AR NEWS

I want to begin by congratulating my dear friend and Senior Apostolic Leader, Pastor Sam Aiyedogbon, his amiable wife, Pastor Grace, and all the pastors and ministers of the Realm of Glory Churches here present, for this laudable initiative of an annual conference at the very beginning of each new year. I thank my friend for inviting me to visit you all today, to share a few thoughts with you. As I stand before you today, may the prayer of David in Psalm 19:14 be realised in us all.

Dear friends, sisters and brothers, you are hosting this 2025 edition of your annual Pastors’ Conference in the context of a very vicious, aggressive, vengeful and vindictive form of secularism in the world, that is accompanied by practical atheism, which is openly demonstrated in the lives of many modern-day men and women, including even some of those who fill up our Churches on Sundays. Practical Atheism is the new way of life whereby many people, while not openly rejecting God and religion, are daily making choices and conducting their public and private affairs, as if God does not exit, and in total disregard for God’s commandments, and fragrant violation of critical values and virtues which have always been associated with persons with any measure of religious consciousness.

Ozioma Onuzulike's exceptional talent has been recognised on a global scale. He has been shortlisted as one of 29 Finalists representing 18 African countries for The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize (NSAAP) 2025, an annual award for contemporary artists from Africa and its diaspora sponsored by Schroders.

Vainglorious is a studio animation short, creatively conceived as a school project by two talented students of Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Since its release in 2024, Producer Sebastien Abou-Chakra and Writer/Director Gabriel Oshiomati 'Mati’ Ugbodga have garnered attention and praise, with numerous notable selections and impressive awards wins at global film festivals.

A visit to Elmina Castle, over three hours from Accra, Ghana, evokes strong feelings about our connection to the Transatlantic Slave Trade. As the 1992 Pan African Historical Theater Festival declared, “May we never allow such injustice again. We, the living, promise to uphold this.”

A mother’s heart-wrenching story powerfully demonstrates why nowhere in Nigeria is truly safe from the pervasive menace of kidnappers and criminal gangs, least of all the nation’s capital, Abuja. This unfortunate reality underscores the growing fears and concerns among Nigerians, as they grapple with the constant threat that looms over their daily lives.

Our spotlight is on Godwin Louis's compelling sophomore album "Psalms and Proverbs." We will detail its tracks and discuss the impressive organ piece, showcasing its intensity and the deep thoughts evoked by his musical influences.

Today, we are set to meet with a small yet impactful agency within the U.S. Department of Defense that focuses on finding prisoners of war and those individuals who are currently classified as missing in action. This engagement opens up a significant question: what are the circumstances faced by POWs in your country?

On December 17, 2024, the Nigerian Center joined Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and other leaders for a press conference on Capitol Hill, urging the Biden-Harris Administration to take urgent action to protect African immigrant communities during the lame-duck session.

Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice Office of Global Criminal Justice, Beth Van Schaack

The World Press Freedom Day global conference to be held in Bucharest on 5 - 7 May 2025 will address the intersection of freedom of expression and artificial intelligence. The announcement was made during an official formal handover ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

Two exhibition are showing at the lobby of the United Nations HQ in New York - Pictures for the Human Rights features 30 pictures by 30 artists of 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; while Uprooted: Resilience in Crisis sheds light on the impact of gender-based violence, exploring the resilience of survivors.

Member of the Foreign Press had the opportunity to visit Food Bank’s 90,000 sq. ft warehouse and speak with some of its top leadership executives about the organization, how they function, what they do and the current issues in New York City with food insecurity.

DELA: The Making of El Anatsui enjoyed a successful screening at Dart Festival, Barcelona, Spain. Q+A with Director Oyiza Adaba.

Highlights from United Nations Women's Guild Annual Bazaar

MEDIHA is the story of one girl’s fight to find her missing family members, revealing the strength and determination of a young survivor as she reclaims her voice and future. From executive producer Emma Thompson, this award-winning film from Hasan Oswald is an incredible story of resilience.

WASHINGTON, DC —On November 18, 2023, a coalition of organizations advocating for immigration relief for Nigeria met with representatives from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. State Department, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and other federal agencies. The coalition, which includes the Nigerian Center, Nigerian American Lawyers Association, Amnesty International, and The ONE Campaign, called on the Biden administration to designate Nigeria for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Special Student Relief (SSR) before the administration’s term concludes. 

A "powerful" biographical documentary about one of the world's most celebrated artists El Anatsui, is nominated for the Dart International Award, and will premiere in Barcelona, Spain on November 30, 2024 at the 8th edition of the Art-focused DART festival.

Since its founding, BCA has been committed to offering direct services and funding to systematically underresourced and underrepresented groups - artists of color, women, veterans, and the LGBTQ+ community, among others. This legacy of sharing space, connecting, and building brought the community together on November 8, 2024

Three artistic figures with an intricate historical tie to the South Bronx, seemingly come together on a project targeted at celebrating a borough that is home to global talents and trends. Learn more about André Trenier, Andrew Freedman and Words by MOE.

Michael J. Ryan, Executive Director of the Board of Elections in the City of New York and Vincent Ignizio, former Staten Island Republican councilman & bipartisan member Board of Elections offered a demonstration of voting booth processes and led a discussion on voter security and the voting tabulations process.

Recent ballot initiatives in states appear to show that reproductive rights are increasing turnout for women voters, as the conflict in the Middle East and student deft relief animate young voters. Meanwhile, the economy and inflation remain top issues for voters across demographic groups. But this is just a fraction of what is on voters’ minds heading into the 2024 presidential election. On October 23, ASD at GMF will convene top political analysts to attempt to decipher, for both US and European audiences, what issues are driving voters to the polls.

"How Much Does a Human Life Cost." is a virtual talk story with artists from the Congo on Friday, October 25 at 5 pm Hawaii time.

The two-day event was packed with activities like the music concert tribute to Ennio Morricone, an art exhibition, film screening in mostly shorts category, followed by a brief Q&A with the director, sound engineer or music composer; a panel discussion, a children’s concert and many more.

 Gateway National Recreation Area was established in 1972 to offer a national park service experience to an urban audience. Gateway is a large, diverse urban park with 27,000 acres spanning Sandy Hook in N.J. and Jamaica Bay and Staten Island in N.Y. It is the 4th most visited National Park Service unit with more than 9.2 million annual visitors. 

"Brokenships", as it’s popularly called,  is a reflection of Croatia's tenacity to overcome its dark history of war and conflict. The beauty of this peaceful country lies in its ability to confront its past, in order to move forward. It is no wonder that the country houses 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites and 15 intangible cultural heritage items. Art in itself, is healing.

The Royal African Society is delighted to announce that Film Africa, one of the most anticipated and celebrated showcases of African cinema in Europe, will return for its 2024 edition from 25 October to 3 November. This year's festival promises an exhilarating array of films, virtual events, director Q&As, panel discussions, professional workshops, master classes, school screenings, and family activities.

The title Ominira —meaning "Independence" in the Yoruba language—evokes a profound message in Bruce Onobrakpeya’s artwork. This powerful piece reflects the belief that Nigeria possesses the human resources, moral fortitude, and abundant natural wealth to thrive as a modern and prosperous nation.

President Biden today signed the Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2025, again setting the refugee admissions target at 125,000 for the upcoming fiscal year—as we have for each year of this Administration.

Today marks the 57th anniversary of execution of Col. Victor Banjo, a brilliant and revolutionary soldier.