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Merit Time International to Honour Susan Thomas with Distinguished Political Icon in the Diaspora Award

Published

8 years ago

July 26, 2018

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

In recognition of her selfless contribution and commitment to diligence in service delivery, honesty, peace, youth development, peaceful co-existence, care for the poor, justice for all among many other invaluable achievements, the Governing Council of Merit Time International in collaboration with Mingle Brands Media Limited and National Mathematics Centre, is set to honour a distinguished Nigerian, Mrs Susan Fajana Thomas, with the prestigious award of Merit International Award of Nigeria Distinguished Political Icon in the Diaspora.

The event is scheduled to take place at the Nigeria National Merit House, Maitama, Abuja, on Friday, July 27, 2018 by 2pm.

Susan Jumoke Fajana–Thomas, a Councillor, is an accomplished British politician who has established herself as a prominent community campaigner with over 20 years of experience. She is a Member of Hackney Council and the former civic Mayor of the borough.

Susan moved to London many years ago from Nigeria following a successful career as a Presenter/Producer with Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

Popularly known as SFT, she has mentored and supported other Africans to becoming activists and politicians. In 2013, Susan became the first ethnic minority person and woman to become the Chair of Hackney North and Stoke Newington Constituency, Labour Party.

Susan is an accomplished community and women spokesperson; a socio-political commentator and an advocate for social justice. She has played a significant role in many national and international campaigns, including forced marriage, early child marriage, refugee’s rights, Female Genital Mutilation, community safety and mental health.

She is the Founder of SFT Foundation Trust, a charitable organisation supporting families in the UK and Lilac Lilly in Nigeria. Through her campaigning activities and Foundation, Susan advocates for gender equality and women’s empowerment, including women’s political participation by providing leadership training and mentorship for young people.

Over the years, her dedication to the community has evolved and her relentless campaigning has received both global and national recognition. In 2012, one of her projects was recognized by the Home Office as an excellent model of youth engagement following the 2012 London riots.

Susan has served in a variety of public offices with pride and distinction, and making a huge impact worldwide. She currently serves as President, Patron, Ambassador, Trustee, Board of Director to various organisations, including London Housing Consortium, East London NHS Foundation Trust, Universal Peace Federation, Islington Refugee Forum, All Ladies League (ALL), African Women In Diaspora (AWID), Nigerian Women In Diaspora Leadership Forum (NWIDLF) and African Achievers Awards to mention but a few.

A recipient of numerous awards and accolades, Susan is named in the 100 Most Reputable Africans in 2018 alongside three African Presidents. She is one of the 100 outstanding British Nigerians recognized for their excellent contributions to both Nigeria and the UK. She is a BEFFTA Community Leadership Award recipient, The African Achievers Awards recipient, African Women In Europe Achievement Award recipient, Gathering of Africans Best (GAB) Awards recipient for promoting Africans positive image worldwide.

It is therefore, with pride that the excellent woman of substance will be receiving her award before equally people of high achievement.

Featured

Tinubu Nominates Oyedele As Minister of State for Finance, Moves Anite-Uzoka to Budget Ministry

Published

21 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, has announced that “President Bola Tinubu has nominated Taiwo Oyedele as the minister of state for finance, replacing Doris Anite-Uzoka.

“Mrs Anite-Uzoka will now move to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, as the Minister of State, her third portfolio in the administration.

“President Tinubu has today conveyed the nomination of Mr Oyedele to the Senate for confirmation in a letter to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

“Until President Tinubu nominated him as a minister, Mr Oyedele from Ikaram, Akoko, Ondo State, was the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, which overhauled Nigeria’s tax system.

“Mr Oyedele, 50, is an economist, accountant and public policy expert.

“He attended Yaba College of Technology, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in accountancy and finance. He attended Oxford Brookes University and earned a BSc in applied accounting.

“He also completed executive education programmes at the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School.

“Mr Oyedele spent 22 years of his working career at PwC, joining in 2001 and rising to become the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader.

“Mr Oyedele is also a professor at Babcock University in Ogun State and a visiting scholar at the Lagos Business School.”

Featured

Defection: Atiku’s Son, Adamu, Resigns As Adamawa Commissioner

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Adamu Abubakar, the first son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has resigned as Adamawa State’s commissioner for works and energy development, days after Governor Ahmadu Fintiri defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

Abubakar’s resignation letter, dated 2 March 2026, was addressed to the governor through the Secretary to the State Government. He gave no reason for his departure.

The timing is pointed. Fintiri announced his defection to the APC in a statewide broadcast last Friday, saying his cabinet and the PDP’s state structure had moved with him. Within 24 hours, 22 commissioners and special advisers publicly announced they were following suit. Abubakar, whose father remains one of the PDP’s most prominent national figures, was not among them.

In a statement issued Monday night, Abubakar’s media aide Abdulaziz Jauro said the former commissioner thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve and pledged continued loyalty to the administration’s developmental agenda. He also expressed gratitude to his father “for granting him the moral support and blessing to serve the people of Adamawa State” — a line that, read in context, suggests Atiku was consulted on the decision.

Abubakar said his resignation was not a withdrawal from public life. “This does not mark the end of his commitment to public service,” the statement read, “but rather the beginning of new avenues for developmental collaboration.”

The resignation leaves unresolved the question of whether it reflects a political break with the governor over his defection or a personal decision unconnected to the broader party realignment now reshaping Adamawa’s political landscape.

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DSS Nabs Man over Assassination Attempt on Peter Obi

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has detained a man in connection with the recent attack and alleged assassination threats targeting Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

According to AIT, the shooting incident took place on February 24, 2026, in Benin City, Edo State, during a political gathering attended by Obi and several figures from the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The meeting was hosted by former APC National Chairman, John Oyegun. Gunmen reportedly opened fire at the venue, causing panic and forcing attendees to disperse for safety.

According to security sources, shortly after the attack, an individual identified as Udeme Monday Stephen allegedly took to social media claiming responsibility and issuing additional threats against Obi, warning of further violence.

Intelligence officials reportedly initiated swift investigations, employing digital tracing and forensic tools that led to the arrest of the 26-year-old suspect in Rivers State. He is said to be a teacher at a private secondary school in the Eliozu area of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.

The suspect remains in DSS custody and is expected to face prosecution. The agency reiterated its commitment to responding to credible threats and safeguarding lives and national interests without bias.