children born in the UK to parents without an immigration status only gain protection of the Immigration Rules once they have reached the age of seven. Yet, an important caveat is that they only gain protection if it is “unreasonable” to expect them to leave the country. The concept of “reasonableness” is particularly loose in the fancy world of immigration.

The authorities unfailingly assert that when it is reasonable to remove the parent, it is equally reasonable for the child to leave as well. And moreover, it is in the best interests of the child to follow the parent. In other words, there is no protection until at the age of 10 when the child becomes a British citizen.

The case of RA and BF succeeded on a very fine line: the Secretary of State had lost her case because she had failed to take into consideration the likely impact that degenerating mental health of the mother may have on the child’s wellbeing after return to Nigeria.

The fact that the mother and the child would be destitute in Nigeria, with no relatives, no home, no income, no prospect of finding a reasonable job, with a serious risk of the mother being pushed into prostitution and the child into child labour – all that had been taken on board and dismissed as adversities of real life, not sufficient to outweigh the clear command of the Immigration Rules.

The destiny of those children who, in the face of adversities, were removed from the UK, but, unlike RA, never returned, is something we know nothing about.

Helena Sheizon, Immigration lawyer, Kadmos Consultants www.kadmosimmigration.com

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NIGERIAN WATCH 14 May - 4 June 2015

ADVErtorIAL

Christians United for Israel Christians United for Israel, an association through which churches and individuals can show support for Israel, is launching in the United Kingdom.

The new organisation aims to ignite Christian support for Israel, believing that Great Britain will be blessed by blessing Israel and aspiring to act as a Christian voice in support of the Jewish people.

The new UK ministry, which has its launch event in June, has been birthed out of the American organisation, Christians United for Israel, USA, which was founded by John Hagee in 2006 and now has two million members.

Des Starritt, Executive Director of Christians United for Israel UK says, “Many Christians support Israel, but sadly too few fully realise the significance of Israel today.

We believe now is the right time to rally Christians to stand with the Jewish people and act as a united voice in supporting Israel.”

The announcement follows a concerning rise in anti-Semitism in the UK and Europe, with the number of

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anti-Semitic incidents in the UK reaching a 30-year high in 2014, according to the Community Security Trust.

This comes after an increase in attacks against Jewish people and property in Europe, including the terror attacks this year in Paris and Copenhagen.

“The recent rise in antiSemitism must challenge Christians to rethink their attitude towards Israel,” says

“We must not remain silent when hostility towards them is increasing” Mr Starritt, “The Church has an opportunity to express God’s love to the Jewish people, and we must not remain silent at a time when hostility towards them is increasing.”

But the ministry’s mission is not only in response to the recent escalation in antiSemitism.

It will be providing

teaching and resources to help individuals and churches understand the biblical and moral imperatives in supporting Israel.

“The Bible is clear in its command to bless and pray for Israel and the Jewish people. However, this topic is sometimes avoided in church circles today. We want Christians to get excited about God’s plan and purpose for the nation of Israel.”

Christians United for Israel is also seeks to highlight the national significance of supporting Israel.

Mr Starritt adds, “At a time when our nation’s Judeo-Christian values are being undermined, we want to encourage Christians to appreciate our shared heritage and affirm our stand with the Jewish people.”

The launch of christians united for israel takes place in central london on 20 June. admission is free, however pre-registration is required by booking at www.cufi.org.uk or calling 01793 862210.

NEW MAyor IS HIV CHAMPIoN Lambeth councillor Donatus Anyanwu has been sworn in as the new Mayor of Lambeth and has nominated the Terrence Higgins Trust as his chosen charity.

In an official ceremony held at Lambeth Town Hall in Brixton at the end of April, the new Mayor spoke of his admiration for the HIV and sexual health charity.

As First Citizen of the Borough, the Mayor can dedicate an official charity to be the recipient of fundraising efforts throughout the mayoral term, which customarily lasts 12 months.

Mayor Anyanwu said, “I am absolutely delighted to choose Terrence Higgins Trust as an official charity. All the money raised throughout my mayoral

period will go to THT. ‘I want to be an HIV champion so we can end the stigma and break down the barriers which stop people getting the support they need.”

Born in Cork and raised in Nigeria from the age of five, Councillor Anyanwu has lived in London since 1988.

He first became involved with the issue of HIV in 1998 when he met a friend in Brixton called John who was HIV positive. He gave support to his friend but John sadly died.

Councillor Anyanwu has continuously sought to raise awareness of HIV in his local community by volunteering and undertaking research.

Lambeth has the highest prevalence rate of HIV in the UK. Figures from Public Health

England showed 3,342 people in the borough were accessing HIV related care in 2013 with a prevalence rate of 14.7 cases per 1,000.

The Trust was the first charity in the UK to be set up in response to HIV when it was founded in 1982. He replaces outgoing Mayor, fellow Nigerian Cllr Adedamola Aminu.

Human rights champion reverend Dr Nathaniel oyinloye (second from right) was made an Ambassador for Peace at a meeting of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) on April 30.

The primary reason for a person to be recognised in this way is to mark contribution they have been making in terms of “living for others”. The UPF is actively engaged in setting up a network of 'Peace Councils' around the world, drawing on the ranks of the Ambassadors for Peace.

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NIGERIAN WATCH 14 May - 4 June 2015

KASUMUwatCH

9

The

Samuel KASUMU Column Ed Miliband underestimated just how aspirational the British public are. His attack on wealth and focus on the creation of a ‘them and us’ culture was not palatable for those who want to push on in life.

People that want to own their own home, set up a business and leave something for their children simply could not relate to such a very left wing message.

A strong campaign that was more inclusive then most would have imagined. Visits to Festival Of Life, the launch of the 2020 strategy, lifting people out of the minimum wage and cutting taxes for middle income Britain was too good an oer to refuse for many. Add to this a referendum on Europe and you have a Conservative manifesto with something for everyone.

So now that we have a fully accountable government there can be

2

“Ed Miliband underestimated how aspirational the British public are�

3

Shock and awe on may 7 at 10pm, i, along with most of britain, was astounded at the exit polls that inferred a landslide victory for the conservative party. even at that point the actual scale of the loss for labour wasn’t apparent. What this showed me above all was that the people of britain are an electorate more intelligent than the pollsters imagined.

The British people took time to consider which they felt was the best

party to govern the country for the next ďŹ ve years, and in my opinion they chose wisely. The amount of community leaders that privately told me how much of a disaster it would be for Labour to win was also encouraging.

We are moving away from having a Labour monopoly within the black community, and the Nigerian diaspora is playing a signiďŹ cant part in this reality.

So why did the Conservatives actually manage to win an election outright for the ďŹ rst time since 1992? I would say they are three main reasons: The collapse of the Liberal Democrats. There was an assumption that those that voted Lib Dem in the past would simply lend their support to the Labour Party. This of course was not the case, with the Tories taking many Lib Dem seats.

1

WHEtHEr CHUKA WINS or LoSES tHE rACE to bE LAboUr LEADEr HE IS AN INPSIrAtIoN In my time working in Westminster I must say that Chuka Umunna struck me as a nice chap. He was always courteous and respectful to whoever he spoke to when I was around. He seemed to have friends within all of the political parties and was regularly available to attend events for dierent interest groups.

Whether or not he was doing all of this because he had the leadership on his mind is something I suspect only he will ever know.

The reality is that his constituency certainly was impressed with his work to date, as they returned him with a signiďŹ cantly increased majority.

On a simply professional level I couldn’t care less if Chuka becomes the leader of the Labour party. We are not from the same team, and I agree with the likes of Tony Blair that Labour will need a decade to return to

being a credible option for the British public.

From a personal perspective I think the fact that he is deemed a credible candidate can only be a good thing for the black community and Nigerian’s within the diaspora.

It’s a sign that Britain is changing and that we as a people are becoming more relevant. There is a lot of work to be done to overcome elitism and underrepresentation within politics, but its important to also focus on good news stories. These stories are what will inspire others to also feel they can climb the greasy pole and become a key part of a future government.

Critics, probably including myself, will say that perhaps it’s too soon

no excuses when holding them to account.

Politics and government doesn’t end at the ballot. As I always say, we have a responsibility to do more as individuals for our community as the politicians can only ever do so much.

For Nigerians in the diaspora I think this is an opportunity to push on politically.

We should look to the Mayoral elections next year and the local council elections as an opportunity to have a greater stake in how decisions are being made.

We still have too few people deciding who actually runs for seats in the ďŹ rst place, and this is mainly because not enough of us are joining political parties.

I’m hopeful that British politics will never look so white, male, and stale again, but only if we all play our part.

for Chuka to chart the course to Number 10. But maybe perhaps he feels it’s now or never.

There is no guarantee that in 5 years’ time Chuka will be able to maintain the support that he currently has within Labour ranks. A new person from the 2015 intake might be a more impressive option in 2020.

Others may argue that he was part of the same cabinet that the public rejected a very short while ago. Why did he not speak out when their manifesto was being developed or when Ed Miliband was attacking aspiration?

I would argue that unity is a key tenant for winning an election, and bear in mind that Ed is partly responsible for Chuka’s me-

teoric rise. He made him a Shadow Secretary of State after a very short period in parliament.

The truth is that none of us will be able to predict what will be the outcome of 2020 elections because a week is a long time in politics, let alone 5 years.

One thing we can be absolutely conďŹ dent of is the fact that the Conservative ranks are full of experienced politicians and have very talented people coming through.

Compare that to Labour and it is clear that Chuka has very limited competition. He may just be the best of a not so special bunch right now. He is risking his political future by taking over a party that is struggling for relevance.

Only time will tell if that risk is one that he should have taken. In the meantime he can carry on thinking he is the UK’s version of Obama.

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10

NIGERIAN WATCH 14 May - 4 June 2015

AbLE ladies commended with Home office award

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Nigerian authorities praised for role in bringing to justice killer of CBBC star Britain has praised the Nigerian security services for their role in bringing to justice Jeffery Okafor, who was sentenced to life with a minimum 17 years in jail on May 1 at Woolwich Crown Court for the murder of popular CBBC star and DJ Carl Beatson-Asiedu in 2009.

Two leading lights of the Association of British Nigerian Law Enforcement Officers (ABLE) received special commendation for their community engagement activities from the Home Office on Thursday April 30.

ABLE Immigration Liaison Officer Billie Savage (left) and chairwoman Yemisi Jenkins were presented with the commendation for numerous outreach initiatives by the Home Office Immigration Enforcement Regional Director. Highlighted in the commendation was ABLE’s work in facilitating a “dignified” exit from the country of those whose legal right to remain has expired by facilitating assisted voluntary returns (AVR).

For more information on AVR and other changes to immigration rules visit ABLE’s website www.ukableofficers.org

After the killing outside a nightclub in Vauxhall Okafor fled to Nigeria on his brother’s passport, sparking a five year manhunt.

There he began a new life but, in the lead up to the fifth anniversary of Carl’s murder, police announced of £10,000 reward in an attempt to trace him.

This led to new leads and with the help of Nigerian authorities and the British High Commission Okafor was arrested in Warri, Delta State,

by Nigerian police officers on September 23, 2014.

During his five years on the run, officers discovered he led a relatively comfortable life, studying at university and joining the National Youth Service Corps.

He was extradited back to the UK on November 6, 2014 where he was arrested and charged with murder.

Subsequently, the British High Commission in Nigeria has praised the Nigerian Police for their cooperation.

A high commission spokesman said, “Jeffrey Okafor convicted for murder in London today after good cooperation with the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Government of Nigeria. They helped to track, arrest and extradite him.”

During the trial, the court was told that Mr Okafor

confessed to his girlfriend that he had stabbed Mr BeatsonAsiedu within hours of the attack, before fleeing to Nigeria using his brother’s passport.

A post-mortem examination concluded the cause of death was a single stab wound to the chest and Mr BeatsonAsiedu’s DNA was found on gloves Okafor had given to his girlfriend for safe-keeping.

At the time of his murder Mr Beatson-Asiedu was studying at university, performing as a DJ under the name of Charmz and had appeared in the popular CBBC show MI High.

After the hearing Detective Inspector Alison Hepworth, said, “Carl’s death has had a profound effect on his family and they have waited a very long time to see justice served.

“I can only commend them for their steadfastness and patience and I hope that seeing their son’s killer finally behind bars brings some form of comfort to them.

“Today’s sentence should serve as a warning to those who attempt to evade justice. No matter the length of time or distance we will do all we can, using all means available to us to find you.”

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11

Letters to the Editor Let us know what you think. Put pen to paper and send your letters to: The Editor, Nigerian Watch, Chartwell House, 292 Hale Lane, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 8NP, or email us at: editor@nigerianwatch.com Letters to be included in the next issue must be received by no later than May 29, 2015. Anonymous letters will not be published. Please include your full name, postal address and contact telephone number. Names and addresses can be withheld, if preferred.

Letters may be edited for publication.

An open letter to Senators-elect and Nigerians of conscience Congratulations on your elections into the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at this auspicious time that Nigerians have clearly spoken with their votes on the direction they want the country to advance.

Come June, you will be sworn into the eighth senate after which you will in turn elect your first among equals, the President of the Senate of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It is common knowledge that the majority party in the incoming senate has its zoning arrangement for principal offices. It is also a given that the Senate has its standing rules. However, we appeal that our incoming distinguished members should consider equity and fair play in addition to these factors.

In terms of zoning, we support the decision to zone the position of Senate President to the north central geopolitical zone, as it is our belief that this will promote unity and sense of belonging, not just among the people of this zone but the entire country at large.

We acknowledge that the Senate Rule automatically restricts eligibility to ranking senators, which further narrows the field of eligibility to ranking senators from the designated geopolitical zone.

It is on this note that we appeal to senators-elect that

other factors like religious affiliations and ethnic configuration be given strong consideration in arriving at who becomes the Senate President.

The nation’s number one job, the of the position President, has already been clinched by the North West geopolitical zone just as the South West has the number two slot of Vice President by virtue of the outcome of the election.

The North Central is thus in line for the number three slot of Senate Presidency. The further parameters to making this choice include giving a sense of belonging to the largest ethnic group in this region. It will be fair to allow the larger ethnic group in the region to produce the Senate President considering the stabilizing impact this would have on the polity.

Equally important is the need to ensure balance in the religious configuration of public offices. The Presidentelect is a Muslim as the head of the executive. It is thus logical to ensure the head of the legislature, the Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly is a Christian. The Deputy Senate President should then be a

Muslim which would even out with the position of Vice President that is locked down for the vice president already.

We appeal that these considerations be made and agreed on ahead of the convening of the Eight National Assembly. This way, the Senate would take off on a good note and avoid being plunged into a crisis situation that could truncate the people’s yearning for change.

Our belief is that now that the elections are over the driving force for the nation should be national interest and the election of the Senate President is your first opportunity to reassure.

Mallam Ibrahim Abubakar National President Arewa Progressive Front for Change, via email

Why activists must focus on Nigeria’s development For most of us Nigerians, our orientation has always been: Government must do everything; government is the means of amassing riches; government should be the only provider of employment; government must provide all social services; government is responsible for creating the enabling environment for security; and all our problems must be solved immediately, if not now, then there must be change in government.

Lastly, changes in our society must be “Top Down” not “Bottom Up” – that is when the government of the day is removed (by force or through the ballot box) – and then everything else will be fine. In short, a “Utopian Orientation”.

It is about time we begin to think and act proactively, and as true “Social Technocrats”, and not just political activists. Social technocrats are not afraid to share ideas, solutions, know-how, and resources. Their ultimate goal is the end result. Moreover, they

approach and deal with problems by identifying the issues, developing and providing solutions to those issues, and helping to implement them.

For them political empowerment is secondary; the end result of their activities will lead to social and political empowerment. The masses will feel and be impacted by real results and their lives accelerate upward. They will take notice of those actors, and those actors become the true leaders that are derived out their actions, and decisions during the political or due process.

The kind of activists we have in Nigeria today are nothing but mere political activists and this is actually leading Nigeria nowhere.

They derive joy in shooting the government down at every turn as if the blames belong to the government alone. The people of every nation have a role to play in their society, though the government has the greater responsibility.

The election has come and gone and I want to advise some of these activists to deviate from unnecessary criticism and engage the government in building a better Nigeria for us all. As we danbble with the idea of change, we must not be antagonistic towards the ruling government; it must be engaged positively and maturely.

Additionally, we must begin the process of re-orientation, that is social, economic, and political re-orientation.

Egr. Kayode Idowu, Leicester, UK, via email.

12

NIGERIAN WATCH 14 May - 4 June 2015

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News from the

NIGERIA HIGH COMMISSION London

Departure debunked Rumours circulating among the diaspora regarding the imminent recall from London of Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, OFR, CFR, have been firmly debunked by a High Commission spokesman.

Speculation has grown like wildfire over His Excellency’s future since the election as President of the All Progressive Congress party’s General Muhammadu Buhari, as ambassadorial roles are assigned by the head of state to a person nominated to be their representative in a foreign territory.

As Dr Tafida is widely known to be an elder statesman of the rival People’s Democratic Party – appointed by the late President Yar’Adua and retained by the outgoing President Jonathan – it had been assumed he would be withdrawn.

While this is expected – it is by no means guaranteed – and certainly not by the end of the month when the new President is inaugurated on May 29, as the rumours have suggested.

Indeed, it was mooted to be an act of mischief on behalf of the outgoing PDP, who it was said were withdrawing all

their ambassadors ahead of the inauguration.

“This is news to us,” Simon Ogah, Minister for Culture, Media and Sport told Nigerian Watch. “We have had no official communication and you would expect we would know first as there is due process to be adhered to.”

When an Ambassador of High Commissioner – the latter being the title conferred on ambassadors from Commonwealth Countries – is appointed he has to deliver a letter of credence to the host country’s head of state; in the UK this being ceremonially the Queen.

On departure, a letter of recall has similarly to be submitted.

Consequently, as can be seen here, Dr Tafida has continued and will continue for the foreseeable future to conduct his duties to protect Nigeria’s citizens in the UK and promote prosperous relations between the two countries on behalf of Nigeria.

Something he has done to universal acclaim since assuming the role of High Commissioner – and presenting his Letter of Credence to the Queen on May 30, 2008.

CANUK ADVISED to ExPAND HorIzoNS The newly elected executive committee of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK) was formally introduced to Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK Dr Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, OFR, CFR, on April 30.

On greeting the 12-strong delegation Dr Tafida remarked “you look determined to succeed”.

The new chairman Babatunde Loye said he felt “privileged” to have been elected to the post and said he intended to build on the foundations set by his predecessors.

“CANUK,” he said, “ has been a bridge between the High Commission and Nigerians in the UK and by extension the Federal Government back home.

This robust interaction has strengthened the relationship between Nigerians here

and the Federal Government.”

He praised Nigeria’s Ambassador for being “a father and a friend to the Nigerian community in the UK, who has taken the services afforded to the people by the High Commission to an enviable height and reputation.”

He outlined his action plan to strengthen the association during his tenure, which includes creating a database in conjunction with the High Commission of Nigerians living in the UK, consolidating and building on the association’s membership, and supporting community leaders tackling social problems.

Dr Tafida told the delegation, “I place great importance on what Nigerians do here and I am always in touch with the community either through CANUK or

NIDO (Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation). I think you will do well.”

He exhorted the Association to expand their horizons.

“One big piece of advice to make you better,” he said. “Involve everybody.

You’re here to represent all Nigerians living here – if you don’t reach out you won’t do better. You should make time to reach out to the big cities and consolidate.”

He said the Association should consider making community leaders in cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool vice presidents as a way of ensuring this.

And he said they should consider doing the same in regard to Sir Martins Bakare, president of the National Association of Nigerian Communities.

‘brollywood’ is on the march Look out Nollywood, what might be called Brollywood – films made by Nigerians in the UK diaspora – is on the march with the creation of a UK Nollywood Producers Guild (UKNPG).

The fledgling organisation aims to unite the burgeoning British wing of Nollywood, the inaugural President Prince Sam Anwuzia said when the delegation met with Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK Dr Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, OFR, CFR on May 6.

Mr Anwuzia, a pioneering champion of African film through the acclaimed ZAFFA film awards, said one of the organisation’s first campaigns would be to get a reciprocal film treaty in place to improve collaboration and exposure of Nollywood and Brollywood films in both the UK and Nigeria.

Dr Tafida welcomed the new group saying, “What we want is for you to be able to perform here and get the best out of you. Nollywood makes a great contribution to the economy and as it has improved is changing the perception of Nigeria.”

He assured the group of the High Commission’s support in their

endeavours to further develop the Nollywood brand, which is the second biggest film production industry in the world after Hollywood.

Pictured: Dele Ajakaiye; Ayo IbekweOyebade; Adenike Osabutey; Godwin Osabutey; HRH Queen Theodora IbekweOyebade; HE Dr Tafida; Prince Sam Anwuzia; and Tolu Yesufu.

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13

ELECtED MEMbErS oF PArLIAMENt

DIANE Abbot Labour: ADAM AFrIyIE Elected MP for Hackney Conservative: North & Stoke Newington. Elected MP for Windsor.

31,357 votes, 62.9% 31,797 votes, 63.4% Heritage: Jamaican Heritage: Ghanaian

DAWN bUtLEr Labour: Elected MP for Brent Central.

29,216 votes, 62.1% Heritage: Jamaican

JAMES CLEVErLy Conservative: Elected MP for Braintree.

27,071 votes, 53.8% Heritage: Sierra Leone

MArK HENDrICK Labour: Elected MP for Preston.

18,755 votes, 56% Heritage: Somalian

MEg HILLIEr* Labour: Elected MP for Hackney South & Shoreditch.

30,693 votes, 64.4% Heritage: British

HELEN grANt Conservative: Elected MP for Maidstone & The Weald.

22,745 votes, 45.5% Heritage: Nigerian

KWASI KWArtENg Conservative: Elected MP for Spelthorne.

24,386 votes, 49.7% Heritage: Ghanaian

DAVID LAMMy Labour: Elected MP for Tottenham.

28,654 votes, 67.3% Heritage: Guyanese

CLIVE LEWIS Labour: Elected MP for Norwich South.

19,033 votes, 39.3% Heritage: Grenadan

ballot box heroes SAM gyIMAH Conservative: Elected MP for Surrey East.

32,211 votes, 57.4% Heritage: Ghanaian

KAtE oSAMor Labour: Elected MP for Edmonton.

25,388 votes, 61.4% Heritage: Nigerian

Some won. Some came close seconds. Others came in third, fourth, fifth and last. But all of them are winners. Men and women who stood by their convictions, walked the talk and put their money where their mouths are. True democrats.

That many of them got into that position is admirable. Shamefully few people of African Caribbean heritage get selected to be prospective parliamentary candidates (PPCs), prospective MPs. The statistics are stark.

The total number of candidates who contested the May 7 general election was 3,971; the second

highest number in history, slightly down from the record 4,150 candidates at the last election in 2010.

Preliminary reports indicate that of this number, Black and Minority Ethnic candidates numbered 200 at best. University College London has been mapping BAME candidates in the election but the final report will not be finalised until later this year.

Before the election they calculated the major parties had the following percentages of black and ethnic minority candidates: the Conservatives 11%, the Liberal Democrats 10%, Labour 9%, UKIP 6%, the Greens 4%. About 17% of

PArLIAMENtry CANDIDAtES

FEStUS AKINbUyoSE Conservative: West Ham, 2nd.

8,146 votes,15.4% Heritage: Nigerian Elected MP: Lyn Brown, Labour, 36,132 votes

bIM AFoLAMI Conservative: Lewisham Deptford, 2nd.

7,056 votes, 14.9% Heritage: Nigerian Elected MP Vicky Foxcroft, Labour, 28,572 votes

AbIDEEN AKINoSHUN green Party: Greenwich & Woolwich, 4th. 2,991 votes,6.4%.

Heritage: Nigerian. Elected MP: Matthew Pennycook, Labour, 24,384 votes

MICHEAL bUKoLA Conservative: Lewisham Deptford 4th.

2,497 votes,5.3% Heritage: Nigerian Elected MP Vicky Foxcroft, Labour, 28,572 votes

EStHEr obIrI-DArKo green Party: Tooting, 3rd.

2,201 votes, 4.1%.

Heritage: Nigerian Elected MP: Sadiq Khan, Labour, 25,263 votes

bEN FoDAy Plaid Cymru: Cardiff South & Penarth, 4th. 3,433 votes, 7.4% Heritage: Sierra Leone Elected MP: Stephen Doughty, Labour, 19,966 votes

LorrAINE FrANCIS green Party: Bristol East, 4th. 3,827 votes,8.3% Heritage: Caribbean.

Elected MP: Kerry McCarthy, Labour, 18,148 votes

yAHAyA KIINgI Liberal Democrat: Camberwell & Peckham, 4th. 2,580 votes, 5%.

Heritage: Ugandan Elected MP: Harriet Harman, Labour, 32,614 votes

DEAN MCCAStrEE Independent: Thanet South, 10th.

61 votes, 0.1%.

Heritage: St Lucian Elected MP: Craig Mackinlay, Conservative, 18,838 votes

AzzEES MINott green Party: Warwick & Leamington, 5th. 1,994 votes, 3.9%.

Heritage: Caribbean Elected MP: Chris White, Conservative, 24,249 votes

black & Minority Ethnic MPs in the UK Parliament

rENE MUgENzI red Flag Anti Corruption: Poplar & Limehouse, 7th.

89 votes, 0.2% Heritage: Rwandan Elected MP, Jim Fitzpatrick, Labour, 29,886 votes

rASHID NIx green Party: Dulwich & West Norwood, 4th. 4,844 votes, 9.4% Heritage: Bajan Elected MP Helen Hayes, Labour, 27,772 votes

JoE StUArt green Party: Battersea, 4th. 1,682 votes, 3.3% Heritage: Unknown Elected MP Jane Ellison, Conservative, 26,730 votes

6% Up from 4.2% in 2010 black & Minority Ethnic UK population 14%

the British population as a whole identifies as black or ethnic minority.

However, Lester Holloway, writing on the Operation Black Vote, undertook his own research of the three main political parties – Conservative, Labour and Lib Dem – concluding they had between them selected only 153 BAME candidates to contest the election.

Of that number he found 82% were of Asian heritage (Indian, Pakistan and Bangladesh); 17% were of Caribbean heritage; and 7% of African heritage.

In the article he noted, “The population census shows Asian communities make up 53% of BAME groups compared to African and Caribbean communities, who

comprise 39 percent of all BAME citizens.”

What it means is that African and Caribbean PPCs made up just 1.4% of all candidates for the three big parties, compared to 5.5% of the population from these communities.

So while non-white MPs now make up more than 6% of the new parliament, up from 4.2% in 2010 – a 56% increase – it is not a true reflection of society.

If that had happened there would be 36 MPs of African Caribbean heritage entering Parliament this week. * Meg Hillier is included as the MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch and champion of Nigeria as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group Nigeria.

CHI oNWUrAH Labour: Elected MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central.

19,301 votes, 55% Heritage: Nigerian

CHUKA UMUNNA Labour: Elected MP for Streatham.

26,474 votes, 53.0% Heritage: Nigerian

14

NIGERIAN WATCH 14 May - 4 June 2015

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baltimore ‘riot’ mum is no hero or role model, say diaspora family champions It was a combination of blows that reverberated around the world – more than anything that the Mayweather Pachio title fight in Las Vegas could serve up.

The reign of blows was delivered by Baltimore mum Toya Graham to the head of her 16-year-old-son Michael.

Ms Graham was videotaped

by Baltimore television WMAR on Monday chasing a teenager, clad in a hoodie with his face covered, beating him and demanding he “take that ******* mask off”.

In a subsequent interview she said she pulled her son away from the crowd because “at the end of the day, I don’t want him to be a Freddie Gray”.

Graham said she had seen her only son wearing a hoodie and mask amid the protesters demonstrating just hours after a funeral for Gray, a black man who died after suffering an unexplained spinal injury in police custody – the latest in a

line of police killings of young black men that has raised tensions across America..

“At that point, I just lost it,” she said. “I was shocked, I was angry, because you never want to see your child out there doing that. I’m a no-tolerant mother,” she said. “Everybody that knows me, know I don’t play that.”

Social media went wild for the video and initial responses were positive, including Baltimore’s police chief declaring Ms Graham is “mum of the year”.

On Nigerian diaspora Facebook pages in the UK Ms Graham was also celebrated, accompanied by the complaint that if you tried that here you would be arrested.

Debbie Ariyo, founder and chief executive of the charity AFRUCA UK – Africans Unite Against Child Abuse – while expressing sympathy for Ms Graham’s fear for her son’s safety condemned the way she responded, saying it offered no long terms solution and could

even place her son in greater danger.

Ms Ariyo told Nigerian Watch, “The mother’s reaction in shaming her son in front of the whole world to me is not ‘mom of the year’ stuff. I am of the view that beating children is not a solution to whatever

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the problem being addressed is. We deal with lots of cases at AFRUCA where beating children has made them more deviant, the shaming makes them angrier and wanting to ‘revenge’.

She continued, “A ‘mom of the year’ will not beat her child in front of the world’s cameras. Yes, I applaud her stance in seeking to remove her child from the riots, but I believe taking him home and addressing him with respect and dignity would have been more effective. After all, we do not know what the boy’s reasons for joining the riots are. He probably feels this is the right thing to do - as a young black boy at risk. His reasons might not be criminal or delinquent at all.”

She said that in celebrating Ms Graham’s actions people were basically telling children and young people that “violence works”.

Ms Ariyo explained, “The mother has missed a very good opportunity to show her son that ‘violence does not work’.

She is trying to remove him from a violent situation - using violence. How can that be a solution?

“Having used violence and having been praised for it, I cannot see what positive message this is sending out to her son and to other boys like him. Basically, the message is ‘violence works!’

Such an approach very often backfires with fatal consequences, she added.

“Black parents need to understand that using violence to bring up children does not solve problems. It adds more to them.

“I am not a fan of beating

children and I do not support what this lady has done. I cannot see how it would help her son stay alive but I can see him getting so angry at being shamed that he becomes a lot more deviant - thereby putting his life at risk A recent incident of naming and shaming here in the UK

“A young gang member shamed publicly in the UK ended up dead a few months later ”

FroM toP: Debbie Ariyo and Florence Emakpose

ended in tragedy.

“I read a story online about an uncle who did exactly the same thing here with his nephew who was a gang member by shaming him

publicly. The boy of course remained deviant... a few months later he ended up dead.”

Florence Emakpose of the World of Hope charity echoed the views of Ms Ariyo and emphasised the inherent dangers of physical chastisement and public shaming.

Indeed, following an upsurge in the number of children being taken into care and parents imprisoned for using excessive physical violence, Ms Emakpose has convened a conference in July to spell out the letter of the law regarding child protection in the UK. Again while expressing sympathy with “Baltimore mum” in wanting to remove her son from danger she warned UK parents that if they were caught on camera behaving in such a manner they could expect the police and social services to knock on their door.

It’s not acceptable in the eyes of the law,” Ms Emakpose told Nigerian Watch. But she added, “I think the mother would not have minded to go to jail as she was acting to save her son’s future, family name and her community. This is the basis of child discipline from an African perspective or culture, as a means of showing love to their children.”

It is this culture clash the World of Hope conference entitled Safeguarding Children and Parents hopes to resolve when it takes place on July 9 at Lewisham Town Hall.

“Parents need education and support to integrate in to the system, to enable them to understand the acceptable ways of child discipline.”

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getting to know modern Nigeria is one click away With nearly 40 percent of Nigerians having some sort of broadband connectivity, the influence of bloggers and social media commentators is growing by the day. And these digitally savvy scribes are making their presence felt across all areas of society in Nigeria, as was seen when the winners of the Nigerian Blog Awards 2014 were announced on April 18.

Twenty five bloggers scooped awards during the ceremony that was staged (naturally) on Twitter.

Categories ranged from celebrities food, fashion and faith to education, consumer watchdogs, jobs, tourism and politics.

Some old favourites featured; the pioneering celebrity lifestyle blog of Linda Ikeji and, in this election year in Nigeria, the no-holds-barred news blog Sahara Reporters.

The top gong for Best Over All Nigerian Blog went to the Stella Dimoko Korkus blog, which has the tag line “Gossip… running ahead of itself in a Red Satin Dress”. While it concentrates on celebrity events it has a nice line in feminism Taken together the award winners provide a fascinating snapshot of a young, optimistic and modern

NIGERIAN WATCH 14 May - 4 June 2015

NEWSwatCH

Nigeria. The two that appealed most to this writer were Review Nigeria, a consumer watchdog blog, and the eye-opening tourism blog NaijaTreks.

The Nigerian Blog Awards were established in 2010

by Jummy – who writes the celebrated LOL (laugh out loud) blog Good Naija Girl (below) – to recognise excellence in blogging, as determined by readers and fellow bloggers.

The 2014 winners were selected by a panel of 200 bloggers, who whittled down over 2,000 entries by a process of elimination.

Blogs were judged on the following criteria; the consistency of the blogging (how often the blog was updated); the level of engagement from readers; how much of the blog is original content versus information from other sources; the writing quality with respect to grammar and spelling only (this was the second least important aspect); and the visual appeal of the blog (this was the least important aspect).

The awards are open to all bloggers who write about Nigeria.

To find out more and how to enter the NBAs 2016 visit www.nigerianblogawards.com 18:06

15

FroM Ltor: Sahara Reporters, African Naturalistas, Soccer Net Nigeria, Naija Treks, Review Naija and Overall Best Nigerian Blog winner Stella Dimoko

NIgErIAN bLog AWArD WINNErS 2014 Best Beauty/Hair Blog; African Naturalistas Best Book, Poetry/Writing Blog; Story Island Best Business or Entrepreneurship Blog; The Secrets of Entrepreneurship Best Career or Job Blog; Jobberman Insider Best Education/Instructional Blog; Campus Portal Nigeria News Best Entertainment Blog; Linda Ikeji’s blog Best Faith-based Blog; Kisses and Huggs Best Fashion or Personal Style Blog; Who Wears What N Where Best Fitness or Health Blog; Health talk Best Food Blog; Dooney’s Kitchen Best Humour Blog; NaijaSinglegirl Best Inspiration, Motivation/Personal Development Blog; Wisdom 4 Winning Best Movie Blog;

NigeriaFilms.com Best Music Blog; tooxclusive Best New Blog (established between January 1 and December 31, 2014); Lifetitudes Best Nigerian News Blog; Information Nigeria Best Parenting or Family Blog; Motherhood In-Style Best Persona/Lifestyle Blog; NaijaSinglegirl Best Photography Blog; Eniola Alakija Photography Best Political Blog; Sahara reporters Best Relationship Blog; Kisses and Huggs Best Sports Blog; SoccerNEt Nigeria Best Technology Blog; geek.ng Best Topical Blog; review Naija Best Travel or Tourism Blog; Naijatreks Best Wedding Blog ; Wedding Digest Nigeria Best Overall Nigerian Blog; Stella Dimoko Korkus

AboVE; Stella Dimoko Korkus was one of the five Global Entrepreneurs who met President Obama at his White House Global Entrepreneurs meeting, as posted on her blog May 12.

The President is campaigning to create innovative solutions to some of the world’s toughest challenges, including poverty, climate change and extremism, as well as access to education and health care, by bringing together Global Entrepreneurs to highlight the importance of investing in women and young entrepreneurs, ahead of attending The Global Entrepreneurship Summit this July in Nairobi, Kenya.

16

NIGERIAN WATCH 14 May - 4 June 2015

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NEWSwatCH

one in two Nigerians have a connection to uk and us, migration survey reveals The US and UK have the largest Nigerian diasporas in the world, a survey has confirmed. Conducted in Nigeria, the two western powers were revealed to be the countries where most respondents reported relatives or friends of theirs lived.

PrAyErS For MISSINg ozI On Saturday April 25 the London-based campaign group Oh! Mother made a sad pilgrimage to Coventry in a show solidarity with the family and friends of student Ozevio ‘Ozi’ Akerele, who has been missing since January 31.

The delegation met with Ozi’s mother, Irene, who flew from Abuja to the UK shortly after he disappeared to appeal for information about his whereabouts.

Ozi, aged 24, had enrolled at Coventry University to pursue a Masters Degree, arriving in January to start his studies.

He was last seen after he left friends at a club in Spon Street in Coventry at about 3.30am on January 31, 2015. He is described as black, 6’ 2”

tall and of a slim build.

On the night he went missing temperatures were sub-zero and Ozi was not wearing a coat. He was last seen wearing jeans, distinctive blue and white converse trainers and a grey/black zipup jacket.

Seemingly, new to the city, he got lost on his way home.

Police believe he was last seen in the Foleshill Road vicinity near to Cross Road, at around 7am.

Inspector Alastair Orencas, who is leading the search to find Ozi, said a man of similar description is believed to have been seen attempting to talk to motorists then.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police hotline on 101.

According to the results of the survey conducted by NOI Polls, the largest proportion of respondents reported they had relatives/friends living in the US (67 percent).

This is followed by 43 percent of the respondents who indicated they have relatives/friends living in the United Kingdom.

Other countries indicated by respondents include; South Africa (31 percent), Gambia (31 percent), Canada (16 percent), Malaysia (12 percent) and Germany (12 percent), among other countries.

“While this finding cannot be used to provide absolute figures on immigration, it suggests a high level of migration of Nigerians to foreign countries,” NOIPolls stated on Tuesday.

The firm said more findings revealed that most respondents believed Nigerians living abroad were better off in foreign countries with regards to economic opportunities (66 percent), financial stability (66 percent) and living conditions (63 percent); and worse off in terms of social interactions.

However, there were variations in these perceptions by continents; for instance, while all respondents (100 percent) who have relatives or friends living in Australia and South America

perceive the living conditions of Nigerians to be better off in foreign countries, only slightly more than half of the respondents who have relatives or friends in Africa share this same perception.

In addition, while 84 percent of the respondents (accounting for the largest proportion) who have relatives or friends in Asia believe Nigerians abroad are better off in terms of financial stability, only 62 percent (representing the least proportion) of respondents who have relatives in North America share this same perception.

Most Nigerians (74 percent) are aware of the recent attacks on foreigners in South Africa and 35 percent suggest the Federal Government should ‘advise citizens to come back home’, while 25 percent recommend a ‘diplomatic dialogue’ between both countries in order to secure Nigerians living in South Africa.

Furthermore, 17 percent believe a long term strategy of ‘employment creation’ in Nigeria would reduce the migration of Nigerians to South Africa.

The opinion poll was conducted in the week of April 27. It involved telephone interviews of a random nationwide sample of 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 and above, representing the six geopolitical zones in the country. “We can say with 95 percent confidence that the results obtained are statistically precise - within a range of plus or minus three percent,” NOIPolls stated.

ARE YOU LOOKING TO REGULARISE YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS IN THE UK? If yes we can help you.

1. Do you have a child who is a British citizen?

If yes we can help you settle in the United Kingdom.

2. Do you have a child born in the UK who has lived here continuously for 7 years. If yes we can help you settle in the United Kingdom.

3. Do you have a child born in the UK who has lived in the United Kingdom continuously for 10 years. If yes your child is eligible for registration as a British citizen and you will also be eligible to apply for settlement 4. Have you lived in the UK continuously for 20 years? If yes we may be able to help you 5. Are you under the age of 25 years old and have you lived in the United Kingdom half your life. If yes you are entitled to settlement in the United Kingdom.

6. Have you been refused leave to remain in

the United Kingdom, We can help you with your appeal 7 . Has your entry clearance application refused, we can help you with your appeal 8. Has your application for further leave to remain in the United Kingdom refused without a right of appeal. There have been changes in the Home Office policy on 20th October 2014.

9. Do you want to bring your wife or your child to join you in the UK? If yes we can help you 10. Are you currently detained and facing removal or deportation? If yes we may be able to help 11. If you are a businessman and want to invest a minimum of £200,000.00 (two hundred thousand pounds) in the UK, we can help you and your family to settle in the UK

CONTACT MR JAMIL TRAWALLY WHO IS AN EXPERIENCED IMMIGRATION SOLICITOR

Stuart & Co Solicitors 285 Fore Street Edmonton London N9 0PD

Tel: 02088871360 Fax: 02088871370 Mobile:07727630428 Email: j.trawally@sk-solicitors.com

Like us on Facebook facebook.com/NigerianWatch

yorUba woMens CHoir at The tabernacle- see Music listings below.

tHEAtrE result

Confronting the image of glamour and wealth in football, Result is a glimpse into the world of football you don’t often see; the harsh training; the highs and lows of victory and defeat; the realisation that young boys are being pushed to their limit in the hope they’ll escape the reality of life in the real world Until 17th May. Matinee and evening performances. From £13.00 Pleasance Theatre. Carpenters Mews, North Rd, N7 www.pleasance.co.uk

The green Stone bead

WHAt to SEE AND Do oVEr tHE NExt

MELoDy oF DECEPtIoN

world’s Sea Goddesses and Thunder Gods release the Bead?

Greenwich, SE10 www.arfilmstudio.com

FREE, Various Venues; 26th May, 2:00pm. Redbridge Central Library.

28th May, 2:00pm. Barking Learning Centre.

29th May, 3:00pm. Stratford Library.

31st May, 2:00pm. The British Museum.

20th June, 3:00pm. Goldsmiths, University of London www.irokotheatre.org.uk

PrEMIErE Looking for Love

Starring Nolo Phiri, Oris Erhuero, Cornelius McCarthy and Adot Comedian, Kingmakers is set in the UK, Africa, USA and France. After the death of the country’s president the fight to replace him erupts between siblings, generals and politicians.

22nd May, Red carpet 9pm, Screening 10.30pm, Tickets from £15 Odeon Cinema, Bugsby Way,

17

Fortnight

Hired as the new Musical Director Jessie is given a mandate to “bring back the choir” to the church. He delivers, bringing a whole new level of praise and worship, but not in the way the Bishop and wants. In this hilarious comedy, everyone is taken off guard as a dire series of events lock the congregation into a web of deception.

16-17 May Tickets £25 in advance The Broadway Theatre, Catford; www.broadway theatre.org.uk

FILM PrEMIErE Kingmakers Spellbinding cross-cultural storytelling, singing, dancing and drumming in a story about an encounter between the living and the immortals.

Olokun, The Sea Goddess has had The Green Stone Bead for 1014 years. The living want it to protect humanity. Chiuta, the skygod sends Ananse the trickster and crafty Monkey to retrieve the Bead from the bottom of the sea. Will the

NIGERIAN WATCH 14 May - 4 June 2015

LEISUREwatCH

Stockwell Road, Brixton SW9 www.o2academybrixton.co.uk

MUSIC The yoruba Women Choir Nigeria’s Yoruba Women Choir is one of the world’s greatest choirs. The soulful harmonies of the 10 singers and the infectious rhythms of the 7-piece band combine to create an uplifting musical experience.

CoMEDy Comedy Link Up Rousing comedy from Slim Curtis Walker, A Dot, Axel Blake, Kane Brown, Will E Robo and Felicity Ethnic.

Despite modern advances in communication technology, many people face loneliness and depression. This frank documentary from a leading filmmaker combines music and performance with intimate interviews exploring male-female relationships within the UK’s Black British community.

With contributions from Dr Umar Johnson, Jackee Holder, Dr Dwight Turner, Susan Quilliam and comedians Kojo, Andi Osho, Eddie Kadi, Slim, Mr Cee, Donna Spence and Glenda Jaxson.

7th June, 7.30pm. Tickets from £17.50 O2 Academy Brixton, 211

Afriquoi Afriquoi are a great Africanelectro dance band with live vocals, Gambian kora, Congolese guitar, percussion and electronics drawing on dubstep, house and hip hop.

They create dance floor friendly music with musicians from Africa, the Caribbean and the UK.

Afrobeats Live Capital Xtra radio presenter Abrantee; will be introducing JJC Skillz (left) one of the biggest pioneers of the Afrobeats movement in the UK, and some our rising stars including Tyroon Da Prince, SK, Temple, Debrah Rose, Matto,

HARMONY EST 2001 PRODUCTIONS

Double Bangs, Mikes Comedy, Selecta, Aff, Timbo and Komo all back ed by the amazing Empire Sounds Live Band!

31st May. 7pm. Tickets from £10 5 Parkway, Camden, NW1 thejazzcafelondon.com

29th May, 7:00pm. Tickets: £20.00 Tne Tabernacle, 35 Powis Square, off Portobello Road, W11 www.tabernaclew11.com £11.75 NFT1, Belvedere Road, South Bank, SE1 whatson.bfi.org.uk

14 DAyS...

In conjunction with

P R E S E N T S

HARMONY PRODUCTIONS 14TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

May 23rd, 2:00pm. Tickets

AXEL BLAKE

KANE BROWN

SLIM

CURTIS WALKER

A DOT COMEDIAN

JUNIOR BOOKER

FELICITY ETHNIC

KEVIN J

WILL E ROBBO

AURIE STYLA

SPECIAL GUEST: ROGER SAMUELS (SINGER) + RAGZ CV (POET) ROCKY BOSS + LADY ST FLAMES RADIO + ZEKIE + MR MINOR LIGHTNING

SUNDAY 7th JUNE 2015 O2 Academy Brixton, 211 Stockwell Rd, SW9 9SL Doors Open 6.30pm, Show Starts 7.30pm Tickets only £20 & £17.50 plus booking fee FULLY SEATED

24hr Credit card hotline

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PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

General info 07956 398 530 5 // 07985 325 908 o2academybrixton.co.uk // ticketweb.co.uk www.harmony-productions.com 1

17/04/2015 16:39

18

NIGERIAN WATCH 14 May - 4 June 2015

LEISUREwatCH www.arfilmstudio.com

tHEAtrE result

PrEMIErE Looking for Love

Confronting the image of glamour and wealth in football, Result is a glimpse into the world of football you don’t often see; the harsh training; the highs and lows of victory and defeat; the realisation that young boys are being pushed to their limit in the hope they’ll escape the reality of life in the real world Until 17th May. Matinee and evening performances. From £13.00 Pleasance Theatre. Carpenters Mews, North Rd, N7 www.pleasance.co.uk

The green Stone bead Spellbinding cross-cultural storytelling, singing, dancing and drumming in a story about an encounter between the living and the immortals.

Olokun, The Sea Goddess has had The Green Stone Bead for 1014 years. The living want it to protect humanity. Chiuta, the skygod sends Ananse the trickster and crafty Monkey to retrieve the Bead from the bottom of the sea. Will the

tHE WILLIAM MorrIS FAMILy ALbUM A Morris-inspired photographic exhibition by Turner Prize nominee Yinka Shonibare, with Waltham Forest residents’ recreating photographs of Morris’ family,encouraging viewers to reflect on the realities of equality in both Morris’ time and our own, Until 7th June. 10am-5pm Wed - Sunday, FREE. William Morris Gallery, Lloyd Park House, 531 Forest Road, E17 www.wmgallery.org.uk

world’s Sea Goddesses and Thunder Gods release the Bead?

FREE, Various Venues; 26th May, 2:00pm. Redbridge Central Library.

28th May, 2:00pm. Barking Learning Centre.

29th May, 3:00pm. Stratford Library.

31st May, 2:00pm. The British Museum.

20th June, 3:00pm. Goldsmiths, University of London www.irokotheatre.org.uk

FILM PrEMIErE Kingmakers Starring Nolo Phiri, Oris Erhuero, Cornelius McCarthy and Adot Comedian, Kingmakers is set in the UK, Africa, USA and France. After the death of the country’s president the fight to replace him erupts between siblings, generals and politicians.

22nd May, Red carpet 9pm, Screening 10.30pm, Tickets from £15 Odeon Cinema, Bugsby Way, Greenwich, SE10

24 – 25 May 2015 Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, London N1 0QH

Tickets £12 at the door, £10 in advance

www.afrohairshow.com

Despite modern advances in communication technology, many people face loneliness and depression. This frank documentary from a leading filmmaker combines music and performance with intimate interviews exploring male-female relationships within the UK’s Black British community.

With contributions from Dr Umar Johnson, Jackee Holder, Dr Dwight Turner, Susan Quilliam and comedians Kojo, Andi Osho, Eddie Kadi, Slim, Mr Cee, Donna Spence and Glenda Jaxson.

May 23rd, 2:00pm. Tickets £11.75 NFT1, Belvedere Road, South Bank, SE1 whatson.bfi.org.uk

CoMEDy Comedy Link Up Rousing comedy from Slim Curtis Walker, A Dot, Axel Blake, Kane Brown, Will E Robo and Felicity Ethnic.

7th June, 7.30pm. Tickets from £17.50 O2 Academy Brixton, 211 Stockwell Road, Brixton SW9 www.o2academybrixton.co.uk

MUSIC The yoruba Women Choir

Follow us on Twitter @NigerianWatch

SEE It- FEEL It- LIVE It This May brings you Afro Hair & Beauty LIVE, Europe’s biggest hair, beauty and lifestyle exhibition for young black women. The two day event, bringing you the ultimate hair, beauty and well-being experience, will be held on May 24 and 25 at the Business Design Centre, Islington. Afro Hair and Beauty LIVE is the perfect event to welcome in summer, and like the colours of the season the event promises to be just as exiting, showcasing an array of fashion, techniques, practices and hair.

Afro Hair & Beauty LIVE has a great show lined up. As with every year, the runway shows are an event highlight and a great chance to see the latest trends for 2015. There will be talented up and coming designers showcasing their work and should you see anything that takes your eye- you can head down to the Fashion Boutique and bag yourself a one-off piece.

With many of the industry’s leading brands exhibiting at the show, you will be able to check out the latest product innovations and services and you can take advantage of free samples and live demonstrations.

Treat yourself by escaping to the pampering zone, unwind and destress with a mini spa experience which has plenty on offer from facials, massages and manicures to professional eyebrow threading and Henna tattoos- all at discounted prices.

Back again this year will be WAHL’s Battle of the Barbers competition where barbers from all over the UK go head to head in a bid to show off their skills in a styling showdown.

Meet the experts; our seminar programme and workshops will be led by specialists with years of experience across a number of fields including hair and beauty, health and wellbeing and personal development.

Afro Hair & Beauty LIVE makes for a great day out with family and friends on the May Bank Holiday. Take advantage of the limited 2 for 1 offer on tickets, now priced at just £12 per ticket which ends on the 31st of March. You can enjoy the FREE seminar programme but make sure you arrive early to avoid disappointment, as seats fill quickly.

There will be many giveaways up for grabs across both days too.

You do not want to miss out!

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Weddings, Civil Ceremonies, Banqueting, Engagements, Conferences, Exhibitions, Parties, Bat Mitzvah and Bar Mitzvahs

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Greenvue Venue, Mill Hill Country Club, Burtonhole Lane, Mill Hill London NW7 1AS

www.greenvuevenue.co.uk

20

NIGERIAN WATCH 24 Apr - 7 May 2015

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NEWSwatCH

Announcing The Nigerian Watch Story Writing Competition for Children aged 7-11

Write Here.

SEE YOUR STORY (poetry or prose) published in a fantastic compilation.

WrItE NoW!

Published authors will be special guests at the glittering book launch.

All published authors will have their story illustrated by a professional artist and you will get a framed copy of the picture and a certificate.

The top author at each age (7, 8, 9, 10, & 11) will receive special first prizes

STORY IDEAS

WHAT I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP

I will never eat another …

YOU HAVE GOT TO BELIEVE ME!

Suddenly …

OR A MAGIC DOOR Under my bed

WRITE ABOUT I WAS LOST

An adventure in the kitchen

IT HAPPENED TO ME

A DAY AT THE PET SHOP

A memorable day

My best friend

A PRESENT

tHE NIgErIAN WAtCH StoryWrItINg CoMPEtItIoN IS NoW oPEN For ENtrIES Entries close on July 22.

Submit your story via email to bookcomp@nigerianwatch.com or post to Nigerian Watch Book Competition, Chartwell House, 292 Hale Lane, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 8NP.

Entries can be any length but no longer than 500 words and have “a beginning, middle and end”.

All prize winners will be featured in Nigerian Watch newspaper and all published authors will be invited to the glittering book

launch.

A panel of judges including published authors will select the winning entries. The judges decision is final.

For full terms and conditions visit www.nigerianwatch.com/bookcomp

Like us on Facebook facebook.com/NigerianWatch

EDUCATIONwatCH

Effective revision is the key to success in exams

7 REASONS TO CHOOSE THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHAMPTON:

With no option to re-sit A-levels until next year the pressure is on for students to achieve their grades The sunshine is a sure sign that the exam season is upon us. It is time for students all over to showcase what they have learnt.

Most people would swear by the mantra that success is a result of preparation. However, not everyone is ready for the intense pressure and adrenaline associated with sitting exams. If your child is sitting for those all important end-ofyear exams or GCSEs, A–levels and university exams, the coming weeks and months is going to bring tension in even the most serene of households.

Exam time is a trying time for the whole family, and results are bound to suffer if parents and children have quarrels over studying or don’t have strategies in place. With a bit of preparation, plenty of hard work and mutual support, improvements in results is inevitable.

Make revision effective Make sure your child has a quiet space in which to revise. If there isn’t one at home, ask a friend or try the local library. Successful revision requires variety to ensure the information sticks. l Help your child work out when they are at their brightest and most alert – morning or evening. Do most of the work at this time. Most people have an energy low at some point, so suggest that they go for a walk or relax away

from books. l Do revision in short bursts. Forty to forty–five minutes is about as long as someone can concentrate in one stretch. Then a 5–minute break. Be warned that if the break involves television, it can be hard to get started again.

Tackle a different subject after the break. l Get your child to turn off their phone during revision. Keep a quiet household and don’t interrupt them with background noise during revision. l Reinforce strengths. Make use of your tutor, if your child has one. Try some past questions against the clock and in conditions similar to an exam. Ask the tutor to go over mistakes and exam techniques rather than teaching new materials. l Last minute revision should focus on what they know, NOT on what they don’t know. It’s too late for new material so let them go into the exam feeling confident rather than nervous about the things they don’t know. l Stop early and don’t cram too late into the evening before an exam. The night before an exam is the time to focus on basic notes, diagrams and memory aids such as mnemonics and making sure they have essential equipment such as pens and pencils and calculators ready and packed. All night supermarkets are a good source for stationery and spare batteries.

NIGERIAN WATCH 14 May - 4 June 2015

1. We are a top 50 UK University* 2. We are located in the heart of England, only an hour from London 3. 96% of our graduates are in employment or further study within 6 months of completing their course** 4. We offer a wide range of subjects through our six schools: Arts, Business, Education, Health, Science and Technology and Social Science 5. We offer generous merit-based scholarships 6. We are leading the way in Social Innovation*** 7. Excellent links to industry with work placements, internships and volunteering opportunities available

*Source: Guardian University Guide 2014 **Source: HESA Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Survey 2012/13, July 2014 compared to full university status HEIs for full time study first Undergraduate degree leavers. ***Ashoka U, 2014

Employment focused postgraduate degrees at Robert Gordon University Commence with a Pre-Master’s course at ICRGU in June or October 2015.

Pre-Master’s available into the following RGU degrees: • MSc Accounting and Finance (conversion course) • MSc Financial Management • MSc International Business • MSc International Tourism and Hospitality Management

• MSc Management • MSc Project Management (internship included) • MSc Purchasing and Supply Chain Management

Apply today for the Pre-Master’s with a third class honours.

Additional course options also available, visit rgu.ac.uk/icrgu for full course listings.

New for 2015! MSc Accounting and Finance (conversion course) This is a conversion Master’s course for graduates who have completed a first degree in any field of study and who now wish to develop a career in accounting. The MSc is studied full–time over one year and offers the potential for a minimum of two and maximum of three exemptions from ACCA. Pre–Master’s course commences 22 June.

For more information, visit rgu.ac.uk/icrgu or e-mail info@ic.rgu.ac.uk

21

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SUPErEAgLES From page 24 London on Tuesday has been somewhat overblown on social media,” Sanusi told the NFF website.

“It is understandable that any news of a proposed friendly between Nigeria and England would generate global interest, as it has done. Both teams last played any match at senior level about 13 years ago. However, we must say at this stage that the proposal is still at the level of discussions and nothing concrete has been agreed as to when the match will hold. We are awaiting feedback from the FA and will report on the outcome accordingly.”

Meanwhile, an English FA spokesman said, “The discussions included reference to Mr Pinnick’s appreciation for English football and his desire to foster closer links between the NFF and the FA. Although there are no plans in the foreseeable future for a senior men’s international between England and Nigeria, it was agreed to keep dialogue open.”

Nigeria’s Super Eagles last played England in a friendly on November 16, 1994 at Wembley, which the English won 1-0 thanks to a goal from skipper David Platt. Having played better in that game and lost, the match raised the Eagles’ profile significantly, leading to several players signing up for English Premier club sides, including Kanu, Jay Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi and Finidi George.

England have two crucial European Championship qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania later this year but may revisit a friendly with Nigeria after they have been played.

NIGERIAN WATCH 14 May - 4 June 2015

SPORTSwatCH

Dangote eyes the gunners

goLDEN gIrLS rIo boUND

There may have been world records and shock defeats in other events, but the women’s 4 x 200m was the most dramatic final on the opening day of the IAAF/BTC World Relays at the beginning of May in the Bahamas.

Pre-event favourites USA looked to be on course to successfully defend their title from last year, having built up a comfortable lead on the first three legs. But then disaster struck on the final changeover between Tarmoh and

Allyson Felix, who couldn’t quite get a solid grip on the baton as Tarmoh then bumped into her before she fell to the ground, their medal hopes dashed.

There was drama too for The Bahamas as their second changeover was well outside of the zone resulting in their being disqualified.

Which meant that Nigeria were the surprise victors, winning in 1:30.52 to take two seconds off the national record they set earlier this year. Bless-

23

ing Okagbare led the team off before the baton was passed to Regina George, Dominique Duncan and Christy Udoh.

Gloria Asumnu, Blessing Okagbare, Dominique Duncan and Peace Uko competed in the 4 x 100m relay, where they finished 7th in 42.99s in a closely fought Final. The team was the only one of Nigeria’s four 4x100m and 4x400m teams to finish in the Top 8 of their event and qualify automatically for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has renewed his interest in purchasing Arsenal.

The Nigerian billionaire told Bloomberg last week that he still had “hopes” of buying the London-based side one day, even though he was turned down by the owners back in 2010.

The north London club is currently controlled by US billionaire Stan Kroenke, and Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov also owns just under a third of the club.

Mr Dangote has revealed that the reason why he is eager to buy Arsenal is because the side needs to be rejuvenated and turned into a championshipcontending side from its current bridesmaid status.

Alhaji Dangote told the business magazine, “I still hope, one day, at the right price, that I’ll buy the team. I might buy it, not at a ridiculous price but a price that the owners won’t want to resist and I know my strategy.”

He added that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger needs to change his style a bit, claiming the team needs a new direction.

NUgA CELEbrAtES 11th ANNIVErSAry WItH A roUND

The Nigerian UK Golfing Association (NUGA) recently marked its 11th anniversary, with the staging of the “Anniversary Cup” at Stanmore Golf Club in Middlesex, attracting over 40 golfers from the UK and Nigeria.

After a day on the greens a 19th Hole banquet was hosted by NUGA’s founding President, Dr Koyi Ugboma, and was crammed with delicacies for the culinary delight of the golfers and their guests.

NUGA was formed primarily to foster friendship amongst Nigerian and other African

golfers who live in the UK. The association was founded in 2004 when a few friends who had been playing golf together for a while decided to formalise their meetings at an inaugural event in Chelsfield Lakes Golf Club, Orpington, Kent.

Originally named the London Golfing Association, the name was later changed to Nigeria-UK Golfing Association to embrace all Nigerian golfers (UK-wide and abroad) and their friends’ world-wide.

In 11 years, NUGA has grown from a handful

of members into one of the foremost golfing societies, with a global reach spanning the UK, USA and Africa.

The association boasts over 200 members and affiliations with golf clubs and communities across the world.

NUGA will be holding a major event – The Captain's Day – at the Essendon Country Club in Hertfordshire on Friday, May 29, the day Nigeria inaugurates its new President, General Muhammadu Buhari. The association will be organising fund raising activities in support of

Action Aid Ebola Appeal - a charity which is helping millions of West Africans fight, treat and cope with the devastation left behind by the most inhumane Ebola virus.

NUGA needs and welcomes sponsors, partners and donors to support its activities. If you would like to join NUGA as a member or become a partner or sponsor, please visit the association’s website: www.nugagolf.com or email: admin@nugagolf.com or call 07813 756 940

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NIGERIAN WATCH 14 May - 4 June 2015

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INSIDE

golfers gather to celebrate 11th anniversary of NUgA

SportsWatch

Friendly Fever griPs nigeria talks hint at Wembley showdown between Lions and Eagles Speculation has reached fever pitch that the Super Eagles of Nigeria are to take on the Three Lions of England at Wembley, following a meeting between the heads of the two federations.

NFF president Amaju Pinnick visited the UK last week and met privately with the English FA chairman Greg Dyke at Wembley Stadium on May 5. During the meeting, Mr Pinnick proposed an international friendly between the two teams.

It would be the first such showdown since the famous meeting of the two teams, when Nigeria’s golden generation of 1994 narrowly lost to England 1-0.

General Secretary of the NFF, Mohammed Sanusi disclosed that playing the Three Lions will definitely be a game to watch out for but added that no agreement had been reached on a date for the proposed game.

“The aspect of a proposed friendly between Nigeria and England as discussed by the NFF President and Chairman of The FA, Mr. Greg Dyke, at their meeting in Turn to page 23

NIgErIA’S goLDEN tEAM of 1994, the last time England played Nigeria.

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