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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ritchiee: 4:58pm On Nov 01, 2015
Marines showed extraordinary bravery.


Quantico, Virginia (CNN) -- Capt. Ademola Fabayo and Staff Sgt. Juan Rodriguez-Chavez are both immigrants to the United States, both Marines and, most important of all, both heroes of a rare order.

On Friday, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus presented both men with the Navy Cross during a ceremony at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. The Navy Cross is the second-highest award for valor in the military, surpassed only by the Medal of Honor.

They were on a mission with two platoons of Afghan troops and some other U.S. Marine and Army trainers to meet village elders in Ganjgal, Afghanistan, on September 8, 2009. They knew the village was in a dangerous valley.

"The valley, which is located very close to the Pakistani border, is a known approach route for insurgents," Mabus said at Friday's awards ceremony.

Their fears were realized when some 50 Taliban fighters attacked their column.

"As that column approached the village, just before sunrise, every light in the village went off. And minutes later the world became fire," Mabus said. "From three sides of the column, over a distance of two-thirds of a mile on either side, rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire began to rain down."

Fabayo, a lieutenant at the time and commander of the mission, was on foot when the attack started. He and the troops he was with fired back, but they were trapped for about two hours. When he called for close-air support, he was told that the fighting was too close to the village and civilians would be at risk. So Fabayo organized a team of Afghan soldiers to attempt to break out of the ambush and head back to the rear and relative safety. He got them to cover, treated their wounds. But four of his Marines were missing.

Rodriguez-Chavez, driving an armored Humvee as part the column's security element, called Fabayo and begged to drive up and help, Fabayo said no. He wanted no more Marines in the kill zone

Eventually, Rodriguez-Chavez did drive into the ambush three times, evacuating two dozen Afghan troops and Marines.

"As the only vehicle moving anywhere, particularly into the fight, their Humvee became the most obvious target on the battlefield and it was hit again and again. But with no other way to get to their friends available, they kept going, returning fire entire time," Mabus said.

By now Fabayo was with Rodriguez-Chavez in the Humvee as he drove into the kill zone a fourth time under heavy fire. With Fabayo in the gun turret, the most exposed part of the truck, they found the four missing Marines. Unfortunately, they all died fighting off the ambush. Nonetheless, Fabayo, Rodriguez-Chavez and several other Marines and soldiers risked their lives to get the four fallen Marines off the battlefield.

Fabayo is now a trainer at Quantico, where new Marine Corps officers go through basic training. Rodriguez-Chavez is also a trainer, at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri.

Fabayo was born in Nigeria but considers himself a New Yorker. Rodriguez-Chavez is a native of Acuna, Mexico.

Mabus noted that these heroes were fighting for their adopted nation:

"Neither of the recipients of the Navy Cross today were born in this country. But through their active service, both have demonstrated a deep and enduring love for the United States of America and a commitment to defend everything it represents."

2 Likes

Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ritchiee: 5:01pm On Nov 01, 2015

Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ritchiee: 5:04pm On Nov 01, 2015
A few years ago...
Nigerian Mathematician wins AU Science award



A Nigerian, Professor Oluwole Daniel Makinde,presently a Senior Professor of Applied Mathematics and Director of Post Graduate Studies at Cape Peninsula University (CPTU) in South Africa has emerged winner of the African Union Kwame Nkrumah 2011 Scientific Award for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation.



The award was presented on Sunday, January 29 at the African Union Commission Headquarters during the formal opening ceremony of the 18th AU Summit, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Professor Maryke Tine Labuschagne also bagged the Life and Earth Science Award.

Makinde, who obtained his B.Sc and M.Sc degrees from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), and a Doctorate from the University of Bristol has contributed immensely to the upliftment of previously disadvantaged groups in Africa especially in the area of mathematical science research and training.

The African Union launched the AU Scientific Award Programme on September 9, 2008. Renamed as the “African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards” in July 2010, the award “is one of the holistic and deliberate measures taken by the Commission to maintain science and technology on top of Africa’s development, co-operation and political agenda. The objective of the programme is to give out scientific awards to top African scientists for their scientific achievements and valuable discoveries and findings.”

President Goodluck Jonathan in a congratulatory letter to Makinde described his achievements as “a source of pride to all Nigerians, particularly worthy of emulation by the younger generation”, adding that the winner is “a very gifted scholar, an achiever, and a man of impressive credentials.”

Makinde a past winner of the Young African Mathematician award in 2003 was also appointed Secretary of the African Mathematics Union in 2009.

During his visit to the Nigeria in 2010, he was at the Covenant University.

Prior to joining CPUT, Prof Makinde headed the Applied Mathematics Department for more than ten years and became a Full Professor at the University of Limpopo in South Africa.

Makinde in an interview published in CPUT Newsletter described mathematics as the “precursor of science and technology and the indispensable single element in modern societal development.”

According to him, mathematics education is therefore indispensable in nation-building.

His key focus area for research is in Computational and Mathematical Modelling of Engineering and Biological Systems.

Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Flyoruboy(m): 5:05pm On Nov 01, 2015
[size=19pt]Going global: How this Nigerian game developer built his enterprise[/size]

(88mph Startup Accelerator-Backed Gaming Company, Gamsole Set To Hit 4 Million Downloads: http://techloy.com/2013/11/06/gamsole-four-million-downloads/ )

A Nigerian mobile game developer, Gamsole, is setting a high standard for future African gaming companies. Six months after its induction, in 2012, and under the leadership of CEO Abiola Elijah Olaniran, the company had already amassed an impressive player base of three million.

"Different markets require different strategies, and as such it does not make sense to import Silicon Valley or Wall Street wisdom wholesale when doing business in emerging African or Asian markets," said Abiola Elijah Olaniran, CEO of Gamsole.

Gamsole develops a wide array of entertaining and educational games for Windows Phone and Windows 8, usually around an African theme. In 2014 it was one of five companies to receive a grant from the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative, and the company is growing quickly. Today over 10 million Gamesole games have already been downloaded.

Olaniran spoke to How we made it in Africa about his journey as a software developer, the primary ingredient for his success, and his entrepreneurial advice for others.

What was the inspiration behind starting Gamsole?

This may sound like your cliché software developer, tech junkie story, but I actually started game development out of curiosity. I say this because my journey into technology only started because I was curious about it. I grew up in Lagos surrounded by all this technology and gadgets, things I kept trying to make sense of. I think my foray into software really started when I began visiting Microsoft for technical insight.

I got involved with Microsoft when a couple of technology evangelists from the company came to my university, and the interactions with them led me to take technology and software programming seriously. In fact to the point that I would go on to represent Nigeria at the Microsoft Imagine Cup in 2010. I participated in and won more competitions after that, but by 2012 I had focused on carving a niche in game development, and the only logical thing to do was to found a gaming company. Thus, Gamsole was born.

How did you finance your start-up? How did you turn your idea into a reality?

After validating my idea by winning the Samsung developer challenge, also in 2010, I decided to focus on developing games for different app stores. During that time, I got the idea to join the 88mph accelerator programme, which provided the seed investment for Gamsole.

What was the tipping point for your company and why do you think it has been this successful?

I think the primary ingredient of our success was having strategic advisers very early on in the company which helped us understand the need for monetisation for each game we developed. We quickly became a sustainable venture, and are now profitable.

Of the games you have developed, which ones have been particularly popular? And why do you think that is?

On average, all our games have similar amounts of attention and downloads, and I believe that’s because we decided to focus on a new, emerging and under-served market at the early stage of the Windows Phone platform’s introduction.

Your most effective marketing tactic so far?

To be honest, we do little to no marketing. Our downloads are mostly as a result of deep platform penetration. Regions where the Windows Phone platform is popular tend to reward us very well.

Drawing from your experience, what steps do you think African companies can take to become global players?

There are a number of local problems that can unlock tremendous value for the ones who solve them, so not every company needs to do this. However, if a start-up happens [to produce] a product whose relevance transcends borders, then they must turn their attention to quality, and work to ensure their offering can at the very least stand toe-to-toe with comparative propositions across the globe.

What is the one thing you wish you knew about entrepreneurship before you got started?

Different markets require different strategies, and as such it does not make sense to import Silicon Valley or Wall Street wisdom wholesale when doing business in emerging African or Asian markets. Entrepreneurial principles are universal, but they need to be utilised in context. I’m glad I learnt that lesson early in my journey.

If you had one piece of advice for entrepreneurs just starting out in Nigeria, what would it be?

Figure out how you’re going to make money from the business before you get started. Even if it requires a bit of runway to achieve profit, ensure there is a viable revenue model underpinning the venture. It is business after all.

http://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/going-global-how-this-nigerian-game-developer-built-his-enterprise/

Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ritchiee: 5:07pm On Nov 01, 2015
Nigerian Born America offers Students scholarship.

Nigerian born American, Mr. Bob Agbede, has offered scholarship worth N5 million to indigent Nigerian best graduating engineering students, spread over the next 10 years.

The lucky recipients would be free to pursue Masters Degree in the field of Engineering at any US University of their choice, beginning from this year.



Mr. Agbede, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Chester Engineering, made the disclosure in Pittsburgh, USA, when the former Institute of Directors, IOD, President Mr. Chike Nwanze and a group of Nigerian Chief Executives from the organised private sector met him at the Allegheny conference.

He said that the gesture was part of his way of giving back to the Nigerian society and apprciation of the goodness of God upon his life.

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ritchiee: 5:08pm On Nov 01, 2015
Flyoruboy:
[size=19pt]Going global: How this Nigerian game developer built his enterprise[/size]

88mph Startup Accelerator-Backed Gaming Company, Gamsole Set To Hit 4 Million Downloads

A Nigerian mobile game developer, Gamsole, is setting a high standard for future African gaming companies. Six months after its induction, in 2012, and under the leadership of CEO Abiola Elijah Olaniran, the company had already amassed an impressive player base of three million.

"Different markets require different strategies, and as such it does not make sense to import Silicon Valley or Wall Street wisdom wholesale when doing business in emerging African or Asian markets," said Abiola Elijah Olaniran, CEO of Gamsole.

Gamsole develops a wide array of entertaining and educational games for Windows Phone and Windows 8, usually around an African theme. In 2014 it was one of five companies to receive a grant from the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative, and the company is growing quickly. Today over 10 million Gamesole games have already been downloaded.

Olaniran spoke to How we made it in Africa about his journey as a software developer, the primary ingredient for his success, and his entrepreneurial advice for others.

What was the inspiration behind starting Gamsole?

This may sound like your cliché software developer, tech junkie story, but I actually started game development out of curiosity. I say this because my journey into technology only started because I was curious about it. I grew up in Lagos surrounded by all this technology and gadgets, things I kept trying to make sense of. I think my foray into software really started when I began visiting Microsoft for technical insight.

I got involved with Microsoft when a couple of technology evangelists from the company came to my university, and the interactions with them led me to take technology and software programming seriously. In fact to the point that I would go on to represent Nigeria at the Microsoft Imagine Cup in 2010. I participated in and won more competitions after that, but by 2012 I had focused on carving a niche in game development, and the only logical thing to do was to found a gaming company. Thus, Gamsole was born.

How did you finance your start-up? How did you turn your idea into a reality?

After validating my idea by winning the Samsung developer challenge, also in 2010, I decided to focus on developing games for different app stores. During that time, I got the idea to join the 88mph accelerator programme, which provided the seed investment for Gamsole.

What was the tipping point for your company and why do you think it has been this successful?

I think the primary ingredient of our success was having strategic advisers very early on in the company which helped us understand the need for monetisation for each game we developed. We quickly became a sustainable venture, and are now profitable.

Of the games you have developed, which ones have been particularly popular? And why do you think that is?

On average, all our games have similar amounts of attention and downloads, and I believe that’s because we decided to focus on a new, emerging and under-served market at the early stage of the Windows Phone platform’s introduction.

Your most effective marketing tactic so far?

To be honest, we do little to no marketing. Our downloads are mostly as a result of deep platform penetration. Regions where the Windows Phone platform is popular tend to reward us very well.

Drawing from your experience, what steps do you think African companies can take to become global players?

There are a number of local problems that can unlock tremendous value for the ones who solve them, so not every company needs to do this. However, if a start-up happens [to produce] a product whose relevance transcends borders, then they must turn their attention to quality, and work to ensure their offering can at the very least stand toe-to-toe with comparative propositions across the globe.

What is the one thing you wish you knew about entrepreneurship before you got started?

Different markets require different strategies, and as such it does not make sense to import Silicon Valley or Wall Street wisdom wholesale when doing business in emerging African or Asian markets. Entrepreneurial principles are universal, but they need to be utilised in context. I’m glad I learnt that lesson early in my journey.

If you had one piece of advice for entrepreneurs just starting out in Nigeria, what would it be?

Figure out how you’re going to make money from the business before you get started. Even if it requires a bit of runway to achieve profit, ensure there is a viable revenue model underpinning the venture. It is business after all.

http://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/going-global-how-this-nigerian-game-developer-built-his-enterprise/
No repetition,pls.I have posted this...kudos.He had hit more than 9 million downloads.

1 Like

Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by PrincessJaneDoe: 5:13pm On Nov 01, 2015
Musiwa419:
i endorse his suggestion

That makes three of us. Most of the Kwarans I know are very proud of their Yoruba roots. As a matter of fact, it was on Nairaland I first came across folk debating their identity.
Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ritchiee: 5:13pm On Nov 01, 2015
Kase Lawal: Not your average oil baron


Nigerian-born entrepreneur Kase Lawal is the epitome of the American dream. Arriving to the US a young, idealistic student, Lawal has carved a name for himself in one of the most competitive industries in the world: Oil.

Now head of a multi-billion dollar empire, his Houston-based company, CAMAC, is one of the largest black-owned businesses in the U.S., generating over $2 billion dollars a year.

Founded nearly 25 years ago, Lawal built CAMAC (which stands for Cameroon-American) from a small agriculture business into a global oil company. But it's taken a lot of hard work, determination and guts to get him to the top.



Born and raised in Ibadan, Nigeria in 1954, Lawal became interested in America and its civil rights movement during his teens. After finally persuading his father, a local politician, to send him to university in America, Lawal headed to Georgia and then Houston, where he attended the Texas Southern University.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering in 1976, Lawal, like many of his classmates, started out as a graduate in the energy industry. First as a chemist for Dresser Industries (now Halliburton) and then as a chemical engineer with Shell Oil Refining Co.

During this time he met his wife, Eileen through a mutual friend and had his three children.

Now married and settled, it wasn't long before the innovative young Nigerian started to implement his business ideas.

In 1986 he established CAMAC, a company trading agricultural commodities such as sugar, tobacco and rice. In the early 90s he made the leap into the energy sector after the Nigerian government started to develop its energy market.

With his knowledge of Nigeria and his Houston address, Lawal was ideally positioned to attract major oil companies. In 1991 CAMAC made a deal with the oil giant Conoco, agreeing to jointly operate and share production from any Nigerian discoveries.

This turned out to be Lawal's big break.

With his political contacts, local market knowledge and now with the backing of a major oil firm, Lawal's Houston-based company became an instant player in the energy industry.

As Lawal told CNN: "That partnership I believe was the cornerstone of the CAMAC that you know today. Subsequently with that credibility and the advantage of partnering with Conoco, we were also able to partner with BP and also with Statoil of Norway and currently we have made a partnership with Eni, the largest Italian company, which is one of the top five oil companies in the world."

Now CAMAC has offices in London, Johannesburg, Lagos and Port Harcourt, Nigeria and is involved in oil exploration, refining and trading.

He was awarded the USAfrica Business Person of the Year in 1997 and in 2002 CAMAC was named the largest African-American owned company on the Black Enterprise 100s list.

Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Nobody: 5:15pm On Nov 01, 2015
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1 Like

Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ritchiee: 5:18pm On Nov 01, 2015
African Style: Nigerian Native Naimah Adedapo American Idol Finalist.


Nigerian-born Naima Adedapo, whose name means exotic flower is the daughter of Milwaukee area jazz singer Adekola Adedapo.

She moved to Milwaukee with her family when she was just 10 years old. It was around this time when young Naima got involved with the Ko Thi dance company and went on to appear on P.Diddy’s Making The Band. After graduating from college, Naima majored in Dance at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

“She is an artist, by the truest definition of the word. That young woman can’t be anything else but that,” said, Ferne Caulker, a teacher and Naima’s godmother.

Naima auditioned for the tenth season of American Idol in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was not one the five female vote getter in the semi-final round to advance to the Top 13. She was one of the six selected to sing for a wild card and advanced to the Top 13. Adedapo performed a reggae-infused rendition of Rihanna’s hit Umbrella on Wednesday March 9th before judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson.

This eccentric young lady is a wife and mother of two little ones and very proud of her roots as we have seen her pay tribute to her African heritage through her style.
Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Nobody: 5:18pm On Nov 01, 2015
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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ritchiee: 5:20pm On Nov 01, 2015
I BET YOU DON'T KNOW THIS ABOUT THE CURRENT AfDB PRESIDENT,DR AKINWUNMI ADESINA.MAYBE YOU DO...


Nigerian agriculture economist wins a science award



An African scientist has won the communications award of the USA-based Council for Science and Technology (CAST) for the first time since it was established in 1986.

The winner, Nigerian agricultural economist Akinwumi "Akin" Ayodeji Adesina, is vice president of the policy and partnership programme for the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) at its headquarters in Kenya, Nairobi, where he helps set policy and advises former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan, the Ghana-born chairperson of the AGRA board.

The award "puts an even greater weight on my shoulders to advocate for what I believe in and that is to end poverty and hunger from where I come from - Africa,'' Adesina said, according to an AGRA press release.

"For me, it is a mission to ensure all Africans have access to better food and nutrition. Farmers in particular have waited way too long for their lives to improve,'' he added.

In June, Adesina was appointed by United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-Moon as one of the 17 world leaders in the high-profile advocacy group for the Millenium Development Goals.

Adesina is one of four Africans on the panel, which is co-led by Rwandan president Paul Kagame and includes Kenya's Nobel peace prize laureate and environmental activist Wangari Maathai and Mozambique-born advocate for women's and children's rights Graça Machel. The panel is meant to push for the goals to be achieved by their 2014 deadline.

Adesina is also immediate past president of the African Association of Agricultural Economists, which held its third meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, last month. (Nick Vink, chairperson of the agricultural economics department at South Africa's University of Stellenbosch, is the new president.)

Adesina obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics from Nigeria's University of Ife (now renamed Obafemi Awolowo University), and a doctorate in agricultural economics from Purdue University in the USA.

He has worked in senior research positions at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, the West Africa Rice Development Association and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture.

In 1998 he joined the Rockefeller Foundation in the USA as a senior scientist for Africa and later served as the representative for Southern Africa, based in Harare, Zimbabwe, before leading the foundation's programme on raising incomes of poor farmers in Africa. He has also worked for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, according to the CAST website.

In 2004, Adesina spoke on fostering economic growth and improving markets at the Assuring Food and Nutrition Security in Africa by 2020 conference organised by the International Food Policy Research Institute in Kampala, Uganda.

And in 2006, he was a driving force behind the African Union's ministers of agriculture summit in Abuja, Nigeria, in which 40 African nations committed to improving the supply of organic and inorganic fertilisers across the continent.

Adesina accepted the award in the United States last month at the 2010 meeting of CropLife America, which was established in 1933 and represents the chemical companies that develop agriculture and pest management pesticides and other products to protect crops.

The CropLife Foundation, which in the past year has expanded its focus beyond the US to look at the devastating weed problem in sub-Saharan Africa and the need for herbicides, sponsored this year's award.

The award was handed over by Todd Peterson, the president of CAST, a non-profit organisation from Iowa that works on issues of animal, food, plant and soil sciences.

Previous winners of the CAST communications award include Pedro Sanchez of Columbia University's Earth Institute and Per Pinstrup-Andersen, former director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute.

The communications award is also named the Borlaug award after Norman Borlaug, the American agronomist and Nobel peace prize laureate who has been called "the father of the Green Revolution" for developing high-yielding, disease-resistant wheat in Mexico, Pakistan and India.

*Justus Wanzala, who is based in Nairobi, has been an editor and journalist at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation since 2002. He currently works as a freelance writer for Research Africa, where he completed a nine-month fellowship through Canada's International Development Research Centre in 2008. He was a member of the first intake of African and Arab science journalists in the two-year-long international mentoring programme beginning in 2006 by the World Federation of Science Journalists. He qualified at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication in Nairobi and is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in development studies by distance learning with UNISA (University of South Africa).
Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ritchiee: 5:25pm On Nov 01, 2015
First Black to win a Sloan Research Fellowship


K. Okikiolu

Born to Nigerian and British parents, but educated in the U.S., Katherine Okikiolu (was once on Princeton's faculty) received special distinction in 1997 when she was the first Black to win a Sloan Research Fellowship. Later in 1997, she won the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers for "Innovative research in geometric analysis, particularly the determinant of the Laplacian under smooth perturbations, and developing student workshops and mathematics curricula for inner-city children."
This particular award is worth $500,000 and is only granted 60 scientists and engineers in the U.S. per year. Okikiolu's work on elliptical differential operators is considered a major contribution, going well beyond what experts had considered feasible, given the current state of knowledge. Her 2001 publication Critical metrics for the determinant of the Laplacian in odd dimensions in the Annals of Mathematics, is receiving high acclaim. She is Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University of California at San Diego.
Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ritchiee: 5:26pm On Nov 01, 2015
Who are the young mathematicians whose careers exhibit extraordinary promise?

Mathematicians of the 21st Century.


I had anticipated delaying this section until 2007 and young folks had begun to publish. However, as a winner of the AMU/ICMS 2003 Young African in Mathematics Medals, one individual has changed my mind.

Oguntuase: Currently in Italy, Nigerian born and soley Nigerian trained, James Adedayo Oguntuase earned his Ph.D. in 2001, but has published 18 papers in mathematics since 1998. This promises to be a stelar career.
Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ritchiee: 5:29pm On Nov 01, 2015
A FEW YEARS AGO...
Queen Honours Nigerian-Born Debbie Ariyo With OBE Award.



Nigerian-born Debbie Ariyo has been honoured by the Queen of England with an award of the Order of British Empire (OBE) for her advocacy work for the rights of African children.

Ariyo, the Executive Director of Africans Unite Against Child Abuse (AFRUCA,) a non-governmental organisation, was one of two Nigerians honoured by the queen in 2011 for their works on youth and children development.

The other recipient was Mr Richard Taylor, the father of Damilola Taylor, the Nigerian youth murdered by some youths 10 years ago.

Taylor also received an OBE from the Prince of Wales at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

Reacting to the award, Ariyo said the recognition ``was a huge incentive for me to continue working fearlessly for children across the world.

“It is fulfilling to see that our work over the past 10 years campaigning for positive changes for African children is being recognised at the highest level,’’ Ariyo said in London on Friday.

She said that over the years there had been a disproportionately high number of African children referred to the child protection system by the British authority.

Ariyo attributed the development to abuses linked to cultural and religious practices; child trafficking and exploitation.

He said since 2001 AFRUCA’s sensitisation and campaign efforts had led to various changes in government policies

“We have been very vocal in advocating for changes in policy and the law to criminalise the branding of children as witches,” she said.

She listed such policies to include the enactment of a new law, Section 71 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, which makes it an offence to hold someone in slavery or forced labour.

Another policy is the establishment of a National Working Group on Witchcraft and Safeguarding by the UK Minister for Children.

Ariyo also said that AFRUCA had trained more than 1,000 practitioners on child protection among African children and families across the UK.

She said the body was currently collaborating with 10 faith-based organisations across the UK to develop, implement and monitor child protection policies and provide advice and support on child protection to parents, who required it.

She also said the organisation recently launched a project that would promote the rights and welfare of vulnerable children in Nigeria.
Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ritchiee: 5:33pm On Nov 01, 2015
Dayo Okeniyi Plays "Thresh" in "Hunger Games". He represented district 11.

INTERVIEW WITH ESSENCE:
ESSENCE: You’re new to Hollywood. Share your background for those who don’t know.
DAYO OKENIYI: I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and I moved to Anderson, Indiana, in 2003 to go to school. I finished high school in America, then I went to college. I studied graphic design and advertising. But while I was there I did plays, so acting has always been my true love. And I did theater in Nigeria, too — I did a ton of plays when I was home.

ESSENCE: The Hunger Games is your first major movie. How did you land the role of Thresh?
OKENIYI: I moved to LA a couple years ago and I was lucky to land an indie feature right away. At that time, I was tipped off that there was a casting director looking for young actors. So, I followed up and performed for him and he was really impressed. He was like, “Who’s your agent, I’d love to get in touch. I have roles I’m casting for right now and I think you’d be perfect!” I was like, “Sir, I don’t have any representation.” He then made a phone call and set me up with a manager. It was a victory just getting representation. The first audition my manger sent me on was The Hunger Games, and I got the role.

ESSENCE: For those who are unfamiliar with The Hunger Games, how would you describe your character? Also, did you have any challenges preparing for the part?
OKENIYI: The biggest challenge was the physical aspect of the role, training and getting in shape for the film. I would describe Thresh as this huge colossal figure. He’s definitely one of the favorites to win the Hunger Games. But he really has a soft heart. He doesn’t want to partake in the games, unlike those who actually train their whole lives and look forward to getting selected to go. Thresh doesn’t want anything to do with it. He tries to avoid conflicts at all times. But if he’s backed into a corner, he can do some damage. He’s not out for blood, he just wants to make it through the game and make it back to see his mom and his sister.

Dayo Okeniyi who plays Thresh, the tribute boy from District 11, sports the Mockingjay pin on the black carpet. When one of the photographers on the press side told him to turn around and take a picture with the fans, he happily obliged both media and fans.

Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ilekeh(f): 5:40pm On Nov 01, 2015
Aareonakakanfo:



Ise ki le gba pelu ti halloween cheesy grin





Awawi,awawi,awawi.


Lol I give up. grin

Yoruba hours is now in my phone's calendar smiley
Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Nobody: 5:43pm On Nov 01, 2015
Ilekeh:


Lol I give up. grin

Yoruba hours is now in my phone's calendar smiley


Eyin ti pe ni bi bayii.Abeg help me speak with the mods to unban me.Maybe because i no be woman cheesy grin
Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ilekeh(f): 5:45pm On Nov 01, 2015
Wowwwww.....100 pages in less than 10 days grin


5 Likes

Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ilekeh(f): 5:47pm On Nov 01, 2015
Whathaveidone:

Eyin ti pe ni bi bayii.Abeg help me speak with the mods to unban me.Maybe because i no be woman cheesy grin

Mo daju pe iwo na ti pe nibi bayii. Lol to ba je pe won ri mi bi obirin, won ni le ma ban mi anyhow.

Pele cry cry
Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ilekeh(f): 5:48pm On Nov 01, 2015
Ado-ekiti

Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Nobody: 5:50pm On Nov 01, 2015
Ilekeh:


Mo daju pe iwo na ti pe nibi bayii. Lol to ba je pe won ri mi bi obirin, won ni le ma ban mi anyhow.

Pele cry cry


July 2015 ooo ti peju ke.Kilode ti won se ni da e duro.igba to je wipe iwo na titi e o ju wipe ko ma bu awon olori pelebe lo

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ilekeh(f): 5:53pm On Nov 01, 2015
Whathaveidone:



July 2015 ooo ti peju ke.Kilode ti won se ni da e duro.igba to je wipe iwo na titi e o ju wipe ko ma bu awon olori pelebe lo

lmao grin O de mo pe awon olori pelebe ni awon modii section yii.

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by shizzy7(f): 5:54pm On Nov 01, 2015
Huuu, I visited this thread when it was on page 40, within 1 week its now 102... Ki le n so..
Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by shizzy7(f): 5:54pm On Nov 01, 2015
Huuu, I visited this thread when it was on page 40, in less than 2 weeks its now 102... Ki le n só
Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Nobody: 5:54pm On Nov 01, 2015
Ilekeh:


lmao grin O de mo pe awon olori pelebe ni awon modii section yii.




Abajo. sugbon oo OAM4J kii n se olori pelebe o

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ilekeh(f): 5:56pm On Nov 01, 2015
Whathaveidone:

Abajo. sugbon oo OAM4J kii n se olori pelebe o

Oko mi ikarin ni yen, sugbon nitori pe a n je nile, oun na maa ban mi cry cry
Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ilekeh(f): 5:57pm On Nov 01, 2015
shizzy7:
Huuu, I visited this thread when it was on page 40, in less than 2 weeks its now 102... Ki le n só

Ibeere nla. tongue
Oro Ijapa ati erin.
Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ilekeh(f): 6:03pm On Nov 01, 2015
My people, serious talk. How come every time our housing estates dream of houses like this (attached image), they end up with apartment looking houses?

Let's think of tomorrow. Let's build houses that'd still look moderni n the next 50 years.

Ibadan was a new city a few years back, now it looks ancient and can't compete with modern architecture. When we build, let's keep the future in mind.

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Nobody: 6:04pm On Nov 01, 2015
Ilekeh:


Oko mi ikarin ni yen, sugbon nitori pe a n je nile, oun na maa ban mi cry cry




Idaduro yen ma n pa idunmo(interest) mi si tiredi yii ati nairaland lapapo ki ma paro.Igbami o ma n se mi bi eni pe ki n paati
Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Nobody: 6:08pm On Nov 01, 2015
Pauljohn1 i saw the Osun state pictures you posted,very beautiful.Please we need more of that.Unedited too
Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Ilekeh(f): 6:09pm On Nov 01, 2015
Whathaveidone:

Idaduro yen ma n pa idunmo(interest) mi si tiredi yii ati nairaland lapapo ki ma paro.Igbami o ma n se mi bi eni pe ki n paati

Maa se be. Nkan ti ori awon pelebe fe ni yen. cry cry cry
Ni tooto, emi gan ti fe ma lo. Tele tele, aaro (ni odo mi) ni mo ma n wa si ori NL to ri pe igba yen ni mo wa ni internship mii. When I'm bored. Sugbon nitori tiredi yii ni mo fi n wa ni Osan.

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