Connect with us

News

HOMEF’s Nnimmo Bassey Receives Wallenberg Medal for Humanitarian Contributions

Published

on

HOMEF’s Nnimmo Bassey Receives Wallenberg Medal for Humanitarian Contributions

By: Michael Mike

Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has celebrated with her Executive Director, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, on the prestigious honour of the 2024 Wallenberg Medal.

Bassey is the first Nigerian and the fifth African to have received the award. He joins the ranks of other giants like South Africa’s Helen Suzman (1992), Archbishop Desmond Tutu (2008), Rwanda’s Paul Rusesabagina (2005), and Congo’s Denis Mukwege (2010). Bassey’s long list of accomplishments is celebrated as he accepted this prestigious recognition.

According to a statement on Wednesday by HOMEF, the award took place on 10 September 2024, at the Ross School of Business Robertson Auditorium, at the University of Michigan. The Wallenberg Medal is a tribute to outstanding humanitarians who have gone above and beyond to protect the vulnerable and oppressed, much like Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved thousands of Jews during World War II, whom the award was named after.

At the occasion, the Swedish Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Urban Ahlin, extolled the virtues of Raoul Wallenberg and enjoined the audience to dedicate their lives to the cause of humanity so that they may be remembered just as Wallenberg was being recognized. Other speakers included the Chair of the awards committee, Professor Sioban Harlow and the provost of the university, Professor Laurie McCauley.

In his acceptance speech and lecture title: “We Are Relatives,” Dr Nnimmo Bassey stressed “love, humility, dignity, and respect” as core to his vision of a livable future for all beings.”

He stated that as an environmental justice advocate whose work has been based on the understanding the polycrisis confronting us, we have a duty to always seek to uncover the roots of the crises rather than treating the symptoms.

He said: “Seeking out those roots helps us avoid superficial responses and pursue real solutions, some of which may be unattainable in our lifetimes. One of our key struggles has been understanding the mindset that permits inequalities in our societies. The mindset that elevates might over care and love. The mindset that promotes the individual rather than the community. The mindset that refuses to understand that we are relatives. The mindset that grabs, trashes, and feeds on the misery of others. The mindset that permits environmental racism.

“Understanding the roots of polycrisis helps us to see the phenomenon of expanding sacrifice zones in our world today. It also placed on us the duty of standing with the oppressed to halt the expansion of sacrifice zones in Nigeria, in Africa, and elsewhere by seeking to overcome the energy and other hegemonic transitions that sacrifice nature and are driven by colonial extractivism built on embedded geopolitical power imbalances.”

Bassey further stated that: “Climate action and inaction provide pictures that help us see the difficulties we face in trying to build a consensus that the climate crisis is a global crisis and not a national crisis. It also shows that the world is not yet ready to make the hard decisions by accepting that the pursuit of infinite growth on a finite planet is a false dream.”

Director of Programmes at Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Joyce Brown, on behalf of the organisation, applauded the executive director for his outstanding performance, stating that Dr. Bassey’s exceptional work and contributions have led to undeniable global recognition. It was also a veritable opportunity to showcase the work that HOMEF does and show the key place that cultural tools like poetry play in healing a hurting world.

Besides being an environmental activist, Bassey’s work includes significant environmental books like To Cook a Continent: Destructive Extraction and The Climate Crisis in Africa (2012), and Oil Politics: Echoes of Ecological War. His poetry, including We Thought It Was Oil But It Was Blood (1998), I Will Not Dance to Your Beat (2010), and the latest I See the Invisible (2024), continue to inspire the spirit of resistance and hope in all who read or listen to him.

HOMEF’s Nnimmo Bassey Receives Wallenberg Medal for Humanitarian Contributions

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Reverend Dachomo insist “I was a notorious criminal in this village, a drug cartel… but I found Jesus”

Published

on

Reverend Dachomo insist “I was a notorious criminal in this village, a drug cartel… but I found Jesus”

By: Zagazola Makama

Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, has again recounted his past life of crime and subsequent spiritual transformation, attributing his change to his Christian faith.

Dachomo made the disclosure during a religious gathering, where he shared his personal testimony of repentance and renewal.

“I was a notorious criminal in this village, a drug cartel in this village, a wanderer in this village. That is my testimony,” he said.

The pastor also claimed involvement in criminal activities in his earlier years.

“When I say 1980, it is our gang that robbed a bank, and the person that led that operation is my best friend,” he said.

He explained that his life took a new direction after he embrace Jesus during the robbery.

“When I submitted myself to Jesus, who is my Saviour, I allowed Him to control my life, and Jesus forgave my sin. I am a new person in Christ Jesus,” he said.

However, Dachomo has come under relentless attacks with many asking the authorities to investigate his confession and prosecuting him for his past criminality.

They accused him of infighting fire in the already existing crises between farmers and herders in the state especially when he was openly heard asking the youths to go to WAR.

Reverend Dachomo insist “I was a notorious criminal in this village, a drug cartel… but I found Jesus”

Continue Reading

News

Troops foil cattle rustling, recover 84 livestock in Kaduna

Published

on

Troops foil cattle rustling, recover 84 livestock in Kaduna

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have foiled a cattle rustling attempt and recovered 84 livestock in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

A military source said the operation was carried out by troops of 4 Division Demonstration Battalion deployed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Dumbi.

The source disclosed that the troops responded at about 5:30 a.m. on March 27 to credible intelligence on cattle rustling activities at Pan Daudu settlement.

“Following the information, troops swiftly mobilised and laid ambush at a suspected crossing point between Lamban Zango and Monday Market in Igabi Local Government Area,” the source said.

He added that the suspected rustlers, on approaching the ambush site, abandoned the livestock and fled the scene.

“The terrorists, upon sighting the troops’ position, fled in disarray, abandoning 84 rustled livestock,” he said.

According to him, the recovered animals were subsequently handed over to their rightful owners.

Troops foil cattle rustling, recover 84 livestock in Kaduna

Continue Reading

News

Troops arrest 14 suspects in cordon-and-search operation in Borno

Published

on

Troops arrest 14 suspects in cordon-and-search operation in Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai, have arrested 14 suspects during a cordon-and-search operation in Bama Local Government Area of Borno.

Sources said the operation, conducted by troops of 21 Special Armoured Brigade, followed credible intelligence on the activities of a suspected terrorist and kidnapper identified as Baba Ali.

The sources disclosed that the operation took place at about 2:20 p.m. on March 25 at Ngurosoye village, where the suspect was being tracked through intercepted communications.

During the operation, troops apprehended 14 suspects at the location where the tracked calls were received.

Two bags of fertiliser, suspected to be for illicit use, were also recovered from the scene.

The suspects are currently in military custody for further investigation and necessary action.

Troops arrest 14 suspects in cordon-and-search operation in Borno

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights