Nigeria’s amalgamation not a mistake –Jonathan

GOODLUCK

Being a national broadcast by President Goodluck Jonathan on the centenary celebration, last night, I extend warm greetings and felicitations to all Nigerians as we celebrate our nation’s centenary, a significant milestone in our journey to Nationhood.

One hundred years ago, on the 1st of January 1914, the British Colonial authorities amalgamated the Southern and Northern Protectorates, giving birth to the single geo-political entity called Nigeria which has become our home, our hope, and our heritage.

I have often expressed the conviction that our amalgamation was not a mistake. While our union may have been inspired by considerations external to our people; I have no doubt that we are destined by God Almighty to live together as one big nation, united in diversity.

I consider myself specially privileged to lead our country into its second century of existence. And as I speak with you today, I feel the full weight of our hundred-year history. But what I feel most is not frustration, it is not disillusionment. What I feel is great pride and great hope for a country that is bound to overcome the transient pains of the moment and eventually take its rightful place among the greatest nations on earth.

Like every country of the world, we have had our troubles. And we still do. We have fought a civil war. We have seen civil authorities overthrown by the military. We have suffered sectarian violence. And as I speak, a part of our country is still suffering from the brutal assault of terrorists and insurgents.

While the occasion of our centenary undoubtedly calls for celebration, it is also a moment to pause and reflect on our journey of the past one hundred years, to take stock of our past and consider the best way forward for our nation.

Even as we celebrate our centenary, we must realise that in the context of history, our nation is still in its infancy. We are a nation of the future, not of the past and while we may have travelled for a century, we are not yet at our destination of greatness.

The amalgamation of 1914 was only the first step in our national journey. Unification was followed by independence and democracy which have unleashed the enormous potentials of our people and laid the foundation for our nation’s greatness.

In challenging times, it is easy to become pessimistic and cynical. But hope, when grounded in realism, enables and inspires progress. Therefore, as we celebrate our first century of nationhood and enter a second, we must not lose sight of all that we have achieved since 1914 in terms of nation-building, development and progress.

Today, we salute once again the great heroes of our nation – Herbert Macaulay, Ernest Ikoli, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alvan Ikoku, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, Dr. Michael Okpara, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Mallam Aminu Kano, Mokwugo Okoye and Chief Michael Imoudu among others.

We must be inspired by our past to overcome the obstacles we face in the present and honour our forebears by realising the promise of a Nigeria that is not only independent but also truly unified, prosperous and admired the world over.

The history of Nigeria since independence is the story of a struggle to fulfill our great promise. The discovery of oil in our country in the late 1950s offered new hope of prosperity but we have not always been able to reap the benefits in a fair and equitable way.

The situation was not helped by political instability and the frequent suspension of democracy by military coups. During the civil war, the very existence of our country was cast into doubt but through it all, the promise of a Nigeria that is united, free and strong remained in our people’s hearts.

Thanks to the efforts of our statesmen and women, and millions of ordinary Nigerians, the union endured and flourished.  I would like to specifically commend members of the Armed Forces for their contributions and sacrifices to keep Nigeria one.

General Yakubu Gowon had the wisdom and grace to declare that the civil war had seen “no victor, no vanquished” and welcomed, “the dawn of national reconciliation.” It was in this spirit that General Olusegun Obasanjo collected the instruments of surrender at the end of the war and later became the first military ruler in our country to hand over power voluntarily to a democratic government.

While the Second Republic did not last, his fine example was later followed by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who paved the way for our current democratic dispensation which has lasted longer than the previous three put together.

As we celebrate our centenary, I believe that it is vital that we focus our thoughts on the vast potentials of a unified and progressive Nigeria; and build on the relative stability of the Fourth Republic to achieve accelerated national socio-economic development.

I also believe that the future greatness of our country is assured by the favourable tail winds of a resilient population, ecological diversity, rich natural resources and a national consciousness that rises above our differences.

We are a unique country. We have been brought together in a union like no other by providence. Our nation has evolved from three regions to thirty six states and a Federal Capital Territory.

We have transited from the Parliamentary to a Presidential system of government. We have moved our capital from the coastal city of Lagos to Abuja, at the centre of our country. Today Abuja stands as a monument to our national aspiration for greater unity; it symbolises our dream of a modern nation unhinged from primordial cleavages and designed as a melting pot of our diversity.

If, in our first century, we could build a new capital city, we can surely build a newer, stronger, more united and prosperous Nigeria in the next century that will be an authentic African success story.

The whole world awaits this African success story. With our sheer size, population, history, resilience, human and natural resources and economic potentials, Nigeria is divinely ordained to lead the African Renaissance. That is why I am confident that in the next 100 years, those who will celebrate Nigeria’s second centenary, will do so as a united, prosperous and politically stable nation which is truly the pride and glory of Africa and the entire black race.

The key to the fulfilment of that vision is our continued unity as a nation. Perhaps one of the most amazing stories of our political evolution in the last hundred years is that an ordinary child of ordinary parentage from a minority group has risen to occupy the highest office in our country.

As we march into the next hundred years, it is my hope that mine will no longer be an extra-ordinary story but an accepted reality of our democracy that every Nigerian child can pursue his or her dreams no matter how tall; that every Nigerian child can aspire to any position in our country, and will not be judged by the language that he speaks or by how he worships God; not by gender nor by class; but by his abilities and the power of his dreams.

I am proud and privileged to have been elected leader of Nigeria and I consider it my solemn responsibility to act in the best interest of the nation at all times.

Dear compatriots, in line with the thoughts of that great son of our continent, Nelson Mandela, let us not judge ourselves, and let not the world judge us by how many times we have stumbled, but by how strongly we have risen, every single time that we have faltered.

Even as we remain resolute in our conviction that our union is non-negotiable, we must never be afraid to embrace dialogue and strengthen the basis of this most cherished union. A strong nation is not that which shies away from those difficult questions of its existence, but that which confronts such questions, and together provides answers to them in a way that guarantees fairness, justice and equity for all stakeholders.

My call for the National Conference in this first year of our second century is to provide the platform to confront our challenges. I am confident that we shall rise from this conference with renewed courage and confidence to march through the next century and beyond, to overcome all obstacles on the path to the fulfillment of our globally acknowledged potential for greatness.

I have referred to national leaders who did so much to build our nation in the past hundred years but nation-building is not just a matter for great leaders and elites alone. All Nigerians must be involved in this national endeavour. From the threads of our regional, ethnic and religious diversities we must continuously weave a vibrant collage of values that strengthen the Nigerian spirit.

The coming National Conference should not be about a few, privileged persons dictating the terms of debate, but an opportunity for all Nigerians to take part in a comprehensive dialogue to further strengthen our union.

I am hopeful that the conference will not result in parochial bargaining between competing regions, ethnic, religious and other interest groups but in an objective dialogue about the way forward for our nation and how to ensure a more harmonious balance among our three tiers of government.

My dear compatriots, as we celebrate our centenary, the security situation in some of our North-eastern states, sadly remains a major concern for us. Just yesterday, young students, full of hopes and dreams for a great future, were callously murdered as they slept in their college dormitories in Yobe State. I am deeply saddened by their deaths and that of other Nigerians at the hands of terrorists. Our hearts go out to their parents and relatives, colleagues and school authorities.

We will continue to do everything possible to permanently eradicate the scourge of terrorism and insurgency from our country.  We recognise that the root cause of militancy, terrorism and insurgency is not the strength of extremist ideas but corrupted values and ignorance.

That is why our counter-terrorism strategy is not just about enforcing law and order as we have equipped our security forces to do. It also involves expanding economic opportunities, social inclusion, education and other measures that will help restore normalcy not just in the short term, but permanently.

I want to reassure Nigerians that terrorism, strife and insecurity in any part of Nigeria are abhorrent and unacceptable to us. I urge leaders throughout Nigeria to ensure that ethnicity and religion are not allowed to become political issues.

I hope and pray that one hundred years from now, Nigerians will look back on another century of achievements during which our union was strengthened, our independence was enhanced, our democracy was entrenched and our example was followed by leaders of other nations whose ambition is to emulate the success of Nigeria; a country that met its difficulties head-on and fulfilled its promise.

Finally, Dear Compatriots, as we enter a second century in the life of our nation, let us rededicate ourselves to doing more to empower the youth of our country. Our common heritage and future prosperity are best protected and guaranteed by them. We must commit our full energies and resources to empowering them to achieve our collective vision of greatness in this second century of our nationhood.

That is the task before our country; that is the cause I have chosen to champion and I believe we will triumph.

I wish all Nigerians happy Centenary celebrations.

Nigerian Languages Are In Danger- Association Cries Out

prof chinyere ohiri-Aniche

The President of Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN), Prof. Chinyere Ohiri- Aniche, on Tuesday in Abuja, said about 400 Nigerian indigenous languages are currently  endangered.

Ohiri-Aniche made the disclosure at the UNESCO International Mother Language Day Celebration organised by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with LAN entitled; "Local Languages for Global Citizenship: Spotlight on Science.''

She said the languages were endangered due to past neglect and denigration, adding that some languages had already become extinct, while 152 languages were on the verge of being extinct.

"Our greater concern however is that our languages are not being handed over to children in homes and schools.

"Researches show that on the average, 25 per cent of children below 11 years are unable to speak their parent's indigenous language.

"If this trend is not checked, then Nigerian languages will be in extinction in two to three generations, that is in 50 to 75 years time.''

She called on stakeholders, schools, telecommunication agencies, media establishments, UNESCO and other international organisations to take drastic actions to prevent the death of indigenous Nigerian mother tongues.

According to her, parents must learn to speak to their children in the indigenous language.

She also called on schools to ensure that every child was taught his or her mother tongue in primary and secondary schools as prescribed in the National Policy on Education since 1977.

Ohiri-Aniche said that the Ministry of Education and the Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council should reinstate Nigerian languages as core subjects in the senior secondary school curriculum.

She said that the federal and states ministries of culture and national orientation should also promote entertainment and other cultural activities in Nigerian languages.

The LAN president urged the National Assembly and state houses of assembly and other stakeholders to urgently convene a National Language Policy Summit.

The summit, she noted, would provide a forum where Nigerians would decide if indigenous languages should be allowed to die or be safeguarded.

"The summit will also lead to the enactment of a comprehensive national language policy for Nigeria,'' she added.

Ohiri-Aniche said that the association believed that with the right political and popular will, Nigerian languages would be pulled back from the brink of extinction.

"They will go on to regain their vibrancy and once more, play their rightful roles in all aspects of our individual and collective lives, right into the 22nd century,'' she said.

She commended UNESCO for exposing the challanges facing Nigerian indigenous languages.

Hassana Halidu, the Regional Representative of UNESCO, said the celebration of the day was important in order to educate Nigerians on the use of mother tongue.

Halidu urged the Federal Government to revitalise the use of indigenous languages in schools as a way of creating peace and harmony in the country.

She said UNESCO would be partnering with the ministry and other stakeholders to revitalise the use of indigenous languages in the country.

"September 1752 calendar" 11 days are simply missing from the month.

1752 CALENDAR

HISTORY FACT!
Go to Google type "September 1752 calendar" & see for yourself.
You will notice, 11 days are simply missing from the month.
Here's the explanation: This was the month during which England shifted
from the Roman Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar.
A Julian year was 11 days longer than a Gregorian year. So, the King
of England ordered 11 days to be wiped off the face of that particular
month.
So, the workers worked for 11 days less that month,
but got paid for the whole month.
That's how the concept of "paid leave" was born. Hail the King!!!

In the Roman Julian Calendar, April used to be the first month of the year; but the Gregorian Calendar observed January as the first month. Even after shifting to the Gregorian Calendar, many people refused to give up old traditions and continued celebrating 1st April as the New
Year's Day. When simple orders didn't work, the King finally issued a royal dictum; which stated that those who celebrated 1st April as the new year's day would be labelled as fools.
 From then on, 1st April became April Fool's Day.

History is really interesting!

A TRIBUTE TO LATE CHIEF FRIDAY USIFOH OSUYI, 1958-2014.

sist kathrine

By Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu (Younger Brother).

I would like to share something personal with you. On February 6th, my brother passed away. Indeed, God reached down from heaven and took him home at age 56.
  

“Few only notice your successes but many feel your positive touches in their lives”...a tribute ( Prince K. Udebhulu, 06/02/2014)


Around the spring season of 1958, a child was born to the family of Ibharayi by a golden daughter of Pa Odiase of Ohon- Urohi, in Esan West Local Government of Edo State; the child name was Late Chief Friday Usifoh Osuyi. He was strong, wise, energetic, handsome, emulative and aspiring right from his tender age because of the circumstances surrounding his early days in life-many know about these circumstances.


My blood brother, Late Chief Friday Usifoh Osuyi, was a very special man. He was a person who cared about the people around him. He always took a special interest in what everybody did and how they were doing it. He never quit fighting injustice & oppression. His true success in life is people. He understood the joy in lifting other people up, making them smile, and leaving them changed in a positive way. He was trying to make this world a better place for all until the end to get well from the diabetes that came to his life at the last years of his successful period on this planet earth.

He is very much a big part of who I am today. I have been lucky to spend 44 years with him and to be part of his life. He dishonored bad advices that came to him during his early plans to have me educated,  trained and subsequent sponsoring of my humble self to abroad where I became a man today.  He touched many of our lives in so many ways. We are all better people because we knew my brother and God used him to touch our lives.
My brother was an amazing family man and always had time for his family at all times. He was a devoted husband.

Our Mom and my brother shared many good times away and at home together, just to show genuine love, caring and affection to her.  "Brother, Our mom weeps but gracious to God that you were a figure and an icon wherever you touched while on this planet earth! How we wish you are alive for more gracious years!!! ".

My love of hard work, boldness, wise decision making, love for those who dislike me and my spirit to assist people under my capacity came directly from my brother.
The things I will miss most are our morning phone calls, how he cares about me, my two sisters, his children, his wives and his big smile.

All I want to say is thank you to my brother for making this world a better place for my family and our friends. Thank you for caring about me and taking an interest in my life. I love you brother.
Please let’s have this prayer for him;

“GOD, GIVE HIM A BETTER RESTING PLACE, PROTECT HIS CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, PROTECT HIS FAMILY, SUPPORT OUR MOM TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO BEAR THE LOSS, AND GUIDE HIS BROTHER, SISTERS, FAMILY RELATIVES AND FRIENDS TO SHOW LOVE TO HIS FAMILY THAT HE LEFT BEHIND IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.”

Late Chief Friday Usifoh Osuyi, was a Husband, a Brother, a Grandfather, an Uncle and a Friend to many and most of all was my pillar, educator, father, best friend who touched my life in many ways positively.

REST IN PEACE.

prince kelly

sist pat

There has never been another you. With all efforts on your part, you were born to be something very special to us your sisters and brother, but death came when we were yet in the morning.

What we are going to do in appreciation of your contributions to our lives is this great word of LOVE even as you departed this world.
MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN PEACE.

Spanish minister: Citizenship For Sephardic Jews Will Be a Right.

Sephardic Jews

14/02/2014.

MADRID (JTA) — The conferring of Spanish citizenship to Sephardic Jews will be automatic and independent of the government’s discretion, the country’s justice minister told a delegation of American Jews.

Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon made the pledge during a speech Thursday before dozens of members of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

He was referring to a bill on the naturalization of descendants of Jews who fled from Spain because of religious persecution during the 15th and 16th centuries. Spain’s Council of Ministers okayed the bill last week. To become law, the bill will need to pass in parliament.

“In Spain, a clear majority realize we have committed a historical error and have an opportunity to repair it, so I am sure that law will pass with an immense majority in parliament,” Ruiz-Gallardon said.

When it does, citizenship “will not be a discretional matter, it will not be subject to the good will of the government, because it is a right that anyone who meets the criteria is entitled to,” he added.

There will be several ways to obtain citizenship, he said. “One of them is through certification with the Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain. Another is certification by a competent, recognized rabbinical authority,” the minister added.

Led by the Presidents Conference’s chairman, Robert Sugarman, and executive vice chairman, Malcolm Hoenlein, the delegation has met with dozens of high-level Spanish officials during its four-day visit, including Spanish King Juan Carlos. In 1992 the king had said in a speech that Spain is the homeland of all Sephardic Jews.

“The clarity of your words is inspiring, as is Spain’s willingness to confront its history in a real way to build a better future,” Hoenlein told the minister. “I hope other nations will learn from  your denunciation of the events of 500 years ago.”

In meetings, the visitors thanked their Spanish interlocutors for promoting legislation on Sephardic Jews; confronting efforts to boycott and delegitimize Israel; and maintaining pressure on Iran over its nuclear program and on terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah and Hamas.

Spain has announced that it will seek election to the U.N. Security Council this year

The Presidents Conference delegation is scheduled to arrive in Israel over the weekend for its annual meeting.

A TRIBUTE TO LATE CHIEF FRIDAY USIFOH OSUYI, 1958-2014.

during his burial recently

By Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu (Younger Brother).

I would like to share something personal with you. On February 6th, my brother passed away. Indeed, God reached down from heaven and took him home at age 56.

“Few only notice your successes but many feel your positive touches in their lives”...a tribute ( Prince K. Udebhulu, 06/02/2014)

Around the spring season of 1958, a child was born to the family of Ibharayi by a golden daughter of Pa Odiase of Ohon- Urohi, in Esan West Local Government of Edo State; the child name was Late Chief Friday Usifoh Osuyi. He was strong, wise, energetic, handsome, emulative and aspiring right from his tender age because of the circumstances surrounding his early days in life-many know about these circumstances.

My blood brother, Late Chief Friday Usifoh Osuyi, was a very special man. He was a person who cared about the people around him. He always took a special interest in what everybody did and how they were doing it. He never quit fighting injustice & oppression. His true success in life is people. He understood the joy in lifting other people up, making them smile, and leaving them changed in a positive way. He was trying to make this world a better place for all until the end to get well from the diabetes that came to his life at the last years of his successful period on this planet earth.

He is very much a big part of who I am today. I have been lucky to spend 44 years with him and to be part of his life. He dishonored bad advices that came to him during his early plans to have me educated,  trained and subsequent sponsoring of my humble self to abroad where I became a man today.  He touched many of our lives in so many ways. We are all better people because we knew my brother and God used him to touch our lives.

My brother was an amazing family man and always had time for his family at all times. He was a devoted husband.

Our Mom and my brother shared many good times away and at home together, just to show genuine love, caring and affection to her. 

"Brother, Our mom weeps but gracious to God that you were a figure and an icon wherever you touched while on this planet earth! How we wish you are alive for more gracious years!!! ".

My love of hard work, boldness, wise decision making, love for those who dislike me and my spirit to assist people under my capacity came directly from my brother.

The things I will miss most are our morning phone calls, how he cares about me, my two sisters, his children, his wives and his big smile.

All I want to say is thank you to my brother for making this world a better place for my family and our friends. Thank you for caring about me and taking an interest in my life. I love you brother.

Please let’s have this prayer for him;

“GOD, GIVE HIM A BETTER RESTING PLACE, PROTECT HIS CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, PROTECT HIS FAMILY, SUPPORT OUR MOM TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO BEAR THE LOSS, AND GUIDE HIS BROTHER, SISTERS, FAMILY RELATIVES AND FRIENDS TO SHOW LOVE TO HIS FAMILY THAT HE LEFT BEHIND IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.”

Late Chief Friday Usifoh Osuyi, was a Husband, a Brother, a Grandfather, an Uncle and a Friend to many and most of all was my pillar, educator, father, best friend who touched my life in many ways positively.

REST IN PEACE.

*Burial arrangements are slated for Saturday, 26th & Sunday, 27th April, 2014. See poster for details*

I come from family of diplomats –Bianca Ojukwu

On January 9, Special Correspondent, Uchendu Precious Onuoha, was a guest of Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, Mrs. Bianca.

Bianca

Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and she spoke on sundry issues including her ambassadorial job

What was your immediate reaction when President Goodluck Jonathan appointed you ambassador designate for Spain?

I must say that I was pleased to have been given an opportunity to serve my country in that capacity especially at that time when I had experienced a tragedy in my personal life. The nomination offered a ray of hope and a degree of optimism that the future was not bleak. So I must say that I was grateful to the president and Nigerians for giving me the opportunity to serve my country.

As a non-career diplomat, what were the initial challenges you faced, and how did you surmount them?

Luckily for me, I come from a family of diplomats where diplomatic experience was already in existence and so, it was not that much of a challenge because one way or another, I have been exposed to that culture and had garnered a little diplomatic experience. My uncle was Nigeria’s deputy head of mission and was head of the high commission in Scotland in the 1980s. My sister was also a Foreign Service officer of many years standing. And of course, with the experience I garnered as a senior special assistant to the president on Diaspora matters, it was not a difficult adjustment to make.

In addition to that, I inherited a mission that has seasoned officers with tremendous experience and they were willing to offer their cooperation, and since I came to this mission, we have all been working together very well. One of the positive things about the Nigerian Embassy, here in Spain, is that the officers have no problem assuming roles that are not strictly their functions. They cooperate very well with each other and assist one another to ensure the smooth running of the affairs of the mission. So in that respect, I must say it has simply been a collaborative effort.

What was the state of affairs when you took over? And what can you say are your achievements one year after?

When I came to Spain and assumed my duties, one thing that was immediately glaring was the fact that the chancery building was not in a state befitting of the status of Nigeria on the international scene. The ambassador’s residence was also in a very poor state and had not been well maintained.  As a matter of fact, when I first arrived in Madrid, I had to stay in a hotel for many months before we were able to get the ambassador’s residence in a fit and proper state.

I was also faced with many disturbing reports about the situation of Nigerians resident in Spain. And I learnt that many of them felt that they were not properly taken into consideration in some of the decisions taken by the mission and that the mission ought to do more to safeguard their rights as citizens and to promote their dignity and integrity. We realised that the work done by the mission needed essentially to centre on the mandate that we, as ambassadors, were given prior to assuming our duties. The President had made it crystal clear that citizen diplomacy should be at the very apex of our priorities and this is something that is continuously reiterated. As a matter of fact, during the recent induction ceremony of new ambassadors, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof Viola Onwuliri, made it quite clear that as ambassadors, the protection and welfare of citizens in host countries should be of paramount priority.  The maltreatment of Nigerians abroad, she reiterated, should not be condoned in any shape or fashion by any ambassador or head of mission and that we must try to ensure that Nigerians are treated with respect and dignity. And so, faced with many instances where the rights of our citizens were being infringed upon, cases involving many Nigerians in detention and who felt that the embassy should do more to address their plight, it became imperative to intensify our efforts.

Also there were many reported incidents involving Nigerians who were subjected to stop and search process. Many of our citizens were also affected by the economic recession in Spain and their fortunes took a down turn. A great number lost their jobs, many became destitute and homeless and the only sanctuary they felt they had was the mission. Also consequent upon this recession was that many Nigerian couples were no longer able to cater for the welfare and maintenance of their children and this meant that for the benefit of these children, they were taken away from their parents and taken into protective custody, or given away to other Spanish families for adoption or families who could take better care of them.

Many Nigerian couples have lost from one child to six or even eight children. We recently secured the release of four children of the same parents from protective custody of Spanish authorities and successfully relocated them to Nigeria. We endeavour to look at each situation on a case by case basis to determine how best to resolve it. We often make contact with their families back home to inform them of what is happening to their relatives in Spain and get them to work with us to provide at least an environment back home where these children would be better accommodated and taken care of once we relocate them back to Nigeria. Of course, the priority for us is always how to retrieve these children from the authorities here and at the same time to ensure that they are not going into a worse situation when they are re-united with their parents and families. And that there is an adequate support system in place for them back home in Nigeria.

Sadly in Spain, we have also witnessed situations of untimely deaths and murders of our nationals. The most recent and painful incident was the murder of a certain Miss Ada Ortuya by a Spanish martial arts expert. The mission stepped into the matter and made it clear that this murder of our citizen would not be tolerated; that it is our responsibility to ensure that this heinous crime is not swept under the carpet and continued to intensify our demand that justice be done in this matter and the suspect brought to book to face the full weight of the law.

In addition, we are also dealing with the human trafficking issue which is rampant here in Spain. We are looking into prostitution, exploitation of young children and young girls. And as a matter of fact, there was a recent case where we successfully rescued a young Nigerian girl who was lured to Spain by a Spaniard who visited Nigeria and got her pregnant. She was underage. The Spaniard provided false information regarding her age to process her documents for her to come here to Spain with her child. When she got here, he proceeded to abuse her physically. Faced with constant violence and abuse, the situation got so   serious that the police had to be called in. The case went to court. Surprisingly the man was found not guilty. This poor girl was naturally afraid for her life and ran to a shelter that was provided by an NGO that harbours victims of violence.

We were contacted by this NGO and the embassy went into action to secure travel documents for the girl and her child since she had expressed the desire to return to Nigeria. We got in touch with her family back home and we were able to get her and her child safely back to her family. We have also dealt with various other incidents of this nature and we are working closely with the unions and the federation of Nigerian communities as well as various Nigerian associations to ensure that cases affecting our nationals are quickly brought to our attention. And whenever our intervention is needed, we try to act in a timely and effective manner.

Moreover, we are calling upon our nationals to join any of these associations because the association executives interact harmoniously with the mission. They are the ones who quickly bring to our attention the plight of our citizens and incidents which we need to investigate. We are also asking them to be proactive in terms of obtaining repatriation insurance because, whereas we think that it is not important, we come from a society where it is customary to transport our remains home should we pass on in another country. This is a very expensive process and repatriation insurance takes care of this if the need arises.

This is very important for our families back home. So thankfully Nigerian organisations have been doing a very good job of sensitising their members to obtain repatriation insurance which is not very expensive and to liaise more closely with them so that by extension we are able to quickly come in and assist in situations where the fundamental  human rights of Nigerians in any part of Spain is threatened.

Nigerians in Spain are looked down upon as illiterates despite their high level of education and this has accounted for their in-ability to get decent jobs in the country, what are you doing to correct this wrong perception?

This is not a perception that is solely limited to Spain. It is of course a form of racism which Africans in general, Nigerians as well as other nationalities encounter in their host countries. First and foremost they are regarded as being different and as economic migrants. What generally happens is that subconsciously, their hosts sometimes tend to treat them like second rate citizens without giving them an opportunity to prove themselves. This perception becomes heightened in countries undergoing an economic crisis or depression.

Of course you must agree with me that this is not a perception that is general. A more recent trend is that the younger generation tends to be more accommodating and less ignorant about African and is no longer really subject to some of those prejudices and misconceptions that their parents have about Africans. The major challenge for Nigerians in Spain is the language barrier and attendant difficulty in integration which means that for the average Nigerian in Spain, proficiency in Spanish is vital with regards to employment opportunities.

We are aware that Nigerians are always in a hurry to quickly find their footing whenever they arrive at a new country. The general trend is that many of them don’t even make the initial efforts to learn the language so that they can be able to communicate in the language of the host. It is important also to know how the people of the country that you have chosen to live in react as well as their attitudes and cultural orientation as this will also influence more rapid integration.

I don’t think Spaniards are as racist as they have been portrayed. As a matter of fact, I think that they have been quite accommodating of immigrants until quite recently as a consequence of their economic crisis. I believe that with time as the economy gets better, Nigerians will find a better environment to thrive in. We are advising Nigerians intending to settle in Spain to be well educated with skills, so that they don’t just turn up without having something to offer. If you have no qualifications and no skills, you will find that that dream of Eldorado is one that quickly disintegrates before your eyes.

What about the possibility of evaluating the documents and certificates obtained from Nigeria so that qualified Nigerians can use them to work?

We have had enquiries from Spanish authorities regarding issues of authentication of documents obtained in Nigeria. We can authenticate certain documents but there are some that will take time to authenticate. And unfortunately there are time limits within which most certifications have been made to Spanish authorities. Regarding document validation status for Nigerians here, what we are trying to do is to liaise with the agencies and relevant authorities in Nigeria for a more rapid authentication of these documents. Sometimes we make that communication directly with the institutions in Nigeria. We are trying to avoid a situation where the embassy is constrained to deal with every inquiry that is placed at its doorstep including the trivial ones. However, any assistance in this regard that will enhance the prospects of our citizens in terms of employment will be rendered whenever needed.

There is alarming rate of deportation of Nigerians in Spain and the Spanish police brutality of Nigerians during deportation, what could be done to minimise that?

This increasing rate of deportation is not limited to Spain; the U.K. deports more Nigerians, the same with Italy. What we have done here in Spain is to ensure a continuous interface and engagement with the ministry of interior and the national police to ensure that all deportations carried out here comply with international standards and requirements governing deportation. We insist that before any Nigerian is deported, it must be brought to the attention of the embassy. We also insist that the deportation must be consequent upon a court order. We have been engaging positively with the police and the relevant authorities in this respect and they are cooperating with us. Also we have an agreement with the authorities that young children should not be separated from their mothers at deportation meaning that a mother cannot be deported without her infant child.

Where, as a result of a court order our national is facing deportation, we usually make a request that he must be given reasonable time within which he can arrange for assets and properties he must have acquired during his sojourn abroad to be properly administered in his absence. We are constantly working to reduce the number of deportations and we must acknowledge that deportations have decreased in terms of frequency and numbers in the past one year. We are given the opportunity to go to the detention centres to speak to the detainees to confirm if they are Nigerians and we also encourage Nigerians in detention to communicate their needs to the embassy in writing from time to time. As a general rule, we do not approve all the names presented to the embassy in a deportation list. It is our prerogative to reject certain names that may be contained in the list for want of evidence or additional information that supports the deportation measure.

You occupy two positions as an ambassador and a party leader, how do you cope with these two demanding tasks?

I am an ambassador for Nigeria, for all Nigerians here in Spain irrespective of political party affiliation, ethnicity or religion. So in that respect it has not been tasking. I am not a party leader here.

Before your appointment, did you nurse the ambition for a political appointment?

No.

Why did you not ride on the popularity of your late husband to vie for elective office?

My primary duty and commitment was to my family and to my marriage. And so being married to a personality such as Ikemba was something that came with so many roles and functions, many of them quite demanding. He had a very busy schedule. He was involved in so many issues. For what he represented to his people it was a 24 hour function. He was always interacting with communities, solving communal and land disputes, brainstorming with executives of progressive unions, community leaders and traditional rulers and was also involved with local government, state and national issues. It was a very hectic and busy life and my role was essentially a supporting one which did not afford me any time to think or to nurse any political ambition. Although, I come from a political family.

I was also running my own businesses and actively involved in so many projects in addition to being a mother tasked with the upbringing of young children that I was left with very little time to dwell on the prospects of a political role. In the aftermath of my husband’s death, I acquired a lot of responsibilities and had, like most other widows, assumed the role of a mother and father in addition to filling in the gaps in many other spheres occasioned by his demise with regards to political organisations, religious groups, town unions, community development associations, Igbo cultural groups and most importantly the Biafra war veterans. He was the grand patron of the organisation and interacted quite closely with them in terms of promoting issues relating to their welfare and rehabilitation.

With the records and achievements Nigerian women like you have made in government when given the opportunity, what do you think Nigeria would be like having a female president?

I think that Nigerian women have made giant strides in virtually all areas of development. In government they have shown themselves to be capable, reliable, and effective in discharging their responsibilities. But we must not fail to give credit to the activism of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who has been at the fore front ensuring an equitable share for women in all sectors of development and has launched a successful campaign to promote full participation of women at all levels of decision making in government. And it is really a testament to her tenacity in this respect that there is now a greater degree of gender balance in nomination of women for political appointments. It is to the credit of her campaign to demand on behalf of Nigerian women, greater access to, and full participation in power structures and decision making at the national level that such key ministries as finance, petroleum, aviation, environment, and until recently, education and defense, are headed by women. The current minister of foreign affairs is also a woman. I believe that it is really a major triumph for Nigerian women. And we should realise that it was not an easy battle.

Women, when given the opportunity, will not fail. In their respective communities, they have shown that they are capable of handling the responsibilities that are assigned to them. And I think that in future, we need to continue to work as we have been doing. I don’t subscribe to the school of thought that Nigerian men have not done well. I think that in every society it is a symbiotic relationship. There is no doubt that women need the support of our men folk. No matter how advanced any society claims to be and regardless of the attainment of equal rights for women, we cannot discountenance the fact that in our own culture, women are first and foremost wives and then mothers. These are badges we wear with pride. While more and more women are now assuming highly tasking roles within the work place, they will still continue to need the support of their husbands if they expect to succeed in the precarious balancing act of maintaining their homes and excelling at the work place. So, yes, Nigerian women have done well and we will do more.

By the time you are done as an ambassador, what would you like to be remembered for?

Well, before I can answer that question, it might be necessary to enunciate briefly what the functions of an ambassador are. As principle representatives of the President in our host countries, we should be able to consolidate the existing relationships between Nigeria and our host country. We should also be able to foster new alliances with a view to promoting stronger links with the private sector. Closely linked to this is the imperative need to attract foreign direct investment as well as skills and technologies to facilitate the creation of jobs and wealth for our citizens at home, and when possible, in the Diaspora. It is also our responsibility to effectively address negative perceptions about our country and of paramount importance, as I stated earlier, is citizen diplomacy which essentially entails the promotion of the welfare and security of our citizens in our host countries. These are the objectives that were enumerated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuliri, during the induction of new ambassadors recently, and have always constituted the ambassadorial desiderata.

At the end of my tenure I would like to be remembered for doing all within my power to come to the aid and assistance of our distressed citizens and defending their rights and interests whenever infringed upon. I would also like to be credited with having promoted stronger ties and stronger bilateral relations between Nigeria and the kingdom of Spain as well as my efforts towards enhancing the image of Nigerians here in Spain; infrastructure wise, by the massive renovation works that we have carried out on the chancery building as well as the residence of the ambassador which has made it easier to conduct diplomatic engagements and functions within  befitting structures that enhance the image and prestige of our country  and which is a source of pride to our citizens here in Spain.

As a former beauty queen, you still look ageless, what are your beauty routines?

Work hard, eat well and sleep early.

What fashion item do you like most and how much can you spend on it?

Don’t ask me those questions, laughs.

Are you a perfume person and what type do you use?

What I can tell you is that my favorite perfume is an old fragrance which has been discontinued. It is no longer manufactured. It is called Zadig by an Italian designer Emilio Pucci. As a matter of fact, the bottle which I am currently using and is one which I bought in 1982 at the duty free shop at Frankfurt Airport. Since I cannot replace it, I use it only on special occasions.

Still in use till now? 

Yes, like I said I only use it on special occasions. I intend to stretch it out for as long as I can.

It’s like it will last for eternity?

I hope so, if I live for eternity! But all good things must come to an end!

How does your typical day begin?

When I wake up, I do my meditations, have my breakfast, respond to my mails and prepare for the office. Most times I have engagements outside my office. An ambassador has multiple functions in a country such as Spain with diplomatic engagements and a lot of social events that revolve round non-governmental organisations; Madrid is a conference city and routinely plays host to many international trade fairs and exhibitions in addition to the events that are traditionally hosted by the Royal Family. It is known for its rich cultural city and its museums and galleries are home to many priceless famous works of art. There are many foundations that promote art exhibitions and countless charities.

What is your message to the Nigerians in the Kingdom of Spain?

I would like to request that they remain law abiding, that they remain good visitors to their hosts, that they try as much as possible not to infringe on their laws and regulations but continually strive towards a more harmonious relationship with their hosts.

They should also avail themselves of the opportunity to learn the Spanish language so that they can be integrated into the society because this will enlarge the opportunities open to them. They must remember that the good image of our country remains our collective responsibility and therefore they should strive at all times to preserve that image and defend the integrity of Nigeria.