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Showing posts from 2014

#BringBackOurGirls: Looking Back, Looking Forward

As the year ends, I look back and wonder where all the time went.  I wasn't able to accomplish much work-life balance this year because I became involved in the #BringBackOurGirls movement and led the establishment of #BringBackOurGirlsNYC.  I wrote most of this blog on a sleepless night in August this year, in a long email to a friend.  It remains relevant, particularly because it reflects the issue that has embroiled my life all year long. Nigeria is squandering her people with wanton abandonment.  Why do we not feel ashamed to say that we have the largest economy in Africa when we don't even have a decent healthcare system?  Why do our political class and elites flaunt their ability to go for medical treatment abroad and they don't realize that the lack of decent care at home reflects poorly on them, plus they are playing "Russian roulette" with their lives since they could die from very preventable and treatable conditions?  Why do we have decayed infrastru

#BringBackOurGirls: Boko Haram and Human Security in West Africa Conference, December 4, 2015

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#BringBackOurGirls NYC #BringBackOurGirls: Boko Haram and Human Security in West Africa Conference.   Thursday, December 4, 2014  9:30am – 6:00pm The Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY the conference is a call for continued action toward the end of gender based violence and the rescue and safe return of our girls who were abducted from their school in chibok, borno state, nigeria on april 14, 2014, and all other nigerian citizens abducted by boko haram December 4, 2014 New York, New York – On April 14 , 2014, armed militants from the insurgent group, Boko Haram, stormed female school dormitories in Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria.  The militants forcefully abducted 200+ young female students in the middle of the night, stole supplies and burned the school to the ground.  Other women and girls, boys and men have been abducted before and after the April 14 th abduction, and Boko Haram is still on the rampage. Many communities have been attacked and th

#BringBackOurGirls at AGOA conference in Washington, DC August

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It's important to keep our girls on the agenda.  Lacking huge resources and robust participation by people who are still sitting on the fence on this issue, I believe it's important to stand up and be counted.  The US-Africa Summit brought most of Africa's heads of state to the US to discuss US-Africa trade. The Young African Leaders Initiative was also combined with the events for the trade talks.  I have no doubt that the trade will benefit the US and will have underwhelming impact on Africa.  It is also most unfortunate that the neoliberal model of trade is being pursued.  This means that in the US, the trade will benefit the large corporations like Bloomberg, Monsanto, Dow, General Electric and the like, to the detriment of small and medium scale enterprises. It is also curious that African American businesses are not privileged in these deliberations.  Neither are businesses owned by new African immigrants to the US, who could be a bridge between American business

#BringBackOurGirlsNYC press release to protest dinner in honor of Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan by Corporate Council for Africa on Wednesday, 8/6/2014

I know some people would wonder why a press release meant for August 6 is now just making its way online.  I need a clone!  Too much work, too little time, and a full life, with its ancillary responsibilities are my only excuses.  Regardless, I hope that you give this a careful read and also disseminate widely because until our girls are found, we should not relax.   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mojúbàolú Olufúnké Okome bringbackourgirlsNYC2@gmail.com #BBOG_NYC #BringBackOurGirlsNYC invites you to the protest at the U.S.-Africa Summit dinner in honor of Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday, August 6 at 6:30 p.m. Washington, DC — On Wednesday August 6, 2014 , over three months after the Chibok abductions, with heavy hearts, #BringBackOurGirlsNYC invites the public to a protest in solidarity with the families and communities of more than 200 girls abducted by the terrorist militant group Boko Haram in Nigeria.  The protest is at Grand Hyatt Washi

#BringBackOurGirls: Boko Haram and the Hydra-headed monster in Nigerian Politics

I haven't written for a long time.  The reason: distress writ large about Nigeria and our girls who have now been in captivity for well over 3 months.   There's nothing less desirable for me than writing this.  The piece I'd rather write is that which leads the crowing and jubilation about Nigeria's newfound stature as the largest economy in Africa . Alternately, I’d rather write one that points out some glorious achievement or another that my country of origin or its intrepid people have accomplished.  So for many days I've put this onerous assignment on my back burner. I also felt conflicted.  At one point I just hadn't done enough in my estimation to deserve the luxury of armchair pontificating.  I also had my constant need to study more. Perhaps there was something about the Boko Haram situation that I didn't know or understand; perhaps there's some stellar analysis out there; perhaps.... Now that I'm professor #BringBackOurGirlsNYC, I have earn