Obiageli Katryn Ezekwesili, former World Bank Vice President, current Senior Economic Adviser with the Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative (AEDPI) and leading voice on the global #BringBackOurGirls campaign, has been named as one of the Time 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2015.

She is honoured alongside Nigeria’s President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari and award-winning novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Now in its 12th year, The Time 100 is “an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, spanning politics, entertainment, business, technology, science, religion and other fields,” according to Time.com.

“The Time 100 is a list of the world’s most influential men and women not its most powerful,” said Nancy Gibbs, Editor of Time while speaking about the select 100. “As much as this exercise chronicles the achievements of the past year, we also focus on figures whose influence is likely to grow, so we can look around the corner to see what is coming.”

“I frankly have never been a fan of these awards. I am however delighted to be on the Time100 list for the sake of our continuing and persistent campaign for our Government to rescue our abducted 219 Chibok Girls” said Ezekwesili who had earlier this year been named Nigeria’s ‘Citizen-in-Chief’ by YNaija.com. “The girls are a symbol of thousands more women and children that have been displaced and kidnapped, and I dedicate this recognition to all of them.  I am just one out of the many untiring voices that make up our #BringBackOurGirls Family especially here in Nigeria and all over the world.  We shall not stop standing and demanding until justice is done our ChibokGirls — they must be rescued”.

In 2006, Ezekwesili was reported to have been the first woman to receive the third highest Nigerian National Honor of Commander of the Federal Republic–CFR.

To see Ezekwesili’s specific TIME 100 page for full details. Follow @TIME for updates about the list on Twitter and at Facebook.com/TIME and #TIME100.

You can also see the full list of the 100 on www.time.com/Time100.

The girls are a symbol of thousands more women and children that have been displaced and kidnapped, and I dedicate this recognition to all of them.

About Obiageli Katryn Ezekwesili

Oby Ezekwesili, as she is fondly called, was at different times Minister of Minerals and Minister of Education under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s 2^nd term. She is a past Vice-President of the World Bank where she delivered economic policy advisory, worth over $40Billion in finance and as well as convening partnerships for 46 African countries in support of their economic and social development programs. She is reputed to be the first woman selected for the National Honour of Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2006. She is currently a Senior Economic Advisor with the Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative (AEDPI) where she advises Presidents of African countries and their cabinets on economic development strategy, policies and implementation. Ezekwesili is also co-founder of Transparency international, the global anti-corruption NGO. A leading voice in the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, she is a sought after speaker at international conferences and an advocate for good governance.

PS: The Time100 list also listed Boko Haram Shekau for the negative influence of the terrorist organization.

RED Founding Partner, Adebola Williams speaks at INEGMA and DP World’s workshop on Mitigating Maritime Piracy through Economic Prosperity and Cross-Sector Innovation: From Africa to South East Asia which held at the Movenpick Ibn Battuta Hotel in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates on Monday April 13, 2015.

Speaking on on the role of Young people in Economic Prosperity and Cross Sector Innovation from Africa to South Asia

Nigeria’s King of Rap, Vector tha Viper has released a new rap freestyle for his teeming fans.

The freestyle, which is one of several to follow is laced with the Vector signature of beautiful rhymes. The freestyle was dropped to whet the appetite of his fans in anticipation of the remix of his King Kong Video.

The first part of the King Kong remix will feature collaborations with super Nigerian rap artistes like Phyno, Reminisce, Classiq and Uzi, while the second will feature popular Ghanaian rap artiste, Sarkodie.

To listen to the freestyle, please see the link below:

http://naijaexclusive.com.ng/music-freestyle-vector/

YNaija, the online newspaper for young Nigerians presented it’s Situation room special in the 2014/15 elections this time focused on the gubernatorial elections held April 11, 2015 across the country.
Hosted by Nigeria Info OAP, Chidi Okereke, Isabella Akinseye and Adedayo Ademuwagun this edition saw a lot of twist and turns as the analysts brought on their A-Game on Nigeria’s most contested elections ever.

“It’s a watershed moment in the development of democracy and democratic ideals in the country and YNaija can’t help but lead the conversation, especially as it concerns young people,” said Isi Esene, Editor, YNaija.com.

“We set out to bring in fresh, vibrant, young minds to give a new perspective to election analysis in the country and that was exactly what we achieved,” he added.

Broadcast live on www.ynaija.com/situationroom readers also connected with the YNaija liveblog to get up-to-date information from the elections concurrently.

Follow YNaija.com to get exclusives, opinions, analysis and commentary on the polls and post-election drama as they unfold.

YNaija, the internet newspaper for young Nigerians, will be organising a gubernatorial election Situation Room on Saturday, April 11, 2015.

The YNaija 2015 Election Situation Room show will be hosted and moderated by Nigerian Info OAP, Adenike Oyetunde. She will be coordinating guests and callers on issues as Nigerians go to the polls one last time this Saturday to select governors for the next four years.
“The discussion will follow the format used during the presidential election organised in collaboration with Co-Creation Hub, Nigeria’s first open living lab and pre-incubation space,” said Isi Esene, Editor YNaija.

“It will also allow citizens to call in and report issues within their locality with a view to gathering first hand information on happenings around the country.”

Guests who will be in the YNaija Situation Room include Ayokunle Odekunle,

Dayo Ademuwagun, Joachim MacEbong, Stanley Azuakola, Tope Atiba, Boladale Adekoya, Modupe Odele, Bukonla Ogunyemi and Chidi Okeke.

Please log on to www.ynaija.com/situationroom to join the panel of analysts.

To give a situation report on happenings in your polling unit, call ‎01-4548388.

About Y!/YNaija.com

Y!/YNaija.com is a network of premium media brands – Y! TV, Y! Magazine, YNaija.com, Teen Y!, TeenYNaija.com, Y! 2015, YNaija2015.com – committed to an evolving generation of Africans. Established in 2011, with a vision to provoke thought, inspire action and stimulate growth; it has become the leading media platform for young Africans with reach across West, East and Southern Africa, influencing policy, opinion and leading on issues across sectors with a focus on governance, culture and technology.

RED Managing Partner, Chude Jideonwo has been invited to deliver the Keynote address at the 3rd edition of Sterling Bank’s “Get Ready for Work” Seminar on Friday April 24, 2015.

The event which is a CSR initiative conceived to strategically help the Bank actualize its goal of youth empowerment was designed to aid young people in preparing for employment market and provide a platform for employment began in 2013 and has reached over 5,000 students in Lagos (2013) and Ibadan (2014).

Africa’s premium online hub for Business, Technology and Enterprise, Y! Africa and the magazine of CHOICE for the woman of style and purpose, Today’s Woman (TW) Magazine partner to launch new brand.

This partnership between two of Africa’s leading magazine brands is a free 16 page pull-out of Y! Africa Xtra in TW Magazine. The pull-out synchronizes its theme with that of TW with a focus on celebrating women who are impacting our world.

“It is not every day that two of Africa’s leading magazines get to partner, we are excited about this and can only enjoin our readers to watch out for the next edition of TW, said Chude Jideonwo, the Editor-in-Chief of Y! Africa magazine. “In commemoration of one year of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign and to focus the spotlight on this urgent imperative our cover speaks to Bolanle Olukanni who has advocated for the return of the girls.”

In the same vein, Publisher of TW Magazine, Adesuwa Onyenokwe said “this partnership with Y! Africa is one we are delighted to have. Its fresh, it’s fun and injects more energy into the newly revamped TW.”

The Y! Africa pull out has on its cover, super-talented Moments with Mo and Project Fame co-host, Bolanle Olukanni in an exclusive interview, presents 100 most inspiring young women in Nigeria by Y!, amongst others.

So, get set for a reading experience, grab your copy of TW and get Y! Africa Xtra free.