- Chris Anyanwu
-
Christiana Anyanwu Senator for Imo East Incumbent Assumed office
29 May 2007Preceded by Amah Iwuagwu Personal details Born 28 October 1951
Ahiara, Imo State, NigeriaChristiana 'Chris' Anyanwu MFR (born 28 October 1951) is a Nigerian journalist, publisher, author, and politician, hailed as one of the female pioneers in Nigerian journalism and broadcasting. She was elected Senator for the Imo East (Oweri) constituency in 2007.[1]
Contents
Early life/career
Anyanwu was born Christiana Ngozi Ukah in Ahiara on 28 October 1951. She attended Owerri Girls Secondary School before moving to America, where she obtained a Bachelors Degree in Journalism and a Masters Degree in Mass Communication from the University of Missouri and Florida State University respectively.[1]
After graduating, she returned to Nigeria, and worked for the NTA and the Imo Broadcasting Corporation as a newsreader and reporter. In 1987, she was appointed Imo State commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports, Culture and Social Welfare under Imo governor Amadi Ikwechegh.[2] Following her tenure as commissioner, Anyanwu became publisher/editor-in-chief of TSM (The Sunday Magazine), a weekly publication which focused on political issues as they affected the country.[3]
Imprisonment
In May 1995, Anyanwu was arrested following the publication of a story about a failed coup d'état against the government of Sani Abacha - whom she had refused to endorse as president - on 1 March; she and several Nigerian journalists were accused of being "accessories to facts of treason".[4] Anyanwu was prosecuted in camera by a military court and sentenced to life imprisonment on 4 July 1995, later reduced to 15 years in October 1995 following pressure from national and international human rights groups. While being held in deplorable conditions in Gombe prison, she went partially blind; doctors warned that she was in danger of losing her sight completely if she failed to receive medical attention.[citation needed]
Shortly after her imprisonment, she received the International Women's Media Foundation Courage in Journalism Award, making news around the world. Anyanwu, then held in solitary confinement, passed a note that read, "Some women in America are giving you a prize. The world is watching". Anyanwu later told the IWMF that receiving the award had buoyed her spirits while in prison. ("Yes! Somebody must understand or else they wouldn’t just give out an award like this...I was very much encouraged and strengthened by it. And it made me confident and determined not to cave into pressure.")[5] Two years later, the Committee to Protect Journalists named Anyanwu winner of the CPJ International Press Freedom Award, and in May 1998 she was awarded UNESCO's Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize[6]
Post imprisonment
In June 1998, following the death of President Abacha and several protests from human rights groups worldwide, Anyanwu was released by Abacha's successor General Abdulsalam Abubakar on health grounds. She embarked on a two-year break in Virginia where she wrote the book Days of Terror, based on Nigeria's struggle during dictatorship.[4] A televised version of her now defunct publication TSM Show was aired in 2001.[7] In 2005, Anyanwu opened her radio station Hot 98.3 FM, based in Abuja. Anyanwu was featured in the PBS Frontline production titled NIGERIA - The Road North in 2003.[8]
During the Nigerian general election, 2007 Anyanwu was elected to the Senate on the platform of the People's Democratic Party as a representative of Owerri Zone, Imo State, Nigeria.[9] After taking her seat in the Senate she was appointed to committees on Women and Youth, States & Local Government, Millennium Development Goals, Health, Environment and Defence & Army.[1] In a mid-term evaluation of Senators in May 2009, ThisDay noted that she had sponsored bills on Occupational Health and Safety and to Criminalise and Punish Discrimination and Segregation against Nigerians, and had sponsored seven motions. The report described her as an engaging contributor to debates in plenary who was active in the committees.[10] Anyanwu was a successful contender to be reelected as Senator for Imo East on the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) platform in the April 2011 elections. The PDP declared that they would contest the result, claiming that voting was marred by violence.[11]
Personal life
A devout Christian, Anyanwu is married to Casmir Anyanwu; the couple have two children.
References
- ^ a b c "Sen. Chris N. D Anyanwu". National Assembly of Nigeria. http://www.nassnig.org/senate/member.php?senator=71&page=1&state=18. Retrieved 2010-06-08.[dead link]
- ^ Augustine Adah (22 November 2009). Amadi "Ikwechegh is Dead". Newswatch. http://www.newswatchngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1540&Itemid=48 Amadi. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
- ^ ISMAIL OMIPIDAN (August 13, 2007). "I didn't get to the Senate with bottom power, declares Senator Chris Anyanwu". Daily Sun. http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/abujareports/2007/aug/13/abujaroport-13-08-2007-002.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
- ^ a b Peggy Simpson. "Fifteen Years of Courage: Chris Anyanwu". International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF). http://www.iwmf.org/article.aspx?id=394&c=carticles. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
- ^ "Chris Anyanwu, Nigeria". International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF). http://www.iwmf.org/article.aspx?id=585&c=cijwinner. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
- ^ "Nigeria at UNESCO / UNESCO Awards to Nigerians". UNEXCO. http://www.unesco.org/delegates/nigeria/unescoawards.html. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
- ^ "Profile". Chris Anyanwu. http://www.chrisanyanwu.org/pages/profile.html. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
- ^ "NIGERIA - The Road North". PBS. January 2003. http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/nigeria/voice02.html. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
- ^ "2007 senatorial campaign web site". chrisanyanwu.org. http://www.chrisanyanwu.org/. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
- ^ "An Improved Senate, But Some Uninspiring Senators...". ThisDay. 24 May 2009. http://allafrica.com/stories/200905250350.html?viewall=1. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
- ^ "PDP rejects NASS election results in Imo". Vanguard. APRIL 12, 2011. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/04/pdp-rejects-nass-election-results-in-imo/. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
External links
CPJ International Press Freedom Award laureates 1991 Pius Njawe · Wang Juntao · Bill Foley · Chen Ziming · Cary Vaughan · Tatyana Mitkova · Byron Barrera 1992 Thepchai Yong · Gwen Lister · Sony Esteus · Mohammed Al-Sager · David Kaplan 1993 Ricardo Uceda · Veran Matić · Nosa Igiebor · Doan Viet Hoat · Omar Belhouchet 1994 Navidi Vakhsh · Daisy Li Yuet-Wah · Yndamiro Restano · Aziz Nesin · Iqbal Athas 1995 Veronica Guerin · Ahmad Taufik · Fred M’membe · José Rubén Zamora Marroquín · Siglo Veintiuno · Yevgeny Kiselyov 1996 Oscak Isik Yurtçu · Özgür Gündem · Daoud Kuttab · Jesús Blancornelas · Yusuf Jameel 1997 Yelena Masyuk · Freedom Neruda · Viktor Ivančić · Ying Chan · Shieh Chung-liang · Christina Anyanwu 1998 Ruth Simon · Pavel Sheremet · Goenawan Mohamad · Gustavo Gorriti · Grémah Boucar 1999 Jesús Joel Díaz Hernández · Baton Haxhiu · Jugnu Mohsin · Najam Sethi · María Cristina Caballero 2000 Željko Kopanja · Modeste Mutinga · Steven Gan · Mashallah Shamsolvaezin 2001 Jiang Weiping · Geoffrey Nyarota · Horacio Verbitsky · Mazen Dana 2002 Fesshaye Yohannes · Irina Petrushova · Tipu Sultan · Ignacio Gómez 2003 Manuel Vázquez Portal · Musa Muradov · Aboubakr Jamai · Abdul Samay Hamed 2004 Paul Klebnikov · Alexis Sinduhije · Aung Pwint · Thaung Tun · Svetlana Kalinkina 2005 Shi Tao · Lúcio Flávio Pinto · Beatrice Mtetwa · Galima Bukharbaeva 2006 Atwar Bahjat · Madi Ceesay · Jamal Amer · Jesús Abad Colorado 2007 Gao Qinrong · Adela Navarro Bello · Dmitry Muratov · Mazhar Abbas 2008 Bilal Hussein · Danish Karokhel · Farida Nekzad · Andrew Mwenda · Héctor Maseda Gutiérrez 2009 J. S. Tissainayagam · Eynulla Fatullayev · Naziha Réjiba · Mustafa Haji Abdinur 2010 Laureano Márquez · Dawit Kebede · Nadira Isayeva · Mohammad Davari Members of the Senate of Nigeria in the 6th National Assembly (2007-2011) FCT Adamu Sidi Ali (PDP)
S Grace Folashade Bent (PDP)
C Jubril Aminu (PDP)
N Mohammed Mana (PDP)NW Aloysius Akpan Etok (PDP)
NE Effiong Dickson Bob (PDP)
S Eme Ufot Ekaette (PDP)C Annie Okonkwo (PDP)
S Ikechukwu Obiorah (PDP)
N Joy Emodi (PDP) (annulled)
Alphonsus Obi Igbeke (ANPP)C Mohammed A Muhammed (ANPP)
N Sulaiman Mohammed Nazif (AD)
S Bala Mohammed (ANPP)W Heineken Lokpobiri (PDP)
E Nimi Barigha-Amange (PDP)
C Emmanuel Paulker (PDP)S David Mark (PDP)
NW George Akume (PDP)
NE Joseph Akaagerger (PDP)C Kaka Mallam Yale (ANPP)
N Maina Maaji Lawan (ANPP)
S Omar Hambagda (ANPP)S Bassey Ewa-Henshaw (PDP)
N Gregory Ngaji (PDP)
C Victor Ndoma-Egba (PDP)S James Manager (PDP)
N Patrick Osakwe (A)
C Adego Erhiawarie Eferakeya (PDP)N Anthony Agbo (PDP)
S Anyimchukwu Ude (PDP)
C Julius Ucha (PDP)S Ehigie Edobor Uzamere (PDP)
C Odion Ugbesia (PDP)
N Yisa Braimoh (PDP)C Adefemi Kila (PDP) (Annulled)
C Festus Olabode Ola (AC)
N Ayodele S. Arise (PDP)
S Sola Akinyede (PDP)N Ayogu Eze (PDP)
E Chimaroke Nnamani (PDP)
W Ike Ekweremadu (PDP)C Audu Idris Umar (PDP)
N Kawu Peto Dukku (PDP) (died)
Sa'idu Ahmed Alkali
S Tawar Umbi Wada (PDP)E Chris Anyanwu (PDP)
W Osita Izunaso (PDP)
N Sylvester Anyanwu (PDP)NE Abdulaziz Usman (PDP)
NW Ibrahim Saminu Turaki (PDP)
SW Mujitaba Mohammed Mallam (PDP)N Ahmed Makarfi (PDP)
S Caleb Zagi (PDP)
C Mohammed Kabiru Jibril (PDP)N Aminu Sule Garo (ANPP) (nullified)
N Bello Hayatu Gwarzo (PDP)
S Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya (ANPP)
C Mohammed Adamu Bello (ANPP)S Garba Yakubu Lado (PDP)
C Ibrahim M. Ida (PDP)
N Mahmud Kanti Bello (PDP)S Abubakar Tanko Ayuba (PDP)
C Adamu Aliero (PDP)
Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (PDP)
N Umaru Argungu (PDP)E Nicholas Ugbane (PDP)
C Otaru Salihu Ohize (AC)
W Smart Adeyemi (PDP)C Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki (PDP)
N Ahmed Mohammed Inuwa (PDP)
S Simon Ajibola (PDP)E Adeleke Mamora (AC)
W Ganiyu Solomon (AC)
C Munirudeen Adekunle Muse (AC)W Abubakar Sodangi(PDP)
N Patricia Akwashiki (ANPP)
S Suleiman Adokwe (PDP)E Dahiru Awaisu Kuta (PDP)
N Nuhu Aliyu Labbo (PDP)
S Zainab Abdulkadir Kure (PDP)W Felix Kolawole Bajomo (PDP)
C Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello (PDP)
E Ramoni Olalekan Mustapha (PRP)N Bode Olajumoke (PDP)
C Gbenga Ogunniya (PDP)
S Hosea Ehinlanwo (PDP)N Andrew Babalola (PDP)
S Kamorudeen Adekunle Adedibu (PDP)
C Teslim Folarin (PDP)N Gyang Dalyop Datong (PDP)
S John Nanzip Shagaya (PDP)
C Satty Davies Gogwim (PDP)E Abubakar Umar Gada (PDP)
N Ahmed Muhammad Maccido (PDP)
S Umaru Dahiru (PDP)W Ahmad Rufai Sani (ANPP)
C Hassan Muhammed Gusau (ANPP)
N Sahabi Alhaji Yaú (ANPP)President: David Mark (PDP), Deputy President: Ike Ekweremadu (PDP)
See also Members of the Senate of Nigeria in the 5th National Assembly (2003-2007), Members of the Senate of Nigeria in the 7th National Assembly (2011-2015)FCT Philips Tanimu Aduda (PDP)
S Ahmed Hassan Barata (PDP)
C Bello Mohammed Tukur (PDP)
N Bindo Jibrilla (PDP)NW Aloysius Akpan Etok (PDP)
NE Ita Enang (PDP)
S Helen Esuene (PDP)C Chris Ngige (ACN)
S Emmanuel Nnamdi Uba (PDP)
N John Okechukwuemeka (PDP)C Ahmed Abdul Ningi (PDP)
N Babayo Garba Gamawa (PDP)
S Adamu Gumba (PDP)W Heineken Lokpobiri (PDP)
E Clever Ikisikpo (PDP)
C Emmanuel Paulker (PDP)S David Mark (PDP)
NW George Akume (ACN)
NE Barnabas Andyar Gemade (PDP)C Ahmed Zanna (PDP)
N Maina Maaji Lawan (ANPP)
S Mohammed Ali Ndume (PDP)S Bassey Otu (PDP)
N Benedict Ayade (PDP)
C Victor Ndoma-Egba (PDP)S James Manager (PDP)
N Arthur Okowa Ifeanyi (PDP)
C Akpor Pius Ewherido (DPP)N Christopher Nwankwo (PDP)
S Sonni Ogbuoji (PDP)
C Paulinus Igwe Nwagu (PDP)S Ehigie Edobor Uzamere (ACN)
C Odion Ugbesia (PDP)
N Domingo Alaba Obende (ACN)C Babafemi Ojudu (ACN)
N Olubunmi Adetunbi (ACN)
S Anthony Adeniyi (ACN)N Ayogu Eze (PDP)
E Gilbert E. Nnaji (PDP)
W Ike Ekweremadu (PDP)C Mohammed Danjuma Goje (PDP)
N Sa'idu Ahmed Alkali (PDP)
S Joshua M. Lidani (PDP)E Chris Anyanwu (APGA)
W Hope Uzodinma (PDP)
N Matthew Ifeanyi Nwagwu (PDP)NE Abdulaziz Usman (PDP)
NW Danladi Abdullahi Sankara (PDP)
SW Abdulmumini M. Hassan (PDP)N Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed (CPC)
S Nenadi Usman (PDP)
C Mohammed Saleh (CPC)N Bello Hayatu Gwarzo (PDP)
S Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya (ANPP)
C Basheer Garba Mohammed (PDP)S Abu Ibrahim (CPC)
C Ahmed Sani Stores (CPC)
N Abdu U. Yandomi (CPC)S Mohammed Magoro (PDP)
C Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (PDP)
N Isa Muhammed Galaudu (PDP)E Emmanuel Dangana Ocheja (PDP)
C Nurudeen Abatemi Usman (PDP)
W Smart Adeyemi (PDP)C Bukola Saraki (PDP)
N Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi (PDP)
S Simon Ajibola (PDP)E Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa (ACN)
W Ganiyu Solomon (ACN)
C Oluremi Tinubu (ACN)W Abdullahi Adamu (PDP)
N Yusuf Musa Nagogo (CPC)
S Suleiman Asonya Adokwe (PDP)E Dahiru Awaisu Kuta (PDP)
N Ibrahim Musa (CPC)
S Zainab Abdulkadir Kure (PDP)W Akin Babalola Kamar Odunsi (ACN)
C Olugbenga Onaolapo Obadara (ACN)
E Sefiu Adegbenga Kaka (ACN)N Robert Ajayi Boroffice (LP)
C Akinyelure Patrick Ayo (LP)
S Boluwaji Kunlere (LP)N Hosea Ayoola Agbola (PDP)
S Olufemi Lanlehin (ACN)
C Ayoade Ademola Adeseun (ACN)E Abdullahi Ibrahim Gobir (PDP)
N Ahmed Muhammad Maccido (PDP)
S Umaru Dahiru (PDP)N Aisha Jummai (PDP)
C Abubakar Umar Tutare (PDP)
S Emmanuel G. Bwacha (PDP)W Ahmad Rufai Sani (ANPP)
C Kabir Garba Marafa (ANPP)
N Sahabi Alhaji Yaú (PDP)ACN: Action Congress of Nigeria - ANPP: All Nigeria People's Party - APGA: All Progressives Grand Alliance - CPC: Congress for Progressive Change - DPP Democratic People's Party - LP: Labour Party - PDP: People's Democratic Party
See also Members of the Senate of Nigeria in the 6th National Assembly (2007-2011) - 1951 births
- Nigerian journalists
- Members of the Senate of Nigeria
- Living people
- University of Missouri alumni
- Florida State University alumni
- People's Democratic Party (Nigeria) politicians
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