Remi Sonaiya

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Remi Sonaiya
File:Remi Sonaiya cropped.jpg

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Born (1955-03-02) March 2, 1955 (age 69)
Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Alma mater
Occupations
Years active1984–present
Political partyKOWA
SpouseBabafunso Sonaiya
Children2
Websitewww.remisonaiya.com

Oluremi Comfort Sonaiya (born March 2, 1955), is a Nigerian politician, educationist and writer.[1] She became Nigeria's first female presidential candidate after she contested for the position in the 2015 general election under the platform of KOWA Party.[2][3]

Early life and education

Sonaiya was born in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, Nigeria where she completed her primary and secondary school education at St. Luke’s Demonstration School, Ibadan and St. Anne’s School, Ibadan respectively. In 1977, she graduated from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where she studied French.[4]

She later obtained a Master of Arts degree in French Literature from Cornell University, U.S. and then another master's degree in Linguistics from a university in Nigeria in 1984. She however returned to Cornell University in 1988 to pursue a Ph.D programme in Linguistics.[5]

Career

In 1982, she got employed as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Foreign Languages, Obafemi Awolowo University before she rose to the position of Professor of French language and Applied Linguistics in 2004.[6][7] She is a fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation where she went on to be appointed the body's Ambassador Scientist from 2008 to 2014.[5]

In 2010, she voluntarily retired from her position at Obafemi Awolowo University and became politically active upon joining KOWA Party where she was voted its National Public Relations Officer and went on to be the party's candidate for the 2015 Presidential election.[8][9][10] At the election, Sonaiya received 13,076 votes and finished in 12th place.[11]

Publications

Sonaiya is a columnist for The Niche,[12][13] a Nigerian online newspaper, Sonaiya has published several books including:

  • Culture and Identity on Stage: Social-political Concerns and Enactments in Contemporary African Performing Arts (2001) ISBN 9789782015785
  • Language Matters: Exploring the Dimensions of Multilingualism (2007)[14]
  • A Trust to Earn – Reflections on Life and Leadership in Nigeria (2010)[13] ISBN 9789789115983
  • Igniting Consciousness – Nigeria and Other Riddles (2013) ISBN 9785108473
  • Daybreak Nigeria – This Nation Must Rise! (2014) ISBN 9789785205732

Personal life

She is married to Babafunso Sonaiya, a professor of animal science, and they have two sons and grandchildren.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Nigeria's first female presidential candidate done with 'cheerleading'". Vanguard News. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  2. ^ McBain, Will (26 March 2015). "Nigeria election: The country's first-ever female presidential candidate hoping to inspire other women to become politically active". The Independent. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Exclusive Interview With Professor Remi Sonaiya, KOWA Candidate For President Of Nigeria". Sahara Reporters. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Biography". Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  5. ^ a b Varghese, Johnlee (12 March 2015). "Nigeria Elections 2015: Who is Comfort Remi Sonaiya, the Only Female Presidential Candidate?". International Business Times. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  6. ^ "OAU Students Jettison Ex-Lecturer Sonaiya". Daily Times of Nigeria. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  7. ^ Agbonkhese, Josephine (8 February 2015). "I'm rebuilding Nigeria into a nation that works— Remi Sonaiya, presidential candidate". Vanguard News. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Ordinary Citiziens Like Me Can Be President Too – Sonaiya". Channels TV. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Soyinka receives Presidential Candidate, Remi Sonaiya, in Lagos". Premium Times. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  10. ^ Odunsi, Wale (25 May 2016). "2019: Ignore APC, PDP, explore other options – Ex-presidential candidate, Remi Sonaiya urges Nigerians". Daily Post. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  11. ^ "Summary of Results" (PDF). Independent National Electoral Commission. p. 1. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  12. ^ Johnson-Salami, Laila. "Professor Remi Sonaiya, breaking down barriers for Nigerian women". rizing.org. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  13. ^ a b "There was no way I could have worked with Jonathan - KOWA Party's Remi Sonaiya - Olisa.tv". olisa.tv. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  14. ^ Remi Sonaiya (2007). Language Matters: Exploring the Dimensions of Multilingualism. Obafemi Awolowo University Press.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Remi_Sonaiya&oldid=731142003"