Author Archives: edelmeremikwu11

International Day of the Girl Child

More than two years marks the anniversary of the abduction of almost 300 Chibok girls in Northern Nigeria. I was living in Nigeria reporting at the time, and their abduction happened three weeks after my arrival. I wrote this defiant piece above for Nigerian Watch newspaper EdelWatch column that I was  penning at the time. The sad truth isContinue reading “International Day of the Girl Child”

Mental Health in Nigeria Matters

Mental health in African society matters. This week across the world marks the significance of World Mental Health Day 2016. One such charity that knows just how much of a difference good mental health services can make in the developing world is Amaudo UK. This charity has been supporting people in South Eastern Nigeria experiencingContinue reading “Mental Health in Nigeria Matters”

Why Chimamanda is a great ambassador for Nigeria and African issues

Celebrating ten years of ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie shared at the Southbank why her story of star-crossed lovers caught up in a Nigeria’s civil war still resonates, and why she keeps being drawn back to the theme of love. Her astounding talk was part of the South bank #FestivalofLove that tookContinue reading “Why Chimamanda is a great ambassador for Nigeria and African issues”

The Naija Supper Club

Food is ready, Oya come chop! Traditionally in Nigerian culture, food is an expression of Love. When food is ready to eat it is quite common to hear someone say, “Oya come chop”! It is in line with this same tradition that Tokunbos’s Kitchen held its first supper club at community hub, The Engine Room, Waterside Way inContinue reading “The Naija Supper Club”

Spitalfields African Market

Spitalfields is one of my favourite places in the city of London. One of London’s oldest markets, it is a huge tourist attraction. Open 7 days a week to- cutting edge vintage fashion, interiors, accessories, art works and restaurants from more than 88 independant designers. Thankfully Spitalfields traders indoor market found in Crispin Place is weather proof so no matterContinue reading “Spitalfields African Market”

A feast of African stories

Launched in 2012, the annual festival organised by the Royal African Society is the most significant contemporary celebration of African literature from across the continent and the diaspora.  Africa Writes is the Royal African Society’s annual literature and book festival in association with the British Library. This year’s  festival took place from Friday, July 3rd – Sunday, July 5th. For both establishedContinue reading “A feast of African stories”

What I learnt from attending the Women in Business Conference

Living in Nigeria is slowly transforming my outlook to life in many ways. Nigeria has given me the opportunity to grow more into the woman that I want to become, and to discover a world of new things that I never thought I would or could. Women in Business The second annual edition of WomenContinue reading “What I learnt from attending the Women in Business Conference”

African Women in Journalism

Recently I was privileged to attend a new conference gathering Nigeria’s best in the field of journalism, and online media reportage and blogging. The mid-year conference was organised by AOL Nigeria in collaboration with UNESCO, Google Nigeria and the School of Media and Communications, Pan African University (PAU) and brought together industry professionals and aspiringContinue reading “African Women in Journalism”

So,you want to move back to Nigeria?

These were my father’s exact words to me when I told him that I wanted to return home. His voice sounded normal but his response was uncertain. He said “Are you sure you can live in Nigeria? It’s not like when you’re on holiday” “Yes Daddy I am sure” I replied. As a journalist andContinue reading “So,you want to move back to Nigeria?”