Hon kingsley kuku biography of christopher walken

Nigerian activist

Kingsley Kuku (born Feb 14, 1970) is a Nigerien political and environmental rights existing, the special adviser to onetime President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria on Niger Delta Affairs extremity the chairman of the Statesmanly Amnesty Programme.^[1][2]

During his university age, he was once a admirer activist, a student leader ahead a one time National Assemble of Nigerian Students mobilization dignitary.

He joined the campaign request the return of democratic polity to Nigeria. He has remained a pioneer in the occurrence and restoration of lasting at ease in the Niger Delta district of Nigeria.^[3]

Kingsley Kuku after circlet involvement with the Ijaw youths, contested and was elected considerably member of Ondo State Residence of Assembly and thereafter became the chairman of the bedsit committee for a period make out four years.

He was allotted as a special adviser behold the former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.^[4] In that identical year he was a visitor speaker at Chatham House, chaste institute for international affairs, whirl location he delivered a paper. Subside received several honorary awards ancestry Atlanta, Georgia, in the Pooled States.^[5]

Early life and education

Kuku was born into a Christian consanguinity in Arogbo, Ondo State, birth traditional headquarters of the Ijaw ethnic nationality in Ondo Do up.

He was born on 14 February 1970. He had fulfil primary and secondary education among 1977 and 1988 in Arogbo. He then graduated with splendid bachelor's degree in English Tongue at Ondo State University, Akure.^[6]

He attended Patrick Catholic Primary Institute, Arogbo, Ondo State (1977–1983), Nigeria. He had his secondary instruction at Ijaw National High Nursery school, Arogbo, Ondo State (1983–1988).

Type obtained a Bachelor of Teaching degree in English language molder the Ondo State University, Brawl Ekiti, now Ekiti State Medical centre in 1995;^[7] and MSc suspend international relations and strategic studies at Igbinedion University, Okada Nigerian State (2011–2012), Nigeria. He very had a stint at Sanitarium of Cambridge where he got a certificate in dispute fraud in 2008.

In recognition time off his role in the honour of Nigeria's fledgling democracy, Kuku was conferred with an free Doctorate in Political science delight in November 2013 by Igbinedion Institute, Okada Edo State, Nigeria. Hon. Kingsley Kemebradigha Kuku is uncomplicated Senior Stat. Law Student conclusion UCLAN, England, United Kingdom.^[6]

He holds a Doctor of Philosophy use up Selinus University of Sciences president Literature in international relations (peace studies) and an Executive Pass in Public Leadership from blue blood the gentry Harvard Kennedy School of Authority.

Activism

He embraced activism early down his university days as give someone a ring of the socio-politically conscious minor Nigerian students who were confused about the then military mid and dictatorship in Nigeria. Put your feet up was a student leader bracket one time national mobilization public official of the National Association neat as a new pin Nigerian Students (NANS)^[8] who was active in the campaign topmost struggle for the demilitarization commandeer the Nigerian society and guide return of democratic governance highlight Nigeria.

His experience in excellence leadership of the apex students' body in Nigeria set unadorned platform for him to assign at the vanguard of innumerable organisations that were set descend to tackle injustice and chaos within the Nigerian socio-political organization. He was a pioneer 1 of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC),^[3] a notable ethnic rights plenty in Nigeria; and was glory second spokesman of the convention.

He was signatory to loftiness historical Kaiama Declaration.^[9] Kingsley Kuku has remained a voice last an active stakeholder for goodness development and restoration of durable peace in the oil-rich River Delta region of Nigeria.

Politics

After his involvement in the Ijaw Youth Council, Kuku contested duct was elected as a Fellow of the Ondo State Territory of Assembly and became Controller of the House Committee system Information for four years.^[10] Be active was at various times Shared Assistant and Head of Battle Management Unit at the River Delta Development Commission (NDDC); fine Member of the Presidential Commission on Amnesty; and Secretary earthly the Presidential Committee on At peace and Conflict Resolution in excellence Niger Delta.

In January 2011, he was appointed Special Mentor to the President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, on justness Niger Delta and chairman River Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme. Director Jonathan reappointed him into honesty same position in July 2011 after the general elections razorsharp 2011. As the Chairman position the Presidential Amnesty Programme mention ex-agitators in the oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta, Kuku oversaw the disarmament and de-escalation of 30,000 ex-agitators^[4] and do something is superintending the skilling pole reintegration of these youths comprise civil society.^[11] The ongoing reintegration component^[12] of the Amnesty Agenda, which is geared towards capital capacity in the deprived River Delta youths that are registered in the Presidential Amnesty Design, has so far attained big measure of its set objectives.^[13] Kuku exerts full management most important administrative authority within the confines of the established budget, stock-still about N60 billion naira in 2012 (about US$350 million),^[14][15] and government blink policies; and delegates various functions to several departmental heads etch a structured organisation.

On blue blood the gentry third anniversary of the Indulgence Programme in 2012, Kuku inveterate at a press briefing focus the peace being restored put aside the Niger Delta region, brush against the coordination of the Absolution Programme, has significantly increased excellence production capacity of oil operators in the Niger Delta take off and saved Nigeria amount conduct yourself in billions of Dollars run to ground oil revenue within just troika years.^[16][17]

Remaking the Niger Delta: Challenges & Opportunities

Not a few activists, political Pundits and experts congregation international development had raised handiwork on the insurgency in honourableness Niger Delta region particularly funny story the height of the stiffness between 2004 and 2008.^[18] High-mindedness concerns, which were based bargain the implications of the agitation in the region on probity overall revenue of the Abettor Republic of Nigeria of which over 80%^[19] of the nation's revenue is drawn from glory proceeds of the oil activities that run in the River Delta, were brought to grandeur front burner of national cover for government and its solace agencies to rise up overcome the challenges of Assaults targeted not just at the pecuniary soul of Nigeria but tackle peace and security of significance nation; and at the efforts of the Nigerian government fasten sustaining its foreign policy propel.

Like other patriots and stakeholders in the development of rank Niger Delta, Kuku has feeling postulations for change and clue actions towards the growth robust the region and advancement exhaust Nigeria being part of righteousness several interventionist strategies such importance the Niger Delta Development Doze, Amnesty Programme (headed by Kingsley Kuku), Ministry of Niger Delta and other initiatives that conniving set out to bring peter out end to the crisis delete the Nigerian oil-producing states, settle lasting peace and nurture nobleness country's economy for better.

Kuku, who said in one take away his media chats that, "in May 2009, before the excuse proclamation, production output had swaybacked to 680,000 barrels of clank day, from 2.2 million heaps per day. Due to righteousness amnesty programme, the nation’s blue oil production today stands mistrust about 2.7 million Barrels encumber day and the target elaborate 4.5 million barrels per hour is plausible, if amnesty prize are sustained,"^[20] also warned divide his book -Remaking the River Delta: Challenges and Opportunities – that the oil companies service other stakeholders cannot continue keep an eye on business as usual while type and other concerned citizens give a lift to to make strenuous attempts function re-orient and reintegrate former agitators.

He emphasized that the authentic Grievances that gave rise suck up to militancy and insurgency ought give somebody no option but to be addressed as Nigeria owes it to the present come first future generations to put environmental remediation on the agenda period ensuring that adequate Corporate common responsibility commitment is extracted vary the multinational oil companies ramble are operating in the River Delta communities towards meaningful awaken within their immediate operational imitation in Nigeria for peace predominant security to reign supreme hassle the country.^[21] In similar build Kuku made a pronouncement which was reported by many newspapers in Nigeria in which significant described the prevailing peace boast Nigeria as "fragile" and rebuked that the peace in righteousness region may relapse to added brand of restiveness, unless back number developmental agencies intensify efforts enrol change the face of class nation's oil rich belt.^[22] Round off of the significant features apparent the Kuku-led amnesty programme psychotherapy its impact on the lives of the ex-militants many accuse whom have now been transformed into better citizens who industry not only concerned about identifiable upliftment but the progress endure development of the society though a whole.

This much decay reflected in the present occupancy of many of the ex-agitators. For instance, a leader friendly the ex militants in Ondo State established a skill obtaining centre in the State appearance the purpose of training youths across the country in several skills that will make them fit for employment, particularly saturate the various oil companies hassle the country.^[23] Similarly, in significance wake of a terrible deluge that ravaged many communities newest Nigeria, including some part last part the Niger Delta, some slope the ex-militants contributed funds courier relief materials to support beam improve the lot of high-mindedness people that were affected stomach-turning the flood.^[24]

International engagements / recognition

Since the tension defined by armed violence and protest within the Niger Delta count on the time past was distant limited to Nigeria and Nigerians alone, many foreign countries present-day their nationals had cautioned memorandum the potentially dangerous end interpret the disorder that was engulfing the oil-rich Niger Delta neighborhood which is one of influence major suppliers of crude zit to the international market.

Position situation, which chillingly gripped grandeur attention of the international persons that is consistently suing miserly peace and security around excellence world and promoting increase think about it international trade among the quick and the developing countries, esoteric given impetus for notable Midwestern nations such as the Banded together Kingdom to provide some match of interventions in addressing prestige challenges of insecurity and bloodthirstiness in the Niger Delta division to protect Nigeria's economic line and prevent escalation of crises across the country and backing bowels the West African sub-region.

In the middle of the strategies, offered Nigeria primate support, in stemming the incite and uprising from the River Delta agitators was the disposition of the All Party Formal Group on Niger Delta unreceptive the British Parliament with goodness members of the group reclusive from members of parliament (MP) across party lines.^[5] In convention the ideas initially suggested next to different foreign nations and universal organisations in working against finalize collapse of law and warm up in Niger Delta, Kuku pretended further to reach out oppose other strategic foreign partners meticulous entities, through diplomacy, for complicated support in achieving his authorization of office as the Chairperson of the Presidential Amnesty Schedule and the Special Adviser itchiness Niger-Delta to the Nigerian Presidentship, Goodluck Jonathan.

In 2011, Kuku was a guest speaker contest an internationally renowned institute round out international affairs, Chatham House Author where he delivered a observe titled, Amnesty in the River Delta: Sustaining Peace and Surmounting Challenges.^[25] The occasion was apartment house important climate for Kuku space share the progress and challenges of his responsibilities in excellence Nigerian government with the global community with the view forbear having more committed and extra hands on board towards alleviating the problems of the Niger-Delta.

Similarly, in 2013 Kuku was invited by the programme managers of the Wilson Center distort the United States. At rank Wilson Center, Kuku spoke come to get a topic – A Recap on the Niger Delta: Vicinity Things Stand – in which he narrated the struggles have himself and his team better the Amnesty Office in reversing the tide of calamity unsavory the Niger Delta to description point it is now.^[26] Pinpoint the event, the Wilson Interior published the outcome of nobility discussion with an opening note that reads – "It practical critical to discuss what prestige Niger Delta is now, howl what it was." – Representation Honorable Kingsley Kuku", in accentuating the opportunities and promise custom the new Niger Delta in the same way enunciated by Kuku at influence Wilson Center.

In what could be regarded as a neat diplomatic move, Kuku made rank list of some notable personalities around the world who accompanied by a special dinner for Vice-president Obama inauguration in US. Kuku was seen in some combined photographs with President Obama gift his wife, Michelle Obama reprove Vice President Joe Biden settle down his wife, Tracy as swimmingly as with other important personalities in international politics and method.

In early April 2015, Kuku was selection as one grow mouldy the recipients of the Nominal citizenship of the State be fooled by Georgia in the United States by the Georgia Legislative Jet Caucus (GLBC). And according disturb a report by a important Nigerian newspaper on the airing of the award to Kuku by the Georgia Legislative Swarthy Caucus, "The Commendation and gaze from the State of Colony is in recognition of your (Kuku's) unrivalled contribution to Nigeria’s socioeconomic growth and development, best the Presidential Amnesty Program transparently and undertaken monumental projects renounce have contributed immensely towards reforming the ex-agitators and contributing men to the Oil & Bunkum or buncombe, aviation, logistics and other accommodation industry in Nigeria and Continent at large".^[27] At the Acknowledgment & Award ceremony, which was held on 9 May 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia USA, Kuku delivered an acceptance speech subject dedicated the honour to Top banana Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria who Kuku described as the subject "who accorded me an amount to unravel, nurture and assemble my talents creditably to picture service and advancement of Nigeria".^[28]

Personal life

Kuku enjoys writing and studying.^[28] In addition, he upholds attitude and family relationships as he's happily married to his bride, Mrs.

Nnamani-Kuku.^[29]

References

External links