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Tag: Nigerian

  • Nigerian Kehinde Willey makes history with Obama’s portraits

    Nigerian Kehinde Willey makes history with Obama’s portraits

    For Kehinde Wiley, being specially made to paint former President Barack Obama’s official portrait was an opportunity to make a lasting impact on people around the world.

    “The reality of Barack Obama being the president of the United States — quite possibly the most powerful nation in the world — means that the image of power is completely new for an entire generation of not only black American kids, but every population group in this nation,” Wiley told BBC in 2008.

    His incredible portrait of the former president, unveiled in Washington, during the week, was hung alongside other presidential paintings in the National Portrait Gallery. He and Amy Sherald, who painted a portrait of former first lady, Michelle Obama, are the first African-Americans in history to be commissioned to paint a presidential couple.

    But well before he was selected to paint Obama, Wiley was recognized as a master of his craft worldwide, and his works have fetched as much as $143,000 at auctions. His art has also been featured in the Fox TV show, Empire.

    Wiley’s dramatic portrait of Obama sitting in a colorful green garden is in keeping with the artist’s long tradition of presenting everyday black figures in elevated, empowering positions.

    The New-York based portrait painter known for his highly naturalistic paintings of African-Americans has also showcased the portrait on his Instagram page.

    Mr. Obama chose Kehinde Wiley for his, and exclaimed, “How about that? That’s pretty sharp,” as he saw his picture for the first time.

    Forty-one-year-old Kehinde Wiley has painted the commissioned portraits of Barack Obama seated in front of an ivy backdrop, while Michelle Obama was painted by Amy Sherald in a pale blue setting. Wiley and Sherald were the first black artists commissioned to paint a presidential couple for the Smithsonian.

    “Kehinde was working at a disadvantage,” the 44th U.S. president joked at the ceremony. “His subject was less becoming. Not as fly.”

    “I tried to negotiate less gray hair, but Kehinde’s artistic integrity would not allow it,” he added. “I tried to negotiate smaller ears, struck out on that again as well.”

    Obama said Wiley initially wanted to portray him with scepters and chifforobes — possibly even mount him on a horse.

    Who is Kehinde Wiley?

    Wiley was born South Central, Los Angeles California, in 1977, where he was raised by a single mother and was one of six siblings.

    His mother was a linguist, and he grew up surrounded by books. As a child, his mother supported his interest in art and enrolled him in after-school art classes. At the age of 12, he spent a short time at an art school in Russia.

    He was one of 50 American children who went to live in Russia at the Center for U.S. /U.S.S.R. Initiatives.

    According to Wikipedia, his father is Yoruba from Nigeria, and his mother is African-American. Wiley did not grow up with his father, and at the age of 20 traveled to Nigeria to explore his roots and meet him. Wiley earned his BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1999 and his MFA from Yale University, School of Art in 2001.

    There, he studied art and Russian language. He eventually attended the San Francisco Art Institute, and studied art in graduate school at Yale.

    He is based in New York, but has studios around the world in Beijing and West Africa.

    The background of his paintings reference African cloth patterns snaking through the composition to give further clues on his subject.

    Wiley is based in New York.

  • Xenophobia: Nigerian stabbed in South Africa

    Xenophobia: Nigerian stabbed in South Africa

    The Nigerian Community in South Africa said yesterday  that a member was stabbed during a xenophobic attack in Rustenberg, North-West Province area.

    The President of Nigerian Union, South Africa, Mr Adetola Olubajo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that the victim, identified as Desmond, was attacked on February 14.

    “Desmond is a Nigerian hair piece hawker in Rustenberg, North West Province of South Africa.

    “He was attacked on Feb. 14 and sustained multiple injuries. He was rescued when he was about to be set ablaze after being wet with petrol,’’ Olubajo said.

    He said that the Nigerian community in Rustenburg was currently living in fear as tension has heightened in the area.

    Olubajo said that the union`s executive had visited the city on a fact finding tour and had already spoken to Nigerians in the area.

    “Nigerians and their families told us that the situation is very dangerous and that their lives are not safe.

    “They also alleged that some group of people were abducting Nigerians and requesting money to bail themselves.

    “A Nigerian who couldn’t pay was murdered last month. This same group also looted businesses of foreign nationals, Nigerians in particular,’’ the president said.

    Olubajo said the union could not continue to keep quiet on this criminality and xenophobic act meted to Nigerians in South Africa.

    He said that there was need for the mission and government to intervene in the matter to avoid further loss of lives and properties of Nigerians.

    “There is need for the Nigerian government to engage with its counterpart in South Africa. It’s not correct that those who were attacked and killed are criminals.

    “Such statements are misinformation and misleading,’’ he said.

  • Nigerian equities lose N542b in steepest decline

    Nigerian equities lost N542 billion in a five-day consecutive negative tradings last week, the longest downtrend so far this year.

    With equities reaching a high of N16 trillion two weeks ago, investors turned round to monetise and lock in capital gains, overwhelming the underlying bargain-hunting that had sustained a strong bullish rally earlier this  year.

    Benchmark indices at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) indicated average week-on-week decline of 3.39 per cent, equivalent to net capital depreciation of N542 billion. The all-week decline impaired the average year-to-date return at the equities market to 12.77 per cent.

    With nearly three losers for every gainer, aggregate market value of all quoted equities at the Exchange dropped from its week’s opening value of N16.019 trillion to close at N15.477 trillion. The All Share Index (ASI)-the benchmark index for Nigerian equities, dropped from the week’s opening index of 44,639.99 points to close weekend at 43,127.92 points.

    All sectoral indices at the stock market also closed negative, underlying the widespread sell sentiment that drove pricing during the week. However, year-to-date analysis indicated that most portfolios remained positive, with positive returns by the main and sectoral indices.

    The NSE 30 Index-which tracks the 30 most capitalised stocks, recorded above average decline of 3.59 per cent. The NSE Banking Index dropped by 3.41 per cent. The NSE Insurance Index declined by 0.73 per cent. The NSE Consumer Goods Index dipped by 2.60 per cent. The NSE Oil and Gas Index posted a return of -4.61 per cent while the NSE Industrial Goods Index depreciated by 3.52 per cent.

    There were 23 gainers against 64 losers last week compared with 49 gainers and 42 losers recorded in the previous week. A total of 85 equities remained unchanged last week, higher than 81 equities recorded in the previous week.

    Last week’s commencement of implementation of a new pricing rule that removed nominal value stopgap and allowed equities to fall as low as one kobo appeared to impact on share pricing trend. Dormant stocks that had stuck at their nominal value of 50 kobo dominated the top losers’ list. Consolidated Hallmark Insurance recorded the highest fall of 27.1 per cent to close at 35 kobo. Skye Bank followed with a drop of 25.2 per cent to close at N1.07. Unic Diversified Holdings dropped by 21.7 per cent to 36 kobo. Multiverse Mining and Exploration depreciated by 16.7 per cent to 40 kobo. WAPIC Insurance dropped by 14.7 per cent to 64 kobo. Wema Bank fell by 14 per cent to N1.29. FBN Holdings lost 13.4 per cent to close at N12 while Japaul Oil & Maritime Services declined by 12.5 per cent to 42 kobo.

    Total turnover stood at 4.43 billion shares worth N24.24 billion in 29,573 deals as against a total of 3.27 billion shares valued at N28.12 billion traded in 35,761 deals two weeks ago. The financial services sector was the most active sector a turnover of 4.005 billion shares valued at N16.50 billion traded in 19,035 deals; representing 90.5 per cent and 68.1 per cent of the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The conglomerates sector followed with 167.72 million shares worth N464.66 million in 1,568 deals while consumer goods sector ranked third with a turnover of 137.66 million shares worth N5.33 billion in 4,982 deals.

    Low-priced stocks dominated the top activities chart. The trio of Sterling Bank, Skye Bank and FCMB Group were the most active, accounting for 2.52 billion shares worth N5.28 billion in 3,000 deals, representing 56.95 per cent and 21.77 per cent of the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

    Also traded during the week were a total of 1.20 million units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N6.95 million in 10 deals, compared with a total of 32,189 units valued at N1.3 million traded in 19 deals penultimate week.

    In the sovereign debt market, a total of 14,779 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N14.05 million were traded in 18 deals compared with a total of 16,268 units valued at N17.05 million traded in 28 deals. two weeks ago.

    On the upside, Linkage Assurance led the contrarian stocks with a gain of 25 per cent to close at 85 kobo. Caverton Offshore Support Group followed with a gain of 21 per cent to close at N3. Prestige Assurance rose by 16.7 per cent to close at 56 kobo. Unity Bank rallied by 10.24 per cent to N1.83 while Trans-Nationwide Express appreciated by 9.9 per cent to close at 89 kobo per share.

  • Nigerian equities decline despite global recovery

    Nigerian equities decline despite global recovery

    Nigerian equities continued on the downtrend for the third consecutive trading session yesterday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as profit-taking transactions shaved off N122 billion from market values of quoted shares.

    Despite global equities recovery, underlying profit-taking trend continued to dominate transactions at the stock market, after Nigerian equities hit a high of N16 trillion last weekend. Most analysts expected the market to regain its rally as the sustained depreciation continues to throw up attractive valuations.

    With more than two losers for every gainer, benchmark indices at the NSE indicated a day-on-day decline of 0.77 per cent yesterday, equivalent to net capital loss of N122 billion. This brought the total capital loss for the three consecutive trading sessions to N395 billion. Average year-to-date return also trended downward to 13.85 per cent at the end of the five-hour trading session yesterday.

    “Against the backdrop of sustained profit taking since the start of the week, we expect performance in subsequent trading sessions to remain negative. However, in light of lower pricing on fundamentally sound stocks we also anticipate more activity in the coming week as investors seek bargain opportunities,” Afrinvest Securities-a Lagos-based dealer at the NSE stated.

    The All Share Index (ASI)-the benchmark index that tracks share prices at the Exchange, declined to 43,538.16 points from its opening index of 43,877.30 points. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities also dropped from its opening value of N15.746 trillion to close at N15.624 trillion.

    All sectoral indices also closed negative with the exception of the NSE Banking Index, which rose by 0.6 per cent. The NSE Industrial Goods Index declined by 1.1 per cent. The NSE Insurance Index and NSE Oil & Gas Index dropped by 0.8 per cent each while the NSE Consumer Goods Index declined by 0.3 per cent.

    United States (U.S.) shares gained in early trade yesterday, but continued to fluctuate as investors digested several frantic days of trading.

    The Dow Jones and S&P 500 rose about 0.5%, while the Nasdaq edged up 0.1%.

    The rise extended Tuesday’s gains and followed volatile trading, triggered in part by concern over the prospect of higher interest rates.

    European stock markets also recovered ground on Wednesday, but a rally in Asia faded.

    London’s FTSE 100 closed 1.9% higher, in Paris the Cac-40 rose by 1.8% and Frankfurt’s Dax was up by 1.6%.

  • Nigerian stabs two friends to death in South Africa

    Nigerian stabs two friends to death in South Africa

    A Nigerian living in South Africa has killed two of his friends after a business deal involving the three went awry, the Nigerian Community in that country said yesterday.

    The suspect named simply as  Sunday from Awgbu in Anambra State allegedly stabbed Ekweghiariri Chidi Isacc, 34, from  Ehime in Isiala Mbano Local Government of Imo State and Mr Nzechukwu Alabuche, 35, from Azia in Anambra to death at about 3am local time

    The incident occurred at Rossetinville, South of Johannesburg, according to Mr Emeka Ezinteje, Secretary of the Nigerian Union in South Africa

    He said by phone from Johannesburg, South Africa, that the incident was due to a business dispute.

    His words: “We have received a report that at 3.00am on Saturday, Mr Ekweghiariri Chidi Isacc, 34, a native of Ehime in Isiala Mbano Local Government of Imo and Mr Nzechukwu Alabuche, 35, from Azia in Anambra were stabbed to death by one Sunday from Awgbu in Anambra.

    ”We understand that there was a business dispute between them that made the assailant to stab the victims to death.”

    He said that the union had reported the incident to the Nigerian mission and the South African police.

    “The assailant is on the run while the police have commenced investigation into the incident.

    ”The union condemns the killing of any Nigerian and will partner with relevant government agencies to ensure that justice is done in the case,” Ezinteje said.

    The secretary said that the police had taken the bodies to the hospital for autopsy.

     

  • Nigerian drug dealer triggers shooting in Italy

    A suspected Nigerian drug dealer is being linked with a shooting yesterday in the central Italian city of Macerata in which at least five African migrants were targeted.

    It is feared the attack might be racially or drug motivated or a revenge attack.

    Unconfirmed report said one of the Africans hit by the gunman died.

    The shooter identified as Luca Traini was arrested at 12.45pm, at a monument in the city, after he gave the Nazi salute.

    The shooting happened just days after the body of an 18-year-old Italian woman Pamela Mastropietro, was discovered dismembered and hidden in two suitcases.

    A Nigerian migrant, Innocent Oseghale, 29, with a history of drug dealing, was arrested in connection with the death.

    According to Picchionews, published in Macerata, the Nigerian has denied the charge.

    “I did not kill her,” he was reported to have told the police repeatedly.

    Oseghale is said to be an asylum seeker with a residence permit, which expired last year.

    He is married and has a daughter. He however stays alone in an apartment, not rented in his name.

    Police, after searching his flat, found 70 grams of hashish but not heroin.

    Yesterday’s shooting put the city in a virtual lockdown as the Mayor ordered people to stay indoors.

    He was arrested around 12.45pm.

    He drove around the town, as a passenger in a black Alfa Romeo.

    Police confirmed that “gunshots have been fired and there are wounded”.

    No fewer than five Africans were hit, with unconfirmed reports stating one person died.

    The shootings began at 11am local time (10am) when the man shot at two young African migrants, according to local media.

    Another migrant and an African woman were reportedly shot shortly afterwards.

     

  • US court convicts Nigerian for killing fiancee

    US court convicts Nigerian for killing fiancee

    A US court in Fort Bend County, Houston, Texas, has convicted a Nigerian, Osa Alohaneke, for the 2015 stabbing to death of his fiancée.

    A jury found him guilty on Friday of the slaying of Evelyne Ebane Epiepang.

    The jury is yet to determine his sentence.

    Alohaneke, 59, looked down and showed no emotion when the verdict was read in court.

    Prosecutors alleged that Alohaneke used a kitchen knife to attack Epiepang, 52, his fiancée and her friend, Veronica Taku.

    Alohaneke, who was living at the time in a section of southwest Houston that lies in Fort Bend County, was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Jurors acquitted Alohaneke of the assault charges.

    Epiepang was stabbed more than 30 times and died as she called 911 operators for help.

    Screams echoed in the courtroom for more than four minutes when prosecutors played the 911 call for jurors last week.

    When police arrived, Alohaneke was on the phone with an attorney, his hands covered in blood.

    Blood was splatted on his arms up to his elbows, Assistant District Attorney Amanda Bolin told jurors during her closing arguments.

    “His mission was pain and devastation and he accomplished his mission,” Bolin said.

    Defense attorney Eric Ashford pointed to what he said were weaknesses in the case against Alohaneke, many of which he alleged were caused by a haphazard investigation by the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office.

    “Was this case taken seriously by investigators? They didn’t even do the forensic analysis needed to determine the murder weapon,” Ashford told jurors.

    Ashford told jurors that detectives took several knives from the scene but that no testing was done to figure out which was used in the killing.

    In addition, the attorney said, detectives took Alahoneke’s clothes when he was arrested but never tested them for blood or DNA.

    Neither were fingernail scrapings were taken from the victim.

    Also, he noted that detectives took Alahoneke’s phone but that jurors were never shown text messages as proof he was involved in the attack.

    Ashford also attacked the credibility of Taku, the only witness to the killing. She had testified she saw Alohaneke “turn white like a ghost after the murder”.

    “This could have been a hallucination,” Ashford told jurors.

    “But did detectives investigate Taku’s mental status? No, during testimony they said they didn’t think it was important.”

    Jurors now begin the penalty phase. Alohaneke faces a sentence of up to life in prison.

     

  • Two killed as South Africans attack Nigerians, burn houses

    Two killed as South Africans attack Nigerians, burn houses

    Two nigerians including 27- year -old  Ebuka Okori, have been killed in South Africa the Nigerian community in South Africa said.

    Okori hailed from Umunze in Orumba North Local Government of Anambra State, Chairman, Nigerian Union chapter in Kwazulu Natal Province of South Africa, Bartholomew Eziagulu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by  telephone yesterday.

    The indentity of the second victim was unknown at press time, but the President of the Nigerian Union of South Africa, Mr. Adetola Olubajo said he was killed in Rustenburg.

    A mob also destroyed four shops and several houses belonging to Nigerians at Krugersdorp, near Johannesburg.

    Eziagulu said that an eyewitness informed the union that two police officers in mufti forcefully gained access to Okori’s house at Campbell Street in Durban at 2.am on Friday.

    According to him, the officers demanded money from Okori.

    He said: “When he refused, he was handcuffed, taken outside and shot dead. The officers took away his cell phone, e-passport and other valuable documents.

    “The relative of the victim was tortured and robbed of his belongings while a third victim, a South African,  was also robbed.”

    Eziagulu said that the Okori`s  brother escaped from the house and called for help.

    “The Metro Police around the vicinity swiftly intervened and picked the vehicle number of the assailants,” he said.

    Eziagulu said that police detectives and another special police team which investigates complaints against their colleagues are assisting to arrest the culprits.

    “So far I must appreciate the effort of the SAPS detectives, Metro Police and the IPID team, there were fantastic at service, so much cooperation, never seen before.

    “The station of the culprits has been directed for immediate arrest, while one of them already requested for sick leave ,the other still at large”, he said.

    President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, Adetola Olubajo, said that the national secretariat had been informed about the incident.

    He said that the union was monitoring the situation and had informed the Nigerian Mission and the South African police.

    Eziagulu in a statement also drew attention to the case of another Nigerian Ebuka Eziomwu , charged with  robbery.

    The ward Chairman of the Nigerian Union at Krugersdrop, Mr.Cyril James, said the mob attacks started on Thursday following an allegation that a Nigerian abducted a South African girl and raped her.

    He said: “The South Africans attacked our homes and shops, destroyed all we have. Many Nigerians suffered severe injuries during the attack. We have left our homes for safety because they (South Africans) are regrouping to attack us again.”

    James urged the Nigerian mission to urgently intervene before the mob kills more  Nigerians. According to him, the safety of Nigerians in Krugersdorp is no more guaranteed because there is no help.

    Olubajo said that the situation in the area was bad.

    “I can confirm that Nigerians in the area have been attacked. I am amazed and emotionally down as calls from panicked Nigerians flooded my phone from various Provinces.

    “The South African government needs to be engaged at the highest level to avoid further loss of lives and property of our citizens,” he said.

    Olubajo said that two Nigerians had been killed in South Africa in Rustenburg and Durban since the attacks began.

    “Two Nigerians have been killed, many displaced and injured in fresh Xenophobic attacks and extra-judicial killing,” he said.

    Two weeks ago, more than five Nigerian owned shops and houses were burnt at Rustenburg, North West Province by Taxi Drivers.

    The drivers alleged that Nigerians sold drugs to a gang that attacked their members and that a Nigerian abducted and raped a 16-year old South African girl.

    The union denied the allegations.

    “After our investigation, no Nigerian has been arrested for the rape or drug offence. The allegations are false and spurious, ” the union said.

     

  • 487 Nigerian returnees arrive Port Harcourt from Libya

    487 Nigerian returnees arrive Port Harcourt from Libya

    The second batch of 487 Nigerian returnees from Libya arrived Port Harcourt International Airport at about 10.43 p.m. on Monday in Max Air.

    On Friday, the Federal Government announced the establishment of a reception centre in  Port Harcourt for 5,037 Nigerians being evacuated from Libya.

    The returnees were received by officials of National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA ), led representatives from other Federal Government agencies.

    NEMA officials conveyed the returnees to Haji camp where they were profiled and fed.

    Officials were on ground to check the returnees’ body temperature and also gave immediate first aid to those in need.

    Read also: 1,295 Nigerians returned from Libya in November

    Officials also said that 487 returnees are expected to be transported back to their states of origin within few days.

    The Federal Government on Monday said it has so far evacuated 1,030 stranded Nigerian migrants from Libya between January 7 and January 8.

    Mustapha Maihaja, the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency, disclosed this at a joint news conference by the Federal Government delegation to Libya.

    Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, had on January 5 led a delegation on fact finding mission to Libya to secure the release of Nigerian migrants stranded in that country.

    Onyeama said the Nigerian mission in Libya was coordinating the identification of the Nigerian migrants with the support of International Organisation for Migration.

    According to him, they are being joined by a technical team comprising representatives from NEMA, Immigration and other relevant Nigerian government agencies.

    The minister said that the political and security challenges in that country made it difficult to secure the evacuation of some Nigerians back home.

    He added that “there are different centres of power in that country.

    The central government recognised by the UN and AU do not have full control of the territories controlled by rebels.”

    He pointed out that there were over 50 detention camps in Libya, many of them under the control of rebels and militia groups.

    NAN

  • Nigerian carriers’ plan to fly into US may ignite competition

    Plans by two carriers, Air Peace and MedView Airlines, to begin flights into the United States next summer could intensify competition on the route hitherto dominated by American carrier – Delta Airlines.

    The carriers are convinced that they could leverage the huge population of Nigerians residing and doing business in major American cities including Houston, in Texas, Washington, New York, New Jersey and Baltimore to drive traffic for the  proposed flights.

    The Nation exclusively gathered that though, the airlines have secured bilateral approvals from the Nigerian Government and the US, the airlines are putting finishing touches to other regulatory approvals needed for the flight to commence.

    Investigations revealed that the carriers were encouraged to begin US flights as part of the fulfillment of reciprocity clause in the Open Skies Agreement Nigeria signed with the US over a decade ago.

    Though Bellview Airlines, Air Nigeria and Arik Air were granted approval to fly into the US since 2009, only Arik Air accomplished the feat before it discontinued operations in 2016.