Omoyele Sowore

Omoyele Sowore
Sowore in 2016
Born (1971-02-16) 16 February 1971
Ondo State, Nigeria
Education University of Lagos
Columbia University
Occupation human rights activist, blogger, writer, lecturer,
Website saharareporters.com

Omoyele Sowore (born 16 February 1971) is a Nigerian human rights activist, pro-democracy campaigner and founder of online news agency Sahara Reporters.[1]

Early life and education

Sowore is an indigene of ilaje Ondo State in South West Nigeria. He was born in the Niger Delta region of the country where he was also raised in a polygamous home with sixteen children.[2] At 12, he learnt how to ride a motorcycle so that he could fish at the lake for the entire family before going to school every morning. His passion and desire for media was propelled during the military rule in Nigeria.[3]

Sowore studied Geography and Regional Planning at the University of Lagos from 1989 to 1995 with his academic program extended by two extra years after being expelled twice for political reasons and student activism. He was the President of the University of Lagos Student Union Government between 1992 and 1994[4] where he was keenly involved in anti-cultism and anti-corruption advocacy. He holds a Master degree in Public Administration from Columbia University. [5]

Career

Activism

In 1989, he took part in student demonstrations protesting the conditions of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan of $120 million to be used for a Nigerian oil pipeline. Among the conditions of the IMF loan were to reduce the number of universities in the country from 28 to 5.[6]

Sowore led 5,100 students in protest against the Nigerian government in 1992. The protest resulted in police opening fire and seven being killed. Sowore was arrested and tortured. He was also involved in the demand for democratic government taking over military rule in June 12, 1993. This resulted in several arrests, detentions and life threatening treatment by government officials.[7]

Sahara Reporters

Sowore started Sahara Reporters in a small room in Manhattan 2006 to fight against corrupt and wrong government practices.[5] Sahara Reporters is supported by grants donated by the Ford Foundation and Omidyar Foundation. As part of its policy, the medium does not accept adverts and financial support from the Nigerian government.[8]

Presidential campaign

On February 25, 2018, Sowore announced his intention to run for president in the 2019 Nigerian general election.[9] In August 2018, he founded a political party, the African Action Congress (AAC), for which he will run for in 2019.[10]

On October 6, 2018, following successful primary elections at the AAC's national convention, Omoyele Sowore emerged unchallenged as the Presidential Candidate for the party.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Spiegel, Brendan (2011-11-19). "From Safety of New York, Reporting on a Distant Homeland". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  2. ↑ "Meet Omoyele Sowore, The Founder Of Sahara Reporters [Photos] - INFORMATION NIGERIA". INFORMATION NIGERIA. 2015-10-24. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  3. ↑ "How I Started SAHARA REPORTERS In 2006 - US Based Founder, OMOYELE SOWORE Tells City People | City People Magazine". City People Magazine. 2017-05-29. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  4. ↑ "Abiola: Sowore Protesting Annulment Of June 12, 1993 Election (Throwback Photos) - Politics - Nigeria". www.nairaland.com.
  5. 1 2 https://www.nigeriagalleria.com. "Omoyele Sowore (Saharareporters.com), Blogger, Writer, Lecturer, Human rights activist, Nigeria Personality Profiles". www.nigeriagalleria.com. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  6. ↑ "How about a Nigeria governed by President Omoyele Sowore? - TheCable". TheCable. 2018-03-05. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  7. ↑ "An analog brain cannot lead a digital youth population". Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  8. ↑ Shenon, Philip (2010-08-12). "Sahara Reporters: Uncovering Nigeria's Corruption". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  9. ↑ Bada, Gbenga. "SaharaReporters publisher to contest against Buhari in 2019". Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  10. ↑ Ebuzor, Chika. "N100,000 for corps members monthly- Omoyele Sowore". Pulse. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  11. ↑ https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/288895-2019-sowore-emerges-aac-presidential-candidate.html
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