Young Nigerian women making a difference in Africa

With Love From Friends (WLFF) is a none profit organisation established in January 2008 by a group of friends all who became acquainted whilst studying at the acclaimed University of Manchester. After the success of their Grand Ball in 2008 they have returned to host their annual fundraising event on October 17th 2009 6pm, at the prestigious The October Gallery in Holborn, London (UK) ,entitled OUT OF AFRICA. 
 
Out Of Africa is guaranteed to be an evening equated to exhibiting a series of  excellent short films from across Africa, contemporary art exhibition, African themed music, African themed canapes, raffle prizes and a elegant drink reception. This red carpet event aims to celebrate the various entities within the African Culture whilst uniting people with the desire to see change in Africa together.
 
After raising £6,000 generated from the first WLLF fundraising event entitled Grand Ball 2008. Surplus amounts of books were purchased for the Iwaya/Makoko Book Fund Project in Lagos Nigeria. 
 
The Long term goal for WLFF is to assist charities and community schools project in Nigeria and Africa at Large, raising funds to improve infrastructure and provide basic resources such as textbooks, whilst maintaining a personal touch.
 
Further information about the organisation, including a detailed report regarding the projects WLFF are currently working on can be obtained from www.wlff.co.uk

Chimamanda Adichie at 2009 TED Conference

 

Watch Chimamanda Adichie at 2009 TED in News  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie talks about how she found her authentic cultural voice and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.

TED

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Oprah Winfrey picks Nigerian author Uwek Akpan's "Say You're One of Them" for book club

Nigerian artists clean house at MTV Africa Music Awards

 

Nigeria artists were among the big winners at the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) that took place in Nairobi, Kenya over the weekend. Here's a list of the winners:

Best Male
Nameless (Kenya)

Best New Act
M.I. (Nigeria)

Best R&B
2 Face (Nigeria)

Best Hip Hop
M.I. (Nigeria)

Best Female
Amani (Kenya)

Best Performer
Samini (Ghana)

Best R&B
2Face (Nigeria)

Best Group
P-Square (Nigeria)

Best Alternative
Zebra & Giraffe (South Africa)

Best Video
HHP – Mpitse (South Africa)

Artist of The Year
D’banj (Nigeria)

Related story: CNN takes notice to the Nigerian booming hip-hop industry

Nigeria ranks second in the world in HIV infected countries

According to the Minister of State for Information and Communications, Aliyu Bilbis, Nigeria currently ranks second in countries infected with HIV.

The minister stated this on October 10th at the 2009 World Post Day Celebration and the flag-off of the National Postal Campaign against HIV held in Abuja.

Bilbis said that South Africa is currently at the top of the list and Nigeria is close behind with 2.6 million people infected with the virus.

"Despite concerted efforts made by governments and corporate bodies to curb the menace of HIV/AIDS, its statistics remain staggering and frightening.

"The HIV prevalence in Nigeria is discouraging. Whereas China with a population of 1.3 billion has 700,000 people living with HIV, Nigeria has 2.6 million persons living with HIV out of her population of 140 million people.

"Brazil's 192 million population has 730,000 people living with HIV, while Cameroon with a population of 18.5 million has 540,000 infected with the disease.

"Globally, Nigeria is second only to Republic of South Africa regarding the numbers of persons living with HIV/AIDS," he said.

Daily Independent

Related story: Unplanned pregnancies on the rise among Nigerian young women

Video report of Nigeria promoting marriage between HIV couples to prevent spread of the virus

36 year old man rapes 3 year old girl to cure himself of HIV

In a desperate attempt to cure himself of HIV, 36 year-old Cletus Agwu went to seek help from a witch doctor who allegedly advised him that raping a 3 year-old girl will cure him.

The victim was found over the weekend at 8 Yogbo Street in the North Bank area of Makurdi as her crying brought attention to neighbors who found her dripping blood.

The 3 year-old girl told the neighbors what happened to her and said the alleged rapist threatened to kill her if she told anyone what he did to her. An angry mob hunted down the suspected rapist who was then arrested by the police before the mob could have their way with him.

Cletus Agwu confessed to the police that his motive for raping the 3 year-old girl who he said lived in the same compound with him was to cure himself of HIV. He told the police that a witch doctor told him that having sex with a girl not more than thee years old will cure him permanently.

According to Benue State Commissioner of Police Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed, medical tests carried out on the victim at the North Bank General Hospital in Makurdi confirm that she has been infected with HIV.

Vanguard

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Nigeria ranks second in the world in HIV infected countries