Kingsley Kuku
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environmental rights activist |
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Kingsley Kuku (born February 14, 1970) is a Nigerian political and
During his university days, he was once a student activist, a student leader and a one time National Association of Nigerian Students mobilization officer. He joined the campaign for the return of
Kingsley Kuku after his involvement with the Ijaw youths, contested and was elected as member of Ondo State House of Assembly and thereafter became the chairman of the house committee for a period of four years. He was appointed as a special adviser to the former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.[4] In that same year he was a guest speaker at Chatham House, an institute for international affairs, where he delivered a paper. He received several honorary awards in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States.[5]
Early life and education
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (March 2022) |
Kuku was born into a Christian family in Arogbo, Ondo State, the traditional headquarters of the Ijaw ethnic nationality in Ondo State. He was born on 14 February 1970. He had his primary and secondary education between 1977 and 1988 in Arogbo. He then graduated with a bachelor's degree in English Language at Ondo State University, Akure.[6]
He attended Patrick Catholic Primary School, Arogbo, Ondo State (1977–1983), Nigeria. He had his secondary education at Ijaw National High School, Arogbo,
He holds a Doctor of Philosophy from Selinus University of Sciences and Literature in international relations (peace studies) and an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from the
Activism
He embraced activism early in his university days as one of the socio-politically conscious young Nigerian students who were agitated about the then military rule and dictatorship in Nigeria. He was a student leader and one time national mobilization officer of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)
Politics
After his involvement in the Ijaw Youth Council, Kuku contested and was elected as a Member of the Ondo State House of Assembly and became Chairman of the House Committee on Information for four years.[10] He was at various times Special Assistant and Head of Conflict Management Unit at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); a Member of the Presidential Committee on Amnesty; and Secretary of the Presidential Committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Niger Delta. In January 2011, he was appointed Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, on the Niger Delta and chairman Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme. President Jonathan reappointed him into the same position in July 2011 after the general elections in 2011. As the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for ex-agitators in the oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta, Kuku oversaw the disarmament and demobilization of 30,000 ex-agitators[4] and he is superintending the skilling and reintegration of these youths into civil society.[11] The ongoing reintegration component[12] of the Amnesty Programme, which is geared towards building capacity in the deprived Niger Delta youths that are enrolled in the Presidential Amnesty Programme, has so far attained considerable measure of its set objectives.[13] Kuku exerts full management and administrative authority within the limits of the established budget, standing about N60 billion naira in 2012 (about US$350 million),[14][15] and government operating policies; and delegates various functions to several departmental heads in a structured organisation. On the third anniversary of the Amnesty Programme in 2012, Kuku confirmed at a press briefing that the peace being restored to the Niger Delta region, through the coordination of the Amnesty Programme, has significantly increased the production capacity of oil operators in the Niger Delta region and saved Nigeria amount running in billions of Dollars in oil revenue within just three years.[16][17]
Remaking the Niger Delta: Challenges & Opportunities
Not a few
International engagements / recognition
Since the tension characterized by armed violence and unrest within the Niger 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 that was engulfing the oil-rich Niger Delta region which is one of the major suppliers of crude oil to the international market. The situation, which chillingly gripped the attention of the international community that is consistently suing for peace and security around the world and promoting increase in international trade among the developed and the developing countries, had given impetus for notable Western nations such as the United Kingdom to provide some form of interventions in addressing the challenges of insecurity and violence in the Niger Delta region to protect Nigeria's economic lifeline and prevent escalation of crises across the country and within the West African sub-region. Among the strategies, offered Nigeria as support, in stemming the disturbance and uprising from the Niger Delta agitators was the establishment of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Niger Delta by the
In early April 2015, Kuku was selection as one of the recipients of the Honorary citizenship of the State of Georgia in the United States by the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC). And according to a report by a major Nigerian newspaper on the notification of the award to Kuku by the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, "The Commendation and honour from the State of Georgia is in recognition of your (Kuku's) unrivalled contribution to Nigeria’s socioeconomic growth and development, leading the Presidential Amnesty Program transparently and undertaken monumental projects that have contributed immensely towards reforming the ex-agitators and contributing manpower to the Oil & Gas, aviation, logistics and other services industry in Nigeria and Africa at large".[27] At the Commendation & Award ceremony, which was held on 9 May 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia USA, Kuku delivered an acceptance speech and dedicated the honour to President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria who Kuku described as the man "who accorded me an opportunity to unravel, nurture and deploy my talents creditably to the service and advancement of Nigeria".[28]
Personal life
Kuku enjoys writing and studying.[28] In addition, he upholds values and family relationships as he's happily married to his wife, Mrs. Nnamani-Kuku.[29]
References
- ^ Ijaw Monitoring Group. "Ijaw Leader Lauds Kuku Over Amnesty Donation to Victims". IMG. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
- ^ "Between Kingsley Kuku and his critics". Vanguard News. 7 November 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Ijaw Youth Council Urges Speedy Clean-up of Niger Delta". SharpEdgeNews. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
- ^ a b Agency Reporter. "FG enlists 30,000 ex-militants in Amnesty Programme". The Nation Newspaper, Nigeria. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ^ a b APPG Members. "APPG Nigeria Report – Too Many to Count? Human Rights, Justice and Accountability in Nigeria: 2013 Country Visit Report". Chatham House. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.
- ^ a b "Kingsley Kuku Biography, Age, Wife, Net Worth, Facts > Naija Gossip 247 » NGNews247". NGNews247. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
- ^ "Profiling Hon Kingsley Kuku, Ondo's Irrepressible Guber Star". Ondo Events. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
- ^ "Between Kingsley Kuku and his critics". Vanguard News. 7 November 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
- ^ Felix Tuodolo, Ogoriba, Timi Kaiser-Wilhelm. "The Kaiama Declaration". IYC. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Vanguard Nigeria (17 April 2022). "Kingsley Kuku, architect of peaceful Delta".
- ^ NBF News. "Jonathan Committed to Reintegration of Ex-Militants – Alaibe". The Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ^ Jethro Ibileke-Benin City. "208 Ex-militants On Scholarship At Igbinedion University -Kuku". PM News. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
- ^ Dan Onwukwe. "4 years of Amnesty in N/Delta: The pains, the gains". Sun Newspaper. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ Newswire (19 December 2011). "Budget: NSA to spend N124bn, as amnesty gets N74bn". ASABA POST.
- ^ NAN-H-105. "Presidency Sends Fund Request to Nass for Amnesty Programme, Others". News Agency of Nigeria. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief. "Amnesty yielded N6trn in 3yrs – Kuku". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ^ "Kingsley Kuku | Profile | Africa Confidential". www.africa-confidential.com. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
- ^ Onigu Otite. "The Complexity Behind Nigeria's Niger Delta Crisis". BBM. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
- ^ Elombah.com. "Nigeria's Oil Revenue Climbs 22% to N824bn In July". Elombah. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ "Amnesty Looks to the Future". ThisDay Newspaper. Archived from the original on 9 March 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
- ^ ThisDay Live. "Recipe for Peace". ThisDay Newspaper. Archived from the original on 22 August 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- ^ Donald Ojogo. "Niger Delta May Boil Again Unless... –Kuku". Tribune Newspaper. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
- ^ Yinka Oladoyinbo. "Niger Delta: Life after militancy, amnesty". Tribune Newspaper. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
- ^ CHRIS ANUCHA; Port Harcourt. "Ex-militants donate N52.7m relief materials to flood victims in N'Delta". Sun Newspaper. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ^ Chatham House African Programme. "Amnesty in the Niger Delta: Sustaining Peace and Surmounting Challenges". Chatham House. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
- ^ Programme Coordinator. "A Briefing on the Niger Delta: Where Things Stand". Wilson Center. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
- ^ ThisDay Reporter. "United States Honours Kingsley Kuku". ThisDay Newspaper Nigeria. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ a b Gbenga Smith. "Commendations as Kuku dedicates US award to Jonathan". Poligist Online. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ^ Desk, Naija News (16 August 2021). "Kingsley Kuku Biography, Net Worth, Age, Wife, Facts". Ejes Gist Newspaper. Retrieved 15 March 2022.