In a moment that captured the essence of African cultural grace, Nigeria’s Hon. Mrs. Regina Akume — a two-time former First Lady of Benue State, current Member of the House of Representatives, and wife of the current Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, has once again distinguished herself through humility, honour, and dignity.
During a courtesy visit by the Alliance of All APC Women Support Groups/NGOs, led by the Director-General, Queen Dr. Phelomena Abieyuwa Eriyo (Sarauniya Wazobia SouthSouth), a Special Assistant to the APC National Women Leader, Hon. Akume’s selection to be officially invested as the Matron of the Alliance was announced.
When the modest investiture ceremony was proposed to take place in her office or or private residence by the visiting DG and members of her entourage made up of Hajia Zainab Abba Tatari Ali (National Treasurer), Amb. Fatimah, Chairman Planning Committee and Queen Aisha Adamu, Deputy Chairperson of the Fund Raising Committee, the amiable mother graciously requested that it be conducted at her husband’s residence and, in this, declaring thus:
“ I want to be honoured in the presence of my husband, so let it take place at his residence.”
The statement, deeply rooted in cultural tradition and family values, was met with admiration by the delegation and beyond.
As part of the visit, Dr. Eriyo also introduced Hon. Abdul-Hameed Oladipupo Alli (Mr. Nigeria) a prominent media personality, grassroots politician, and a former TIC Chairman of Ilorin West Local Government, as the newly appointed Director of Media Services to the Alliance.
Hon. Alli, a respected international media and social justice advocate, made history of becoming Nigeria’s Youngest Publisher, Africa’s and Global Foremost Teenage Publisher in 1990 at the age of 16 when his first MoralMag was personally launched on behalf of the then Federal Military Government by the Honourable Minister for Information and Culture, Chief Alex Akinyele of blessed memory. Similarly the following year in March 1992, his magazine’s anniversary was personally graced by the then Vice-Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Alhaja Lateetfat Gbajabiamila whose golden son, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila is the Chief of Staff to Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
In his 35 years of publishing experience, Hon. Alli has provided platforms to advance equity, justice, and gender protection. He is the founder of both the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law Awareness Project, a pan-gender legal awareness initiative as well as the STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST MEN PROJECT (SVAMP), which spotlights male victims of abuse in a gender-balanced approach.
He is an international player who once served as the Southern African Coordinator of the RE-BRANDING NIGERIA CLUB in South Africa, Swaziland, and Mozambique, adding values to the pet- project of the then Minister for Information Prof. Dora Akunyili of blessed memory.
In the year 2014, his presentation at the 11th International Conference On Human Trafficking, Prostitution and Sex Works at the University of Toledo, Ohio, USA, was ranked amongst the best.
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He also serves as publisher/ General Editor of an Ilorin based Kwara People magazine, the Stop Violence magazine, and now the widely respected ASIWAJU TRUMPET Magazine, which the Alliance DG presented its Souvenirs to their hostess Mrs. Akume in the presence of her family member, Madam Roselyn Acka, who is the
Coordinator of Hope Alive Foundation – an NGO founded by Chief Dr. Mrs. Hon.Rep. while the highly delighted Hon. Akume, who currently represents theGboko/Tarka Federal Constituency of Benue State, pledged her support for the sustenance of the publication.
Describing Hon. Alli(Mr. Nigeria) as “the He-for-She of our movement, Dr. Eriyo praised his unwavering commitment to projecting activities of the Alliance, the Renewed Hope Agenda, gender equity, and justice”.
