Stephanie Linus Campaigns To Stop Violence Against Women In Elections [Photos]

Nollywood actress, producer and director Stephanie Linus was yesterday announced as the Ambassador for the ‘Stop Violence Against Women In Elections’ Campaign. This project is funded by the USAID, and is an initiative of the NDI in partnership with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA). Her formal presentation as an ambassador took place yesterday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, photos below...

Stop-VAWIE (Violence Against Women In Elections) Campaign is a project that seeks to create public awareness on various forms of violence against women before, during and after elections in Nigeria, which often militates their active participation in the electoral process.

Instagram Apologizes & Reposts Censored Period Photos After Open Letter

So how does this story end? Well, Rupi's activism - read open letter to Instagram here - worked and the photo has been posted back by Instagram! More importantly, the young woman has started a conversation that might help a few women out there come out of their prison of silence on their periods. Kudos to her! Read Instagram's apology below...

Jamie Brewer Becomes First Runway Model with Down Syndrome at New York Fashion Week

Jamie Brewer is an actress well known for her work on “American Horror Story”, and she is also an advocate for people with intellectual disabilities. Tomorrow, as Jamie Brewer strides down the catwalk during New York Fashion Week, she'll not only be showing off an original design by Carrie Hammer, but she will also become the first woman with Down syndrome to grace the runway. She said of the honor;

“Young girls and even young women … [see me] and say ‘hey, if she can do it so can I. It’s a true inspiration being a role model for any young women to [encourage them] in being who they are and showing who they are.”

#MartinLutherKingDay - See Quotes, Iconic Photos From Beyonce, Common, Lupita, Gabrielle Union

Happy MLK Day everyone! Martin Luther King Jr. was a man of God who sacrificed his life fighting for a better future for everyone. He stood for peace, he stood for freedom, and he taught us how we can advocate for both in a non-violent way. The winner of the Nobel Peace prize while just 35, MLK fought for civil rights for African Americans including the voting rights in 1965 as portrayed in the powerful movie, SELMA.

To honor the legend today being the first Monday in January, celebrities, including Beyonce, Lupita Nyong'o, Gabrielle Union, Alicia Keys and more, took to social media to share their favorite quotes, tributes and iconic photos.

Saudi Blogger Begins Sentence of 1000 Lashes For Sabotage - 50 Lashes Every Friday

Raif Badawi, who runs a blog on human rights and social change, was arrested in 2012 and sentenced to 10 years in prison as well as 1000 lashes. He has began his flogging sentence which is portioned at 50 lashes every Friday. His crime is that his blog supposedly insults religious figures and the regime in Saudi Arabia. Raif has always denied these charges.

As the 31-year-old father of three received his first 50 lashes today, his wife Ensaf Haidar, who lives almost 6,000 miles away in Quebec, says it is too much to bear. She has accused the government of killing her husband week by week - and spoke of her agony at ‘watching him die one lash at a time.’

Oby Ezekwesili Slams President Jonathan For Campaign Visit to Maiduguri

President Goodluck Jonathan made a surprise call at a military base in Maiduguri yesterday as a way to boost the morale of the soldiers for the Armed Forces Rememberance Day. But not everyone is empressed. On my FB where I shared the news, someone called it "campaingning and not caring."

Former minister of education and Oby Ezekwesili seems to agree, as she expressed her anger and disgust on Twitter. She also reminds the president of the promises he made and failed to the Chibok parents after the #BringBackOurGirls online activism.

Whose side are you on, all I can say is 'at least he finally visited.'

#IAmNigeria #NaijaNiMi - Madonna, Boris Kodjoe, Angelina Jolie Condemn Boko Haram Attacks

Madonna has lent her social media klout to speak out againt the Boko Haram attacks in Baga, Bui and some other villages and towns in Northern Nigeria. From 2009 till date, over 10,000 people have reportedly died and several hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes.

International celebrities including Boris Kodjoe, Angelina Jolie, Nicki Minaj, Solange Knowles, Meek Mill, and have begun to comment on the killings after the outpouring of international support to France after the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris. They and many more point out that the same sympathy and solidarity is not being shown for the Boko Haram killings in Nigeria.

Andrew Hawkins Explains Wearing ‘Justice For Tamir Rice And John Crawford’ T-Shirt

Andrew Hawkins was moved to tears in a new video as he explains why he wore the “Justice For Tamir Rice and John Crawford” t-shirt recently - activism that had prompted the head of the Cleveland Police Union to demand an apology from the NFL player.

The Cleveland Browns wide receiver said he wore the “Justice for Tamir Rice and John Crawford” T-shirt, with Andrew Hawkins not because he's an activist, but that he felt compelled. He wore the shirt during warm-ups and introductions prior to the football game on Sunday, when the Browns played the Bengals. Check out the video and excerpts from his speech below...

Walk To Inspire – Global Women Mentoring Walk Nigeria To Hold November 15th

Themed ‘Walking to Inspire’, the Global Mentoring Walk focuses on underscoring the value of women’s leadership and exemplifying the transformative impact women have when they come together to promote positive change throughout the world.

#StopEbola - Omotola, Genevieve, Asa Join Campaign To Raise Funds For Ebola

Africa’s leading creative icons - Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde and Asa have been announced by The Future Awards Africa as the leading influencers for its global #StopEbola campaign to pool 1 million young Africans to act against Ebola in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Orode Uduaghan Okpu Launches Breast & Cervical Cancer Support Group

The Pink Pearl Foundation, a charity headed by Orode Uduaghan-Okpu daughter of Delta State governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, recently launched a Breast and Cervical Cancer support group for those diagnosed with, or surviving the disease. See some pictures from the event below.

Stephanie Linus Helps 20 Women Get VVF Surgeries Through Her Charity Foundation

Stephanie Linus and her Extended Hands Charity Foundation's recently held a successful charity effort in Ibadan. The foundation with the support of SNEPCo/NNPC recently carried out free repair surgeries on 20 women who had been suffering from Vesico Vaginal Fistula.

FEMEN Women Go Topless As They Protest On The Streets Of Paris [Video]

Several women under the aegis of FEMEN, an extreme feminist group in Europe which believes in going topless as a protest tool, took to the streets of Paris to support fellow FEMEN member lana Zhdanova, who was earlier this month convicted for “sexual exhibitionism” in a French court.

Iana had been arrested in June for stabbing a wax statue of Russian President Vladimir Putin with a wooden stake while topless, with the words “Kill Putin” painted across her breasts.

Agbani Darego, Rita Dominic, Funke Akindele, Linda Ikeji, Toke Makinwa, At The Genevieve Pink Ball

The 2014 Genevieve Magazine Pink Ball took place tonight at the Dorchester Event Centre in Lagos. Here are pics from some attendees who showed off their looks via social media.

Above is Betty Irabor, creator of the Pink Ball and publisher of Genevieve Magazine. Celebrity guests included Agbani Darego, Rita Dominic, Funke Akindele, Seyi Shay, Dolapo Oni, Ene Maya Lawani, Moet Abebe, Beverly Naya, Osas Ighodaro, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, and Toke Makinwa.

Viola Davis On Her Poor Childhood And How She Searched Trash Bins For Food

Viola Davis has been nominated for an Oscar, and has just landed her own prime-time TV show but her childhood was not so easy. Earlier this year, the actress partnered with Safeway Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation to introduce the Hunger Is initiative to eradicate childhood hunger.

Viola Davis, who is now a mom of one herself, grew up in poverty and wishes that no one has to go through what she did as a child. That is why she is so passionate for the Hunger Is campaign.

#MalalaYousafzai Is The Youngest Ever Winner Of The #NobelPeacePrize

The Nobel Committee has just awarded the 2014 peace prize to Malala Yousafzai, 17, who becomes the youngest ever winner of the award since it was created.

Malala Yousafzai is an advocate for girls’ education and for that, she was targeted by the Taliban in her native Pakistan when she was 14. The taliban shot her in the head in an assassination attempt but Malala survived.

DBanj Speaks Successfully To End Poverty At TEDxWBG

Nigerian singer Dbanj shared the picture above saying; "Reza the Great National Geographic Fellow and my manager@tonyamerritt @TEDxWBG successful day guys"

At this rate, D’banj will soon become better known for his agriculture activism than for his music. The Kokomaster is taking the cause of African issues and his title as UN Ambassador for Peace to the next level! Today, he was one of the presenters at TEDxWBG in Washington, DC. The theme of TEDxWBG is “Ending Poverty“. Check out some pics he shared today...

News Anchor Uses The F-Word On Live TV - Quits Her Job For Marijuana Business

Charlo Greene, a reporter in Alaska, announced on live TV that she would be quitting her job to focus on activism to legalize marijuana use in her home state. In the clip where she quit, Charlo said;

“Everything you've heard is why I, the actual owner of the Alaska Cannabis Club, will be dedicating all of my energy toward fighting for freedom and fairness, which begins with legalizing marijuana here in Alaska. And as for this job, well, not that I have a choice but, f--k it, I quit." 

The news anchor has now given her reasons and began her call for support of her cause in a YouTube video released Monday. Charlo Greene explains that she believes the fight for marijuana legalization in Alaska is very important, and a human right. She says;

#WeAreHere - Pregnant Alicia Keys Shares Nude Photo With Peace Sign On Baby Bump

Pregnant Alicia Keys shared this photo on her instagram page with the peace sign painted on her baby bump to draw attention to the 'We Are Here' charity movement she launched recently with a new single [click to listen] that talks about all the pain and violence in the world and how we can make a difference.

She captioned the photo;

"It’s you and me on a mission to create a kinder and more peaceful world. The #WeAreHere Movement begins today."

Kerry Washington Talks About Financial Abuse Through The Purple Purse Campaign

Kerry Washington has joined the conversation about domestic violence, and she is focusing on an area of control and power that is often-overlooked. Kerry says the top reason why women stay in abusive relationships is financial abuse, and I think I agree with her. She said this in an interview with The Huffington Post;

"It's the reason why so many people stay. That whole hashtag #WhyIStayed that happened last week, you saw how many of those responses were about feeling trapped financially.

Kerry is the ambassador and spokeswoman for the Allstate Foundation, which runs an initiative called “Purple Purse” to raise awareness of domestic abuse. She says;