News
Nigeria, Others Top Slavery’s List of Shame
Nigeria is again in the news for the wrong reason: it was dishonorably ranked as the fourth country with the highest numbers of slaves in the world by the Global Index on Modern Slavery for 2013.
The report found that the traditional form of slavery still exists of course in Nigeria, hidden from view but there nevertheless: more than 200 years after slavery was abolished.
It is particularly disturbing that slavery is still being practiced in Nigeria; one of the West Africa countries where slavery is remembered for its almost unimaginable brutality.
Global Index on Modern Slavery for 2013 said that there are 701,032 estimated population in modern slavery in Nigeria. The range of the estimate spans from 670,000 to 740,000 salves in the country.
During the peak of the slave era, unknown numbers of people – according to some estimates at least 4 million – died in slave wars and forced marches.
Jon Avis in one of his writing in Defense of Marxism reported that “More perished on the voyages across the Atlantic”.
“The scourge of human trafficking and forced prostitution have become an extremely profitable enterprise, especially with the re-introduction of capitalism in Russia and Eastern Europe. Marx explained that while chattel slavery was officially abolished, wage slavery became the dominant form of exploitation under capitalism.
Workers no longer own the means of production and are forced to sell their labour power from week to week. Few are able to escape from this relationship. While the slave trade has been partly abolished, the task now before us is to abolish wage slavery by the overthrow of capitalism and the construction of a socialist society. Only then will humankind become really free” Avis stated.
But back to Global Index on Modern Slavery, India has the highest population of slavery in the world with 13,956,010; China is rated second with 2,949,243; and Pakistan third, with 2,127,132. The report showed that 30 million people are enslaved worldwide, trafficked into brothels, forced into manual labour, victims of debt bondage or even born into servitude.
Almost half are in India, where slavery ranges from bonded labour in quarries and kilns to commercial sex exploitation, although the scourge exists in all 162 countries surveyed by Walk Free, an Australian-based rights group. Its estimate of 29.8 million slaves worldwide is higher than other attempts to quantify modern slavery.
The International Labour Organisation estimates that almost 21 million people are victims of forced labour. “Today some people are still being born into hereditary slavery, a staggering but harsh reality, particularly in parts of West Africa and South Asia,” the report said.
“Other victims are captured or kidnapped before being sold or kept for exploitation, whether through ‘marriage’, unpaid labour on fishing boats, or as domestic workers. Others are tricked and lured into situations they cannot escape, with false promises of a good job or an education.”
The Global Slavery Index 2013 defines slavery as the possession or control of people to deny freedom and exploit them for profit or sex, usually through violence, coercion or deception. The definition includes indentured servitude, forced marriage and the abduction of children to serve in wars.
The rankings for the index are generated using three variables: a composite estimate of the number of people in slavery in each country, an estimate of the level of human trafficking from and into each country, and an estimate of the level of child and early marriage in each country.
According to the index, 10 countries, including Nigeria, alone account for three quarters of the world’s slaves. Other countries with high population of modern slavery include Ethiopia (651,000), Russia (516,000), Thailand (473,000), Democratic Republic of Congo (462,000), Myanmar (384,000) and Bangladesh (343,000). United Kingdom and Ireland tied as the least countries with low population in modern slavery.
The index also ranked nations by prevalence of slavery per head of population. By this measure, Mauritania is worst, with almost 4 percent of its 3.8 million people enslaved. Estimates by other organisations put the level at up to 20 percent.
Chattel slavery is common in Mauritania, meaning that slave status is passed down through generations. “Owners” buy, sell, rent out or give away their slaves as gifts.
After Mauritania, slavery is most prevalent by population in Haiti, where a system of child labour known as “restavek” encourages poor families to send their children to wealthier acquaintances, where many end up exploited and abused. Pakistan, India, Nepal, Moldova, Benin, Ivory Coast, Gambia and Gabon have the next highest prevalence rates.
At the other end of the scale, Iceland has the lowest estimated prevalence with fewer than 100 slaves.
Next best are Ireland, Britain, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Luxembourg, Finland and Denmark, although researchers said slave numbers in such wealthy countries were higher than previously thought.
Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC) has designated Simon Ekpa, 16 other persons and two entities, for their alleged involvement in supporting terrorist activities and terrorism financing.
Simon Ekpa
The committee further directed financial institutions to freeze their assets and report any transactions related to the individuals and entities to the Sanctions Committee and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
Those named on the list include Simon Ekpa, Godstime Promise Iyare, Francis Mmaduabuchi, John Onwumere, Chikwuka Eze, Edwin Chukwuedo, Chinwendu Owoh, Ginika Orji, Awo Uchechukwu, and Mercy Ebere Ifeoma Ali.
Others are Ohagwu Juliana, Eze Okpoto, Nwaobi Chimezie, Ogomu Kewe, Igwe Ka Ala Enterprises, Seficuvi Global Company, and Lakurawa Group.
According to a document obtained from the committee on Thursday, the list was approved by the President upon the recommendation of the Attorney General of the Federation.
“The Nigeria Sanctions Committee held a meeting on March 6, 2024, where specific individuals and entities were recommended for designation following their involvement with terrorism financing.
“The Attorney General of the Federation, with the approval of the President, has thereupon designated the following individuals and entities to be listed on the Nigeria Sanctions List.
“In accordance with Section 54 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, you are required to:
“(a) Immediately identify and freeze, without prior notice, all funds, assets, and any other economic resources belonging to the designated persons in your possession and report the same to the Sanctions Committee.
“(b) Report to the Sanctions Committee any assets frozen or actions taken in compliance with the prohibition requirements.
“(c) Immediately file a Suspicious Transactions Report (STR) to the NFIU for further analysis of the financial activities of such individuals or entities.
(d) Report as an STR to the NFIU all cases of name matching in financial transactions prior to or after receipt of this list.”
The committee ordered the immediate freezing of bank accounts and financial instruments associated with the listed individuals and entities across multiple banks, payment platforms, and financial institutions.
“Freezing measures should be extended to all accounts associated with the designated subjects. For designated entities, this should include accounts linked to their signatories and directors to ensure comprehensive enforcement of the sanctions regime,” the document added.
The committee also stated that financial institutions and relevant stakeholders have been instructed to enforce the sanctions and submit compliance reports to the Nigeria Sanctions Committee via [email protected] and
See the full list of the frozen accounts below
- Simon Ekpa Njoku 21-03-1985 Guaranty Trust Bank 0118835791, 0115442299, 0115442275
- Godstime Promise Iyare 20-05-1996 Access Bank 0060032439, 1187008630, 1448136683. UBA 2212655102. Moniepoint 8197394552. Kuda 2007096158. Promicool Venture- Moniepoint 8197394576.
- Francis Chukwuedo Mmaduabuchi 27-09-1987 Eco Bank 3941072599, Fidelity 6239280146, Opay 8037688095, Moniepoint 8196060258, 8196028438, 8196028452,5380383959, 5612325508,4730823866, 8037688095
- John Anayo Onwumere 05-03-1987 Sterling 0026224269, Zenith 4230646454
- Chikwuka Godwin Eze 05-05-1975 First Bank 3031299977, Access Bank 0110709618, 0108595489, 1132518632
- Edwin Augustine Chukwuedo 27-05-1983 Union 0010808495, 0110232286, 0069247850, Eco Bank 2321194539, Opay 8169916076, Moniepoint 6786290317, 6786290300
- Chinwendu Joy Owoh 10-02-1982 First Bank 3125731837, GTB 0115848475, Moniepoint 6474876289, Union 0014660761
- Ginika Jane Orji 05-10-1995 Blueridge 8039231985, Opay 7059681248, 8106940744
- Awo Uchechukwu 11-12-1978 First Bank 3060144916
- Mercy Ebere Ifeoma Ali 07-07-1998 Access 1612608952, FCMB 6594319019, First Bank 3147574474
- Ohagwu Nneka Juliana 15-08-1985 UBA 2147559148
- Eze Chibuike Okpoto 12-01-1989 Access 0071127599, 1138098116, FCMB 3723955016, GT Bank 0123014963
- Nwaobi Henry Chimezie 12-06-1991 Access 1113046148, 1113046148, UBA 2115584448, 2117752704, First Bank 3067985749, Moniepoint 8276850931,
- Ogomu Peace Kewe 27-06-1997 Access 1840168323, UBA 2096777826, First Bank 3124937333, 2041450556, (USD) 3180578127, Zenith 2547460190, Opay 9069071154, Kuda 2028607838, Fidelity 6552642526, GT Bank 0258732080, Stanbic 0021280495
- Igwe Ka Ala Enterprises 3750733 Access 1872085373, 0800331795. Fairmoney 2683102063. Fidelity 5090919707, GTB 0206153527, 0044247093, 0044247086, 0044247079, 0044247062, 0044247055, 0044247103, 4020644423. Opay 9023765613, 8035144914, 8126308128. Polaris 3124277058. Carbon 0629821223. Zenith 1226773554
- Seficuvi Global Company 3225098 Access Bank 1436852548, Eco Bank 3831141439
- Lakurawa Group NLLKW
ALX, Africa’s leading tech career accelerator, is celebrating a major win for young African talent as 21 exceptional learners from the ALX Pathway program secure prestigious scholarships from the Mastercard Foundation to pursue further studies at the African Leadership College of Higher Education (ALCHE).
Among them, seven outstanding scholars are from Nigeria, reinforcing the country’s reputation as a hub for ambitious, high-potential talent within ALX’s transformative learning ecosystem.
The programme is a pathway to global universities and scholarships, equipping Africa’s future leaders with cutting-edge skills, career-defining networks, and access to life-changing opportunities in high-growth industries.
Speaking on this remarkable achievement, Oluwapelumi Thomas, Learning Community Experience Specialist at ALX Nigeria, shared, “At ALX, we believe that unlocking Africa’s potential starts with unlocking the potential of its people.
The success of these learners in securing scholarships to ALCHE through the Mastercard Foundation is evidence that talent, when nurtured with the right opportunities, knows no bounds. We couldn’t be prouder.”
Among the Nigerian awardees are: Ayomide Samson Ajayi, Effiong Immaculata Emmanuel, Hanif Olayiwola, Chigozie Emmanuel Ndubuaku, Peace Chidinma Chukwuka, Chibuzor Moses Uzowuru and Chisom Obueze Louisa.
The Mastercard Foundation scholarships will provide recipients with full tuition and stipends to pursue world-class higher education at ALCHE, sharpening their leadership, technical, and entrepreneurial skills to drive impact across the continent. This milestone reinforces ALX’s role as a driving force in shaping Africa’s next generation of changemakers.
With every success story, ALX continues to open doors for Africa’s young professionals, empowering them to take advantage of career support, networking, and transformative scholarship opportunities. The journey doesn’t stop here—Africa’s future innovators are just getting started.
Airtel Mobile Commerce BV, a subsidiary of Airtel Africa PLC, is thrilled to announce the launch of the Airtel Money GlobalPay Card, a new payment solution designed to connect Airtel Money customers across Africa with global online marketplaces.
This collaboration with Mastercard will empower Airtel’s 150 million mobile phone users in 14 African countries with access to Mastercard’s global merchant network, enabling safer and more secure international transactions.
The Airtel Money GlobalPay Card is a virtual (non-plastic) payment solution that links directly to Airtel Money wallets. This card can be used for a wide range of payments across global online merchants, including major platforms such as Facebook, Netflix, Uber, Amazon, Google, AliExpress, and Alibaba.
Users will also have the ability to make payments for travel bookings, utilities, subscriptions, and purchase goods from international suppliers—all from the convenience of their mobile phones.
For Airtel Money customers, activating the Airtel Money GlobalPay Card is simple. Customers simply need opt-in for the card, load it from Airtel Money wallet, and start shopping. No additional documentation, registration, or installations are required.
With this payment solution, Airtel and Mastercard aim to meet the growing demand for digital payments in Africa and support small businesses in cross-border trade. The partnership aligns with Airtel Africa’s goal of enhancing financial inclusion by providing efficient and seamless payment solutions to mobile money users across the continent.
CEO of Airtel Money, Ian Ferrao, commented: “At Airtel, we are continuously innovating to enhance the customer experience. By adding Mastercard’s secure virtual payment solution to Airtel Money, we are making International payments simpler and more accessible for our customers. This collaboration allows us to offer a global e-commerce experience.”
Mastercard’s global network and expertise in payment solutions will play a critical role in supporting financial inclusion efforts in Africa. The initiative aligns with Mastercard’s commitment to bring one billion people, 50 million small businesses, and 25 million women entrepreneurs into the digital economy by 2025.
Senior Vice President for Digital Partnerships at Mastercard Middle East and Africa, Muhammad Nana, stated: “Our digital partnerships strategy focuses on enabling the digital transformation of our partners, helping them provide their customers with access to a seamless global payment ecosystem. With over 150 million Airtel Africa consumers now connected to the global digital economy, we are helping more consumers access the benefits of e-commerce.”
With increasing mobile internet access and the growth of affordable smartphones, African consumers are poised to take full advantage of this new solution. The Airtel Money GlobalPay Card empowers users—both banked and unbanked—to shop globally, connecting them to digital products and services right from their mobile phones.
How to Link Airtel Money GlobalPay Card:
- Download the MyAirtel App from Playstore or App Store
- Select Airtel Money and enter your PIN
- Opt in for the Airtel Money GlobalPay Card powered by Mastercard and accept the terms and conditions
- Top-up your card from your Airtel Money wallet and start shopping
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