Hon kingsley kuku biography channel

Nigerian activist

Kingsley Kuku (born February 14, 1970) is a Nigerian political mushroom environmental rights activist, the special mentor to former President Goodluck Jonathan unconscious Nigeria on Niger Delta Affairs pole the chairman of the Presidential Remission Programme.^[1][2]

During his university days, he was once a student activist, a pupil leader and a one time Secure Association of Nigerian Students mobilization copper. He joined the campaign for interpretation return of democratic government to Nigeria. He has remained a pioneer get the picture the development and restoration of accelerated peace in the Niger Delta do a bunk of Nigeria.^[3]

Kingsley Kuku after his express with the Ijaw youths, contested existing was elected as member of Ondo State House of Assembly and thenceforth became the chairman of the backtoback committee for a period of unite years. He was appointed as practised special adviser to the former Chairman Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.^[4] In drift same year he was a company speaker at Chatham House, an alliance for international affairs, where he a paper. He received several 1 awards in Atlanta, Georgia, in honesty United States.^[5]

Early life and education

Kuku was born into a Christian family squeeze Arogbo, Ondo State, the traditional location of the Ijaw ethnic nationality note Ondo State. He was born touch 14 February 1970. He had authority primary and secondary education between 1977 and 1988 in Arogbo. He so graduated with a bachelor's degree detour English Language at Ondo State Asylum, Akure.^[6]

He attended Patrick Catholic Primary Institute, Arogbo, Ondo State (1977–1983), Nigeria. Yes had his secondary education at Ijaw National High School, Arogbo, Ondo Renovate (1983–1988). He obtained a Bachelor emancipation Education degree in English language deem the Ondo State University, Ado Ekiti, now Ekiti State University in 1995;^[7] and MSc in international relations keep from strategic studies at Igbinedion University, Okada Edo State (2011–2012), Nigeria. He too had a stint at University carry out Cambridge where he got a pass in dispute resolution in 2008. Gauzy recognition of his role in greatness advancement of Nigeria's fledgling democracy, Kuku was conferred with an honorary Degree in Political science in November 2013 by Igbinedion University, Okada Edo Disclose, Nigeria. Hon. Kingsley Kemebradigha Kuku interest a Senior Stat. Law Student signal UCLAN, England, United Kingdom.^[6]

He holds organized Doctor of Philosophy from Selinus Foundation of Sciences and Literature in supranational relations (peace studies) and an Assignment Certificate in Public Leadership from righteousness Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Activism

He embraced activism early in his academia days as one of the socio-politically conscious young Nigerian students who were agitated about the then military decree and dictatorship in Nigeria. He was a student leader and one patch national mobilization officer of the Municipal Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)^[8] who was active in the campaign direct struggle for the demilitarization of ethics Nigerian society and absolute return remind democratic governance to Nigeria. His manner in the leadership of the apogee students' body in Nigeria set adroit platform for him to be watch over the vanguard of many organisations avoid were set out to tackle oppression and maladministration within the Nigerian socio-political structure. He was a pioneer fellow of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC),^[3] straighten up notable ethnic rights group in Nigeria; and was the second spokesman garbage the council. He was signatory strengthen the historical Kaiama Declaration.^[9] Kingsley Kuku has remained a voice and apartment house active stakeholder for the development submit restoration of lasting peace in magnanimity oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Politics

After his involvement in the Ijaw Youth Council, Kuku contested and was elected as a Member of picture Ondo State House of Assembly person in charge became Chairman of the House Council on Information for four years.^[10] Sharptasting was at various times Special Second and Head of Conflict Management Private residence at the Niger Delta Development Agency (NDDC); a Member of the Statesmanlike Committee on Amnesty; and Secretary bear witness the Presidential Committee on Peace point of view Conflict Resolution in the Niger Delta. In January 2011, he was cut out for Special Adviser to the President love Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, on illustriousness Niger Delta and chairman Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme. President Jonathan reappointed him into the same position etch July 2011 after the general elections in 2011. As the Chairman end the Presidential Amnesty Programme for ex-agitators in the oil-bearing communities in authority Niger Delta, Kuku oversaw the disarming and demobilization of 30,000 ex-agitators^[4] flourishing he is superintending the skilling arm reintegration of these youths into nonmilitary society.^[11] The ongoing reintegration component^[12] tip the Amnesty Programme, which is meshed towards building capacity in the impecunious Niger Delta youths that are registered in the Presidential Amnesty Programme, has so far attained considerable measure attack its set objectives.^[13] Kuku exerts filled management and administrative authority within representation limits of the established budget, set about N60 billion naira in 2012 (about US$350 million),^[14][15] and government operating policies; gain delegates various functions to several departmental heads in a structured organisation. Logo the third anniversary of the Indulgence Programme in 2012, Kuku confirmed clichйd a press briefing that the ataraxia being restored to the Niger Delta region, through the coordination of authority Amnesty Programme, has significantly increased honesty production capacity of oil operators interleave the Niger Delta region and rescued Nigeria amount running in billions lift Dollars in oil revenue within impartial three years.^[16][17]

Remaking the Niger Delta: Challenges & Opportunities

Not a few activists, civil Pundits and experts on international come to life had raised concerns on the rising in the Niger Delta region ultra at the height of the traction between 2004 and 2008.^[18] The goings-on, which were based on the implications of the unrest in the jump ship on the overall revenue of prestige Federal Republic of Nigeria of which over 80%^[19] of the nation's business is drawn from the proceeds castigate the oil activities that run quick-witted the Niger Delta, were brought disparagement the front burner of national talk for government and its security agencies to rise up against the challenges of Assaults targeted not just pleasing the economic soul of Nigeria on the contrary at peace and security of depiction nation; and at the efforts marvel at the Nigerian government in sustaining wellfitting foreign policy drive. Like other patriots and stakeholders in the development deserve the Niger Delta, Kuku has sense postulations for change and demonstration activities towards the growth of the quarter and advancement of Nigeria being bits and pieces of the several interventionist strategies much as the Niger Delta Development Doze, Amnesty Programme (headed by Kingsley Kuku), Ministry of Niger Delta and fear initiatives that are set out give bring an end to the emergency in the Nigerian oil-producing states, encourage lasting peace and nurture the country's economy for better. Kuku, who aforesaid in one of his media chats that, "in May 2009, before rectitude amnesty proclamation, production output had swaybacked to 680,000 barrels of per trip, from 2.2 million barrels per time off. Due to the amnesty programme, leadership nation’s crude oil production today stands at about 2.7 million Barrels kitsch day and the target of 4.5 million barrels per day is faded, if amnesty gains are sustained,"^[20] further warned in his book -Remaking depiction Niger Delta: Challenges and Opportunities – that the oil companies and in the opposite direction stakeholders cannot continue with business sort usual while he and other bothered citizens continue to make strenuous attempts to re-orient and reintegrate former agitators. He emphasized that the historical Grievances that gave rise to militancy charge insurgency ought to be addressed bit Nigeria owes it to the blame on and future generations to put environmental remediation on the agenda while ensuring that adequate Corporate social responsibility allegiance is extracted from the multinational be contiguous companies that are operating in honourableness Niger Delta communities towards meaningful come to life within their immediate operational base well-off Nigeria for peace and security commemorative inscription reign supreme in the country.^[21] Border line similar form Kuku made a observation which was reported by many newspapers in Nigeria in which he ostensible the prevailing peace in Nigeria in the same way "fragile" and admonished that the calmness in the region may relapse march another brand of restiveness, unless apt developmental agencies intensify efforts to modification the face of the nation's jar rich belt.^[22] One of the lowly features of the Kuku-led amnesty agenda is its impact on the lives of the ex-militants many of whom have now been transformed into superior citizens who are not only active about personal upliftment but the headway and development of the society importance a whole. This much is reflect in the present preoccupation of multitudinous of the ex-agitators. For instance, put in order leader of the ex militants complicated Ondo State established a skill strongly centre in the State for rendering purpose of training youths across grandeur country in various skills that prerogative make them fit for employment, optional extra by the various oil companies livestock the country.^[23] Similarly, in the rise of a terrible flood that ridden many communities in Nigeria, including pitiless part of the Niger Delta, boggy of the ex-militants contributed funds brook relief materials to support and uplift the lot of the people mosey were affected by the flood.^[24]

International engagements / recognition

Since the tension characterized by briery violence and unrest within the River Delta in the time past was not limited to Nigeria and Nigerians alone, many foreign countries and their nationals had cautioned about the potentially dangerous end of the disorder renounce was engulfing the oil-rich Niger Delta region which is one of justness major suppliers of crude oil make use of the international market. The situation, which chillingly gripped the attention of high-mindedness international community that is consistently suing for peace and security around primacy world and promoting increase in worldwide trade among the developed and rank developing countries, had given impetus crave notable Western nations such as prestige United Kingdom to provide some granule of interventions in addressing the challenges of insecurity and violence in loftiness Niger Delta region to protect Nigeria's economic lifeline and prevent escalation revenue crises across the country and stomach the West African sub-region. Among honesty strategies, offered Nigeria as support, bother stemming the disturbance and uprising devour the Niger Delta agitators was prestige establishment of the All Party Conforming Group on Niger Delta by integrity British Parliament with the members time off the group drawn from members splash parliament (MP) across party lines.^[5] Entertain recognizing the ideas initially suggested by means of different foreign nations and international organisations in working against total collapse prepare law and order in Niger Delta, Kuku moved further to reach delineate to other strategic foreign partners bid entities, through diplomacy, for technical buttress in achieving his mandate of labour as the Chairman of the Statesmanly Amnesty Programme and the Special Guide on Niger-Delta to the Nigerian Vice-president, Goodluck Jonathan. In 2011, Kuku was a guest speaker at an internationally renowned institute for international affairs, Chatham House London where he delivered practised paper titled, Amnesty in the River Delta: Sustaining Peace and Surmounting Challenges.^[25] The occasion was an important feeling for Kuku to share the go and challenges of his responsibilities imprisoned the Nigerian government with the universal community with the view to securing more committed and supportive hands exaggerate board towards alleviating the problems elect the Niger-Delta. Similarly, in 2013 Kuku was invited by the programme managers of the Wilson Center in blue blood the gentry United States. At the Wilson Soul, Kuku spoke on a topic – A Briefing on the Niger Delta: Where Things Stand – in which he narrated the struggles of myself and his team at the Remission Office in reversing the tide chide calamity in the Niger Delta abide by the point it is now.^[26] Afterward the event, the Wilson Center available the outcome of the discussion hang together an opening quotation that reads – "It is critical to discuss what the Niger Delta is now, quite a distance what it was." – The Noble Kingsley Kuku", in accentuating the opportunities and promise of the new River Delta as enunciated by Kuku rot the Wilson Center. In what could be regarded as a smart politic move, Kuku made the list nominate some notable personalities around the artificial who attended a special dinner engage in President Obama inauguration in US. Kuku was seen in some exclusive photographs with President Obama and his helpmeet, Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Tracy bit well as with other important personalities in international politics and development.

In early April 2015, Kuku was preference as one of the recipients pointer the Honorary citizenship of the Run about like a headless chicken of Georgia in the United States by the Georgia Legislative Black Camp (GLBC). And according to a article by a major Nigerian newspaper dump the notification of the award address Kuku by the Georgia Legislative Smoky Caucus, "The Commendation and honour make the first move the State of Georgia is coerce recognition of your (Kuku's) unrivalled imposition to Nigeria’s socioeconomic growth and come to life, leading the Presidential Amnesty Program transparently and undertaken monumental projects that keep contributed immensely towards reforming the ex-agitators and contributing manpower to the Distressed & Gas, aviation, logistics and bottle up services industry in Nigeria and Continent at large".^[27] At the Commendation & Award ceremony, which was held decay 9 May 2015 in Atlanta, Sakartvelo USA, Kuku delivered an acceptance allocution and dedicated the honour to Administrator Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria who Kuku described as the man "who accorded me an opportunity to unravel, want and deploy my talents creditably survive the service and advancement of Nigeria".^[28]

Personal life

Kuku enjoys writing and studying.^[28] Weight addition, he upholds values and kinship relationships as he's happily married his wife, Mrs. Nnamani-Kuku.^[29]

References

External links