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

Dabiri-Erewa Advises Youth, Hard Work Pays

Published

on

Dabiri-Erewa Advises Youth, Hard Work Pays

By: Michael Mike

Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has advised Nigerian youths to embrace hard work, discipline and dignity, saying these values open doors to success.

Speaking on Day Two of the 2025 National Diaspora Day Youth Empowerment Summit at the weekend in Abuja, Dabiri-Erewa shared her personal journey from journalism to national leadership.

She said: “As a journalist at NTA, I did my job well and was proud of it. That hard work got me nominated for a Harvard course, thanks to the then Rev. Father Kukah. Though the fee was $10,000, Arcor Group sponsored me. That changed my life.”

She added: “After Harvard, she left Newsline on NTA and entered into politics. With support from Senator Remi Tinubu and encouragement from now President Bola Tinubu, she contested and won a seat in the House of Representatives, serving for 12 years before becoming SSA on Diaspora and later NiDCOM boss.

“My hard work earned me respect. Wherever you are, work hard and carry yourself with dignity,” Dabiri-Erewa told the youth.

Minister of Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande, on his part thanked the NIDCOM Boss for always involving the youth. “Commitment is the key to success,” he said, urging youth to stay focused and believe in their potential.

Speaking in the same vein, Hon. Bobby Digi-Olisa from New York, also advised youths to know themselves and take bold steps.

Similarly, Prof. Fene Osakwe advised youth to always make Nigeria proud wherever they find themselves.

On migration, Alex Oturu from National Commission For Refugees and Migration warned that overstaying visas or ignoring travel rules can make one an irregular migrant. He also cautioned youths on the risks of human trafficking.

Ms Pelumi Nubi, who drove from London to Lagos, encouraged youths to dream big despite challenges. “Start with what you have and trust yourself,” she said.

Miss Diaspora Nigeria-USA, Oyemen Ehikhamhen, also shared how the arts gave her purpose and confidence. “My crown is not just beauty — it’s a symbol of power and storytelling,” she said.

Twelve students were awarded laptops, with six overall science students sponsored by Arcor Group. Six desktops were also given to the schools, while others won laptops through a raffle draw.

The summit, which was part of the activities lined up for National Diaspora Day, continues to inspire youth to lead, innovate, and contribute to Nigeria’s growth, at home and abroad.

Dabiri-Erewa Advises Youth, Hard Work Pays

Continue Reading

News

Police arrest man for attempted suicide in Ogun church premises

Published

on

Police arrest man for attempted suicide in Ogun church premises

By: Zagazola Makama

The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a 29-year-old man, Victor Kalu, for attempted suicide at the premises of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) in Ibafo.

Zagazola Makama reports that the incident occurred late Friday night at about 10:45 p.m., when the suspect was caught trying to hang himself from an electric pole.

Police sources said that the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the church apprehended the suspect and handed him over to the police at about 10:10 a.m. on Saturday.

Kalu, a resident of Plot 7, Oluwa Sesan Street, Ejigbo Road, Ikotun, Lagos State, confessed during interrogation that he attempted to end his life due to mounting financial pressure from a loan he obtained from an online bank.

“He said the lender had threatened him to repay the loan, and with no hope of getting the money, he decided to hang himself on the electric pole at the church premises,” the police sources said.

Police detectives visited the scene, recorded statements from the complainant and the suspect, and took photographs for documentation.

The command said the suspect is in custody and the case is under investigation.

Police arrest man for attempted suicide in Ogun church premises

Continue Reading

News

VP Shettima Arrives In Addis Ababa For UN Food Systems Summit

Published

on

VP Shettima Arrives In Addis Ababa For UN Food Systems Summit

** Nigeria gifts Ethiopia 2,000 cashew seedlings

By: Our Reporter

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has arrived in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, to represent Nigeria at the second United Nations (UN) Food Systems Summit being held from July 27 to 29.

The Vice President’s aircraft touched the ground around 4:26 p.m. local time at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.

On arrival, he was received by the Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Temesgen Tiruneh, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy, Ethiopia, Amb. Nasir Aminu, Dr. Suleiman Dauda, Finance Attaché, Wing Commander Gabriel Batubo, Deputy Defence Attaché (Air Force) to Ethiopia, the Deputy Head of Mission, Amb. Macy Ogbede, First Secretary, Mr. Jangado Ishaku, and other top officials of the embassy.

Immediately after his arrival, the Vice President met with members of the Nigerian delegation, including the Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy to Ethiopia, Amb. Nasir Aminu, and the Technical Assistant to the President on Agriculture and Executive Secretary of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU), Marion Moon, among others. During the meeting, he was briefed on Nigeria’s expected deliverables at the summit.

VP Shettima will join global leaders at the high-level event on advancing the transformation of the coffee value chain, roundtables and meetings aimed at bolstering Nigeria’s food security drive. #UNFSS2025

The summit will bring together global leaders to reflect on progress made since the inaugural 2021 UN Food Systems Summit and accelerate commitments towards building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems.

The Vice President will also participate in other events on the sidelines of the summit, designed to spotlight real-world examples of food systems transformation, promote knowledge exchange and partnership.

One of the events on the sidelines of the summit is a ministerial roundtable on public finance, trade, and responsible investment to accelerate the transition, field trips, and networking sessions.

At a recent briefing by the Task Force on the 2nd UN Food Systems Summit, VP Shettima had outlined three key objectives for Nigeria’s delegation: positioning Nigeria as a leader of thought on African food systems reform, leveraging international partnerships aligned with domestic priorities, and advancing a private sector-led model for continental food transformation.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has presented Ethiopia with 2,000 cashew seedlings and 100,000 cashew seeds.

The donation, sufficient to cultivate approximately 600 hectares of land, was received by Ethiopia’s Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr. Efa Muleta Boru, as part of a shared commitment between both nations to sustainable agricultural development across Africa.

The exchange builds on Ethiopia’s earlier donation of 2,000 Haas avocado seedlings and 2,000 coffee seedlings to Nigeria in June 2025.

The initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agricultural transformation agenda and highlights Nigeria’s commitment to “Green Revolution Diplomacy” as a tool for strengthening diplomatic ties while addressing food security challenges.

VP Shettima Arrives In Addis Ababa For UN Food Systems Summit

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights