At the beach in Westport
Father’s Day and Family
Clem’s sister Monica was still with us for Father’s Day. Our daughter came with her husband. All three of their children were here too, and our grandson’s girlfriend Mary, and her brother!
They nearly took up a whole row at church on Sunday morning, even though Kelvin stayed home with Ikem!
Kenechi, Mary, and her brother Graham left in the early afternoon. The rest of us went to the rather chilly Compo Beach. While Kelvin kept Ikem busy in the playground, we watched the water and took pictures!
Both sons, Chinaku and Sam, phoned from Nigeria to wish their dad a happy father’s day.
Monica was a beloved teacher and principal in Nigeria.
At the beach in Westport
On Monday evening three of her former students who live nearby came to visit. They had a wonderful time sharing stories about school days.
Mount Holyoke Alum on Slavery and Strong Women
Ayesha Attah, Mount Holyoke Class of 2005, returned to the campus recently to speak about her book, The Hundred Wells of Salaga.” Her novel “weaves together the story of two women, Wurche, the daughter of the a chief, who longs for power of her own, and Aminah, whose quiet life is destroyed when she is enslaved.”
On slavery and strong women with Ayesha Attah ’05, author of “The Hundred Wells of Salaga”
Attah is from Ghana. She was interviewed by the Mount Holyoke Alumnae Quarterly before she came to campus. The story about her appeared there. If you click on the picture above you can read the article and see her full photo.
Her story and comments remind me of discussions we’re having today in the US. The history she was taught growing up in Ghana didn’t talk about slavery, but focused on more glorious episodes of African history. The same is true in Nigeria.
And in the US with discussion of reparations, some say, “Slavery was in the past. It’s done.” How much about the evils of slavery is in our textbooks?
Attah says, “Our history is very messy, and we need to acknowledge all of it. We’re doing a disservice to ourselves by hiding the bad past.” I agree!
US Denies Visas to Nigerians
Nigerians receive more non-immigrant student visas given to Africans that those from any other country on the continent. They also are the likeliest to overstay the time granted in the visa.
Nigerian students and friends in US, from 247 article
According to the article in 247 Reports, the Trump administration is considering new measures to address this issue. In the meantime they have apparently halted issuing the visas.
The US immigration is also requiring new information on the source of funds. In the past only information that showed the ability to pay was required. The article’s headline says USA IMMIGRATION TO REJECT CHILDREN OF CORRUPT NIGERIAN LEADERS.
The process of applying for the visa is expensive and time-consuming. Today, according the 247 Reports, “Many would-be students, children of top politicians in Nigeria unable to provide convincing evidence of source of income, have turned to other countries.”
The photo that accompanied the article shows Nigerian students who seem to be in US.
Universities may feel the pinch when fewer Nigerians are able to come and pay the full cost. Perhaps enough Chinese are coming to take up the slack.
Human Rights Violations in Nigeria
Amnesty International has issued a report on human rights violations in Nigeria. It begins by reminding readers of the legal protections and international agreements that Nigeria has agreed to.
Ambassador Campbell wrote about the report in his blog Africa in Transition. The report’s conclusion, he says, is that “Nigeria is facing a worsening human rights crisis across the country.” He added, it is “grim reading.”
Violence against women and girls, including specifically abuse by security services in camps for the internally displaced, is in the report. It highlights the environmental degradation in the oil region. Other human rights violations are “the country’s education crisis, attacks on journalists and peaceful protesters, the practice of torture, and extrajudicial executions.”
Country Leaders Respond
Nigeria’s leaders offer a variety of responses. Some say violations of human rights are required to confront terrorism in the country. Others reject the idea that “governments must be held to a higher standard than terrorist or criminal organizations.”
And some agree with the Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai. “He believed that Amnesty had ‘a hidden agenda’ and that, after he investigated their claims, he ‘found out the allegations they made were fabricated,’ ” according to the article.
UN General Assembly President Bande, UN Photo
There’s Also Good News from Nigeria
A few days earlier Ambassador Campbell wrote about the newly elected president of the UN General Assembly. Nigeria’s Permanent Representative Tijani Muhammad-Bande was chosen for the 2019–2020 term.
Campbell speaks highly of him: “he is free of bombast, and with fresh ideas, he is likely to be influential in his new position.”
