US honors 5 Nigerian women

US honors 5 Nigerian women 

 By Vera Samuel Anyagafu and Prisca Sam-Duru 



The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington (r) with the talented women

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/us-honors-5-nigerian-women/
IN her commitment to building the capacity of Nigerian women who in various fields have remarkably contributed to the Nigerian communities, the US government recently honoured five Nigerian women making waves in the science and technology world. The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington (r) with the talented women Making reference to some African-American women who also have contributed to growing their communities through their expertise, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington said that Nigerian women are talented like American women while US and Nigeria were enjoying very friendly diplomatic relationship. The US ambassador spoke as he explained a movie titled ‘Hidden Figures.’ Prior to screening of the movie at Genesis Cinemas, Abuja, Nigeria, in honour of Nigerian TechWomen, he explained that the movie details the story of three female African-American mathematicians employed by NASA in the 1960s. According to him, the three women worked then as human computers but were denied recognition and or promotion, yet, went on to play crucial roles in the American space programme. “It is an amazing story of women who found something that they love, and before there were computers and the Internet, these women made it possible to put the human race in outer space. You too, can reach for the skies,” the U.S. Ambassador said, as he introduced Carolyn Seaman and Damilola Anwo-Ade, two of five Nigerian women who are selected to participate in the 2017 TechWomen exchange programme in the US. Also on the list are Olamide Ayeni-Babajide, Ijeoma Vincent-Akpu, and Petra Nnamani. It is interesting to know that Carolyn Seaman is using technology to empower girls through her Girls Voices Initiative, while Damilola Anwo-Ade is mentoring the next generation of coders, including young women, through her initiative CodeIT.

Soyinka’s play relived on MUSON stage

Soyinka’s play relived on MUSON stage 

By Prisca Sam-Duru 






Students of Childville School performing ‘Death and the King’s Horseman,’ by Wole Soyinka


The Yoruba cosmology (belief in the living, the dead, and the unborn) was the focus of The Childville Schools’ annual drama performance held Friday 16 June at the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos, when it re-enacted Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman, directed by Mr. Gboyega Biletan Jerome. Students of Childville School performing ‘Death and the King’s Horseman,’ by Wole Soyinka The play, which is one of Prof. Soyinka’s tragedies, is based on a real incident that took place in Nigeria during British colonial rule. It presents the Yoruba worldview. The drama focuses on the element connecting the three worlds according to the Yoruba Cosmology, which is transition. Transition according to this view, is regarded as the pathway on which members of the different worlds meet and interact. The king has just died as curtain opens on the play. Preparations for the ritual ceremonies are in full gear for his burial and we see Eleshin Oba known as the king’s Horseman, who is destined to commit suicide to ensure a peaceful passage for the king. Eleshin Oba, acted by Damilola Akanni, is attired in glorious robes. He enters the village market place in a majestic dance procession followed by Olohuniyo the praise singer ( Opeyemi Ogundimu) and dances till he goes into a trance. One wonders at this juncture why a person on his death trip would be rejoicing in such majestic manner. But then, it’s all about a people’s culture. His enthusiasm to fulfill what he considered to be a big honour – to die along with his king – is however truncated by the intervention of the British colonial district officer, Mr. Simon Pilkings.  Mr Pilkings, acted by Daniel Eta, sees the proposed ritual suicide as barbaric, senseless, and in order to prevent Eleshin Oba from killing himself, arrests him. Eventually Eleshin Oba’s son Olunde (Iniubong Ini-Inyang) comes home from England where he is studying to become a doctor. Surprisingly, he tries in vain to get Pilkings to understand the importance of his father committing the ritual suicide. Out of shame for his father’s failure, he kills himself. What happens next to Eleshin Oba is better seen or read than imagined. Those who are familiar with Prof. Soyinka’s works can testify that they are usually not easy nuts to crack. “I’ve been acting in the school for 5 years now but this was very difficult. You know how Prof. Soyinka’s plays are. We had to learn the words first to be sure we understood what he meant so that we can act it out. Thank God it all went well,” Damilola Akanni stated. The Artistic Director Mr. Jerome expressed excitement that the children performed above expectation considering the technicalities of the play. “Trust Prof Soyinka’s works, we had our dictionaries beside us while rehearsing and some words were replaced by simpler ones to help the actors get into the characters,” Mr. Jerome said.

U.S. Awards Micro-Grants to Support Children Orphaned by HIV/AIDS

U.S. Awards Micro-Grants to Support Children Orphaned

by HIV/AIDS

The U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria on Friday announced a N2.9 million micro-grant to 50 women caregivers to support the economic well being of their families, particularly the vulnerable children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in five local communities in Apapa local government area of Lagos.

Under the U.S. Ambassador’s PEPFAR Small Grants Program, a local non-governmental organization, Blissful Life for Women and Children, will provide training to the beneficiaries of the micro-grants in the areas of business and vocational skills and trade mentorship, and will receive trade articles and supplies.

Ten older orphans and vulnerable children whose parents are living with HIV will also benefit from the training. Blissful Life for Women and Children is one of 27 local organizations that have received funding under the U.S. Ambassador’s PEPFAR Small Grants Program in fiscal year 2017.

At an event held in Lagos and attended by senior local government officials, health, and community leaders, Acting U.S. Consul General Will Steuer said, “The people and government of the United States continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Nigeria and Nigerian families in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic."  

“Today’s event highlights the importance of supporting families, especially children who are affected by HIV/AIDS through programs that not only support treatment for the infected, but also to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of families affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, as the PEPFAR Small Grants Program seeks to do.”

Beneficiaries of the various training programs are expected to empower themselves and their families by building small businesses that will create more reliable income flows and improve their standard of living.

The U.S.-Nigeria partnership on HIV/AIDS began in 2004 through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).  From 2004 to 2016, United States support for HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support programs in Nigeria has totaled more than 4.3 billion U.S. dollars in support of the Nigeria HIV/AIDS response.