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Danish Aid Worker Marks 4 Years She Rescued Hope, A Child Branded As Witch (Pics)

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Danish aid worker, Anja Ringgren Lovén marks 4 years since the rescue of child branded a witch in Akwa Ibom

Four years ago, January 30, 2016, Danish aid worker Anja Ringgren Lovén was photographed giving water to a severely emaciated 2-year-old boy, who she rescued after he was branded a witch by his family and left to starve to death in Akwa Ibom.

The child wandered the streets for months when Anja got a phone call and immediately led a rescue team including her husband David Emmanuel Umem, to bring the child to the Children’s Education and Development Foundation (ACAEDF) aka “Land of Hope” named after the boy.

Danish aid worker, Anja Ringgren Lov?n marks 4 years since the rescue of child branded a witch in Akwa Ibom.

On Thursday, January 30, 2020, Anja posted new photos of Hope to mark the anniversary.

She described Hope as a “very strong, intelligent, funny and beautiful young boy who despite all odds, survived” and despite his young age, knows that hate is to great a burden to bear.

Read her post below:

TODAY IS THE 30 OF JANUARY 2020, AND TODAY IS EXACTLY 4 YEARS AGO WE RESCUED HOPE. I THINK MOST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD HAS SEEN OR HEARD ABOUT THE FAMOUS PICTURE OF HOPE AND I, WHERE I KNEEL DOWN IN FRONT OF HIS STARVING MALNOURISHED BODY TO GIVE HIM WATER.

I DON´T WANT TO SHARE THE PICTURE TODAY. INSTEAD I WANT TO SHARE PICTURES OF HOPE HOW HE LOOKS LIKE TODAY, 4 YEARS AFTER THE RESCUE. A VERY STRONG, INTELLIGENT, FUNNY AND BEAUTIFUL YOUNG BOY WHO DESPITE ALL ODDS, SURVIVED !

HOPE HAS SEEN THE FAMOUS PICTURE OF HIM AND I MANY TIMES. HE WILL POINT AT HIMSELF TO SAY THAT IT’S HIM ON THE PICTURE, AND THEN HE WILL SMILE, AS IF HE WAS PROUD. BUT I KNOW IT’S NOT ABOUT PRIDE. CHILDREN ARE BORN WITH THE ABILITY TO FORGIVE. CHILDREN ARE BORN WITH NO PREJUDICES. IT IS WHEN CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT WHAT TO THINK AND NOT HOW TO THINK, WE FAIL AS A SOCIETY.

DO WE RAISE HOPE TO HATE HIS PARENTS THAT ABANDONED HIM, ACCUSED HIM OF BEING A WITCH AND LEFT HIM ALONE ON THE STREET TO DIE ? NO, OFCOURSE NOT.

SUPERSTITION IS CAUSED BY LACK OF STRUCTURAL EDUCATION, EXTREME POVERTY, RELIGIOUS FANATICISM AND CORRUPTION. NO SOCIETY CAN DEVELOP IF IT’S PEOPLE ARE DEPRIVED BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS SUCH AS ACCESS TO EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL PROTECTION.

EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL INVESTMENT IN A SOCIETY AND THE GREATEST WEAPON AGAINST IGNORANCE.

LIKE ALL OUR 74 CHILDREN, HOPE GOES TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY. SCHOOL IS THE FOREMOST FOUNTAIN OF KNOWLEDGE CHILDREN CAN BE EXPOSED TO.
DESPITE HIS YOUNG AGE, AND AFTER 4 YEARS IN OUR CARE, HOPE KNOWS THAT HATE IS TO GREAT A BURDEN TO BEAR. ALL WE NEED IS LOVE

AS I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES BEFORE, HOPE WAS NOT RESCUED BY ONLY ME. HOPE WAS RESCUED BY DAVID EMMANUEL UMEM , NSIDIBE OROK AND I, AND FOR 4 YEARS NOW HE HAS BEEN LOVED, PROTECTED AND CARED FOR BY ALL OUR STAFF AND CHILDREN AT LAND OF HOPE.

LOOK AT MY HOPIIIIII IS HE NOT JUST THE MOST HANDSOME BOY IN THE WORLD ?
I ALSO WANTED A PICTURE OF HIM WITH OROK AND DAVID TOGETHER, BUT DAVID WAS BUSY ( PROBABLY SITTING UNDER A TREE, DRINKING PALM WINE AND DISCUSSING POLITICS WITH THE VILLAGE MEN ) NOOOOOO OFCOURSE NOT. DAVID IS WORKING ON A PROJECT HE WILL SOON REVEAL

BUT OUR DIRECTOR OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT, ALL THE CHILDREN’S, INCLUDING HOPE’S, FAVORITE HUMAN BEING IN THE ENTIRE WORLD, OROK WAS READY TO MAKE STYLES WITH HOPE ON THIS VERY SPECIAL DAY
WE LOVE YOU HOPIIII ! GO CONQUER THE WORLD

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JUST IN: Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun joins ancestors at 81

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The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun has joined his ancestors after a brief illness.

He joined his ancestors at the age of 81.

It was gathered that the late monarch was taken to the hospital Wednesday morning having stayed indoor throughout Tuesday on account of slight malaria fever, though, he was hail and hearty on Monday during which he personally received few guests that paid him congratulatory visits on his second year anniversary on that day.

Making this announcement was the Baba-Kekere Olubadan and his younger brother, Dr Kola Balogun in a statement by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the late monarch, Oladele Ogunsola.

According to the statement, Dr. Balogun disclosed that Oba Balogun would be buried at his Aliiwo ancestral home by 4.00pm on Friday according to Islamic rites just as he said that the State Governor Seyi Makinde, though already verbally informed, would be formally notified early in the morning.

The late Olubadan was the first most educated to have emerged as Ibadan monarch, a British trained P.hd holder, a former university lecturer, former member of management staff of Shell British Petroleum, former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Nigeria People’s Party, NPP, former Senator and a successful business man.

His last official outing was the Olubadan Advisory Council’s meeting which he presided over last Saturday where the decision to derobed Mogaji Akinsola, Olawale Oladoja was taken.

He however, on Tuesday instructed the Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade to midwife a small committee to deliberate on last Friday’s decision on what should be the position of Ibadan Zone in the proposed newly reconstituted Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

The decision of the small committee was earlier on Thursday ratified by the Olubadan Advisory Council at a meeting presided over by Otun Olubadan and the former governor of Oyo State, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja and was to be taken to the late Oba Balogun for his signature Friday morning so as to meet the deadline for submission to the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters later in the day.

The late Olubadan is survived by wives, children and grandchildren.

Announcing the passage of the monarch, Governor Makinde, in a statement, stated that Olubadan, who joined his ancestors late Thursday evening at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, described him as an epitome of royal excellence and a great achiever, who made great marks on Ibadanland in just a little over two years of his reign.

He expressed his condolences to the Olubadan-in-Council, the Oyo State Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland and Oyo State, praying to God to grant repose to the soul of the deceased monarch.

Makinde said: “With total submission to the will of God, I announce the passing unto glory of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr. Mohood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland.

“A mighty Iroko has fallen; Oba Dr. Balogun has joined the ancestors.

“In Kabiyesi, Ibadanland had a cosmopolitan and well-experienced Olubadan, who made indelible marks on the sands of history and achieved greatly within a short while.

“On behalf of the Government and good People of Oyo State, I condole with the immediate family of the Oba Dr. Balogun, the Olubadan-in-Council, the Oyo State Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland.

“It is my prayer that God grants repose to the soul of our late monarch.”

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JUST IN: Labour Party National Chairman, Abure arrested for attempted murder in Edo (Video)

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Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure.

Abure was arrested on Wednesday in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on allegations of premeditated attempted murder, amongst other alleged infractions.

The Labour Party chairman’s arrest followed a petition by the LP Youth Leader, Comrade Eragbe Anselm Aphimia.

The petition, addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, dated February 13, partly reads, “I, Comrade Eragbe Anselm, write to you with utmost urgency and grave concern regarding a heinous act of violence perpetrated against me on the 29th of December 2023.

“I am a member and National Youth Leader of the Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria, and the events I am about to recount are of utmost importance for justice and the safety of individuals involved in political activities.

“On December 28, 2023, I flew into Benin City Airport around 2 p.m. as part of an official 5-member delegation authorised by the Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party, Alhaji Lamidi Basiru Apapa.

“Our mission was to organise Ward, LGA, and State Congresses in Edo State, as well as supervise the sale of nomination forms for various posts, as mandated by INEC guidelines, within the stipulated time frames.

“On arrival at the Benin Airport, I was received by one Mrs Mary Okheime Newberry, who falsely claimed to be providing transportation and accommodation on behalf of unnamed “stakeholders.”

“She proceeded to lodge us at the Smart Homes Hotel, unknown to us that she was plotting a sinister and gruesome ambush. The next morning, a man named Austin Emeka came to pick me and my colleague, Mr Patrick Anethua, up from the hotel lobby, pretending to take us to a meeting venue.

“Instead, we were violently attacked just outside the hotel gates by a waiting mob.”

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JUST IN: Tinubu appoints new leadership for NAFDAC, NCDC

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President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment and reappointment of chairpersons of boards and chief executive officers of agencies under the ministry of health and social welfare.

In a statement on Thursday by Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, Tinubu approved the appointment of Mansur Kabir as the chairman of board of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

He also reappointed Mojisola Adeyeye as the director-general (DG) of the agency and appointed Olajide Idris as the DG of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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