German researchers, Breunij, and his research assistant, Johannes Buringer, have been freed.
They were kidnapped on Feb 22 at an archeological excavation site in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
They have been working at the Nok Archeology Centre Kagoro in the last 10 years.
Source: http://thenationonlineng.net/abducted-germans-regain-freedom/
Sunday 26 February 2017
Friday 24 February 2017
Storm Doris- My travel woes
I am home today because I feel poorly! When the Met Office warned about the advent of Storm Doris, I didn't think I would be affected any way other than being hit by strong winds.
Little did I know what was in store for me! I got to London Kings Cross at about 17:15 to get the 17.44 train home. On getting to the train station it was chock-a-block. I could not even get close to the main entrance of Kings Cross station because of the large number of people in and around the station. It was like nothing I had ever seen before.
I braced myself for a long wait.
I waited and waited and waited!
I got colder and colder and colder!
I knew that the cold was going to affect me! I was just too cold and hungry but also too weak to get something to eat.
I waited and finally, after waiting almost 4 hours after my arrival at the station, a train departure was announced. I ran for it but on getting close to the doors, I could see that the train was full to the brim and there was no space for me and others to get in. I was almost close to crying.
I was so cold and weak, I kept running down the length of the train looking for any carriage that I could squeeze past people to get in. Finally, I squeezed in. Even though the train was not going to my final destination, I thought it would do, anything other than waiting in the cold station without any news of what was going on.
The train reached its final destination and we were all ushered back out into the cold and started another wait in the cold. Soon after, it was announced that all passengers would have to complete the remainder of their journeys via taxi, paid for by the rail company. There were hundreds of people at the train station waiting to get on the taxis which must have cost them a small fortune.
After a few more hours of queuing, it was now my turn to be allocated a taxi with 3 other commuters travelling to the same destination. The drive was good bearing in mind they put 4 strangers in a taxi. I initially thought of how awkward the journey would be with strangers butiIt is funny how adversity can bring people together. This same 4 people, had we sat on the train would not have spoken to one another but here we were, chatting like old friend about the event of the day. It would take another hour on the taxi to get home.
I am grateful that I made it home and on the mend now. I read that Storm Doris was not too kind to many.
I got home OK and even though I am recovering from the effects of the cold weather and time lost, I am grateful no other hurt came to me! My thoughts and prayers are with those who suffered more due to storm Doris!
Thursday 23 February 2017
Storm Doris has descended on us!
The Met Office did issue a warning about the arrival of storm Doris and the disruptions it would bring with it when it arrives. Well, storm Doris has descended upon us!
Like a petulant child, I ventured outside the office in London and just instantly, I regretted going outside the building. The force of the wind that hit me was kind of a warning giving me some subtle messages and resetting my brain to ask myself why I was even outside in the first place.
As per usual, I stubbornly continued walking and this time, the wind came back much more powerful and everyone around me was screaming. I continued walking instead of turning back. But not for long as the next wind that hit was so strong that everyone around me stopped to look for something to hold on to. I had my back to a wall!
As I took another step forward forcing myself to move through the gust of the wind, I almost started crying! By then, particles found their way into my eyes and I could not see where I as going. The wind was just too strong and there was no point fighting the wind. I thought to myself, this is what happens when one does not listen to common sense. I should have stayed in the building! No one sent me outside!
How was storm Doris where you are?
Sunday 19 February 2017
Friday 17 February 2017
Female Genital Mutilation - Manchester court obtained the highest number of FGM Protection Orders in the country
As girl living in Africa, I have heard so much about this practice. I never actually knew about this practice until in my late teens when there was a lot of publicity about it in the media and many NGOs going around schools discussing about the effects of the practice.
One day, I was talking to a friend of mine and we were discussing about this issue and I couldn't understand why anyone would want to do this to their daughter and how the practice is so alien to me that I found the whole thing difficult to understand.
My friend told me her story. She was circumcised and so was all her five sisters.
My friend told me that it was the custom in her place of origin - south of Nigeria. She and her siblings were all circumcised when they were very young. We discussed about the effects of it on her as an adult. I was so sad after that conversation. It became real that someone so close to me had gone through this.
Another girl I know told us of how young girls are dragged to the village to have this done to them. The trauma this act causes to a young girl cannot be fully told. It starts from the whole secrecy in hiding this from the young girl to taking her to an unsanitary dingy hut with strangers holding her down and using unsterilized blades to cut off her parts. Many times, the act is done without anesthetic!
One of the worst things any young girl could go through.
Where do these practices stem from and why is it perpetuated by women. It is usually mothers who take their own daughters to have this done. It is usually older women that cut the girls.
The practice I was told stems from trying to make girls less promiscuous.
Why would any mother want to take off a part of her daughter's body that brings pleasure just to stop her from being promiscuous? Is there anything wrong in a girl enjoying pleasure? who defines what is promiscuous and under whose moral code or standard are we defining promiscuity? Why is it wrong for a girl to be promiscuous but not so for the men?
The idea that if a girl does not experience pleasure then she will not be promiscuous is unfounded.
I just read that a Manchester court obtained the highest number of FGM Protection Orders compared to any other court in the country.
It is alarming that with all the exposure, information and the devastating effects of this on young girls, that this culture of FGM is going on here in the UK.
It is worth understanding how culture and customs have a strong hold on people and why people are unwilling to unlearn things ingrained in them from childhood.
One day, I was talking to a friend of mine and we were discussing about this issue and I couldn't understand why anyone would want to do this to their daughter and how the practice is so alien to me that I found the whole thing difficult to understand.
My friend told me her story. She was circumcised and so was all her five sisters.
My friend told me that it was the custom in her place of origin - south of Nigeria. She and her siblings were all circumcised when they were very young. We discussed about the effects of it on her as an adult. I was so sad after that conversation. It became real that someone so close to me had gone through this.
Another girl I know told us of how young girls are dragged to the village to have this done to them. The trauma this act causes to a young girl cannot be fully told. It starts from the whole secrecy in hiding this from the young girl to taking her to an unsanitary dingy hut with strangers holding her down and using unsterilized blades to cut off her parts. Many times, the act is done without anesthetic!
One of the worst things any young girl could go through.
Where do these practices stem from and why is it perpetuated by women. It is usually mothers who take their own daughters to have this done. It is usually older women that cut the girls.
The practice I was told stems from trying to make girls less promiscuous.
Why would any mother want to take off a part of her daughter's body that brings pleasure just to stop her from being promiscuous? Is there anything wrong in a girl enjoying pleasure? who defines what is promiscuous and under whose moral code or standard are we defining promiscuity? Why is it wrong for a girl to be promiscuous but not so for the men?
The idea that if a girl does not experience pleasure then she will not be promiscuous is unfounded.
I just read that a Manchester court obtained the highest number of FGM Protection Orders compared to any other court in the country.
It is alarming that with all the exposure, information and the devastating effects of this on young girls, that this culture of FGM is going on here in the UK.
It is worth understanding how culture and customs have a strong hold on people and why people are unwilling to unlearn things ingrained in them from childhood.
The past can never be forgotten or erased - Emmanuel Macron under fire from his right-wing opponents
Is it intellectual dishonesty to dismiss or enfeeble the effects of colonialism on Africa today?
I was glad to read that French politician Emmanuel Macron, admitted to and recognised the cruel nature of France's colonial rule particularly in Algeria by calling France's colonisation of Algeria a "crime against humanity,".
And true, France with other colonial powers did commit innumerable atrocities in many African countries.
Such rhetoric will not come without opposition. Emmanuel Macron has come under fire from his right-wing opponents for AFP news agency reports.
I was glad to read that French politician Emmanuel Macron, admitted to and recognised the cruel nature of France's colonial rule particularly in Algeria by calling France's colonisation of Algeria a "crime against humanity,".
And true, France with other colonial powers did commit innumerable atrocities in many African countries.
Such rhetoric will not come without opposition. Emmanuel Macron has come under fire from his right-wing opponents for AFP news agency reports.
Mr Macron visited the Martyrs' Memorial in Algeria this week, and said in a television interview that France's actions during the colonial era were "genuinely barbaric, and constitute a part of our past that we have to confront by apologising".
We must never forget what colonialism did to Africa. We need more brave politicians, academics etc to challenge and change the narratives of how Africa is perceived and tell the truth, the truth about the history of colonialism in Africa, the devastation caused, expropriation of land, natural and human resources, erosion of African traditions and religion and stifling the truth about African ingenuity.
Source: bbc.co.uk
Tuesday 14 February 2017
Valentine's day - Is love in the air?
Do we really need a day to celebrate love, a day to show our loved ones how much they mean to us and how much we love them? Should every day not be a day to celebrate love?
It is all so suffocating being pressurised to shop and buy gifts to celebrate love. Valentine's day has become another day for big cooperate organisation to push goods and services on people... Not that I am totally against consumerism!
For me, every day should be celebrated with love. I don't want to wait for one day out of a whole year to feel special or show someone that I love them.
However, as valentines day is a day just like any other day, I celebrate love as I would celebrate it every day. I appreciate everyone that has been kind to me and shown me, love.
I remember loved ones who are no longer with us - my dad, my beloved uncle.
I remember all those who are hurting, who are alone, who have no one.
I remember the little orphan children I looked after and wonder how they are doing now.
I remember those suffering and cannot provide food for their children.
The world is full of love but also full of people hurting.
And finally......
I want to say those words....
Ready ......
I love you!
However, as valentines day is a day just like any other day, I celebrate love as I would celebrate it every day. I appreciate everyone that has been kind to me and shown me, love.
I remember loved ones who are no longer with us - my dad, my beloved uncle.
I remember all those who are hurting, who are alone, who have no one.
I remember the little orphan children I looked after and wonder how they are doing now.
I remember those suffering and cannot provide food for their children.
The world is full of love but also full of people hurting.
And finally......
I want to say those words....
Ready ......
I love you!
Saturday 11 February 2017
Ask a Nigerian what change means?
There are some concepts that has little correlation or anything to do with their etymology. An example is the Nigerian interpretation of the term 'change' which has come to mean several different things to many Nigerians. The term 'change', to many Nigerians, has become synonymous to the political demagogue from untrustworthy politicians.
Not so long ago, the term 'change' symbolised just that - change, howbeit, in a positive way. Now many Nigerians do not want to hear 'that' word because it reminds them of a government that has failed to deliver the 'change' they so desired.
The term 'change' will remain for a very long time in the Nigerian colloquium one synonymous to fraud.
Thursday 9 February 2017
Monday 6 February 2017
Nigeria- Anti-government protest taking place!
The planned anti-government protest is happening right now in different cities of Nigeria - Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
Nigerians are out on the streets protesting for good governance, better infrastructure and facilities, as well as agitating for those in power to find a solution to the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.
See the pictures here: https://youtu.be/n2cOZC6NEhw
Nigerians are out on the streets protesting for good governance, better infrastructure and facilities, as well as agitating for those in power to find a solution to the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.
See the pictures here: https://youtu.be/n2cOZC6NEhw
Sunday 5 February 2017
Trending - Nigeria
The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has written to the Nigerian National
Assembly informing them of his desire to extend his leave.
The extension was to enable him complete and
receive the results of a series of tests recommended by his doctors.
Here is wishing the president a quick recovery and may he go back to Nigeria and begin to fix the many of the myriad problems waiting for his attention.
He needs to address the Southern Kaduna killings by Fulani herdsmen, the agitation for session in the eastern part of Nigeria, the hunger in the land among others.
There was supposed to be a planned protest scheduled for Monday the 6th of February. However, the front runner, Nigerian artist, 2face Idibia, called it off. I read that many Nigerians are still planning to protest.
Read more at:
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/02/buhari-surprises-nigerians-extends-vacation-writes-national-assembly4/
Widow gets the attention of Tanzanian's president
The saying 'ask and it shall be given to you' comes to mind here.
Ms Shoshi, a widow, disrupted a public meeting attended by Tanzania's President John Magufuli in the main city of Dar es Salaam to appeal to him to act against people whom she accused of conspiring to deprive her of property. After hearing all that she had to say, the president ordered the judges to speedily listen to her case and directed the chief justice, who was present, to give the woman his phone number so that she can follow up with him on the case's progress.
Watch the video: https://youtu.be/3hX_Vtng2gc
Culled from bbc.co.uk: Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-africa-38281509
Ms Shoshi, a widow, disrupted a public meeting attended by Tanzania's President John Magufuli in the main city of Dar es Salaam to appeal to him to act against people whom she accused of conspiring to deprive her of property. After hearing all that she had to say, the president ordered the judges to speedily listen to her case and directed the chief justice, who was present, to give the woman his phone number so that she can follow up with him on the case's progress.
Watch the video: https://youtu.be/3hX_Vtng2gc
Culled from bbc.co.uk: Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-africa-38281509
Compassion!
I enjoyed listening to Chimamanda's speech on humanitarianism. She spoke of her parent's experience during the Nigerian civil war in the late 70s. She told the story of how her parents fled to Enugu from Nsuka to seek refuge in the house of someone they knew. There was no room in this friend's house as the house was already filled with people fleeing the shelling. This man seeing the desperation on her parent's faces, said to them "we will make room".
The words 'we will make room' resonates with my own experience growing up in one of the most volatile regions in Nigeria - Northern Nigeria.
Many Africans are not strangers to conflicts or wars. Many of us have experienced some kind of conflict and know all too well the devastation it brings. I can vividly remember one of the ethno-religious conflicts that I experienced as a young girl. It was frightening. I could remember that day so well.
I was out playing in the compound and all of a sudden, I could smell smoke. I looked up and saw a dark plume of smoke and I wondered what it was. Not long after, someone ran to our compound and told my mom something around the lines of, "It has started. They are killing everyone".
Our house was located in a very quiet and reserved area. So quiet was the area that one could hardly hear any noise.
Hence, hearing the sounds of gunshots and the bomb-like sounds were so frightening. I cannot describe how frightening the experience was. We were told to lie down and for the next few days did not leave the house. Each bang from the gun shot made me whimper. And soon, people who were lucky to have fled the terrors happening in their areas started trooping to our house with tales of how their shops and houses were burnt down.
The words from Chimamanda's humanitarian talk "we will make room" reminded me of how people opened their gates to those seeking refuge during those times. My parents did not turn anyone away. They made room. We all survived on the small foodstuff we had. Thankfully, there were trees with fruits such as mangoes and guavas and that helped quite a lot. One by one, as people trooped in, we heard tales of close friends and workers that had been killed. I would never forget hearing that one of the workers I grew up knowing was killed. I prayed it was not true but it was true!
That was not the only ethno- religious conflict that I experienced. Another one that I can vividly remember was during my University days. That conflict was one of the worst in that state. In fact so bad was it that there has never been any as bad as that. I was one hour away from my parents. There were no mobile phones then.
It was bad! My parent's house was again filled with people running away from areas that were heavily affected. My parents opened their gates again. It was only a matter of time and even my parents would have had to leave their house and sought for refuge. They too, would have needed the help of someone kind enough to open their gates.
Many times, refugees are forced to flee from horrible situations. They lose everything in search of safety. As Chimamanda puts it, sometimes there are no rooms but we must never fail at being compassionate human beings.
You can watch Chimamanda's talk here: https://youtu.be/oj5F5XaLj2E
The words 'we will make room' resonates with my own experience growing up in one of the most volatile regions in Nigeria - Northern Nigeria.
I was out playing in the compound and all of a sudden, I could smell smoke. I looked up and saw a dark plume of smoke and I wondered what it was. Not long after, someone ran to our compound and told my mom something around the lines of, "It has started. They are killing everyone".
Our house was located in a very quiet and reserved area. So quiet was the area that one could hardly hear any noise.
Hence, hearing the sounds of gunshots and the bomb-like sounds were so frightening. I cannot describe how frightening the experience was. We were told to lie down and for the next few days did not leave the house. Each bang from the gun shot made me whimper. And soon, people who were lucky to have fled the terrors happening in their areas started trooping to our house with tales of how their shops and houses were burnt down.
The words from Chimamanda's humanitarian talk "we will make room" reminded me of how people opened their gates to those seeking refuge during those times. My parents did not turn anyone away. They made room. We all survived on the small foodstuff we had. Thankfully, there were trees with fruits such as mangoes and guavas and that helped quite a lot. One by one, as people trooped in, we heard tales of close friends and workers that had been killed. I would never forget hearing that one of the workers I grew up knowing was killed. I prayed it was not true but it was true!
That was not the only ethno- religious conflict that I experienced. Another one that I can vividly remember was during my University days. That conflict was one of the worst in that state. In fact so bad was it that there has never been any as bad as that. I was one hour away from my parents. There were no mobile phones then.
It was bad! My parent's house was again filled with people running away from areas that were heavily affected. My parents opened their gates again. It was only a matter of time and even my parents would have had to leave their house and sought for refuge. They too, would have needed the help of someone kind enough to open their gates.
Many times, refugees are forced to flee from horrible situations. They lose everything in search of safety. As Chimamanda puts it, sometimes there are no rooms but we must never fail at being compassionate human beings.
You can watch Chimamanda's talk here: https://youtu.be/oj5F5XaLj2E
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