According to London’s Daily Mail, the 23-year-old quads, identical sisters and the oldest by four minutes, Toks and Temi Ogunsanya, and identical brothers, Tobi and Tolu, graduated from Warwick University with Master Degrees.

And there was not a jot of sibling rivalry as all four have landed jobs in the City already.

The quads, originally from Lagos, Nigeria, have been living in the UK since the age of seven when they began boarding schools before heading to Warwick University. Since leaving university they have all landed top city jobs.

Toks is due to start working for RBS in London later this year, Temi, who interned at Santander over the summer, has been offered a permanent position with the bank, and Tolu is due to start working for one of the ‘Big 4’ accountancy firms in the City.

“Our parents are four times as proud of us,” added Tobi, who is mulling over two offers from two major City firms.

‘They’ve supported us financially and have encouraged us all the way – without their help we wouldn’t be here today,” he said

Toks graduated with an MEng in manufacturing and engineering and Temi, Tobi and Tolu all gained an MSC in management from Warwick Business School.

‘The fact that we all chose to study at the University of Warwick was a natural decision,’ says Tobi, who thinks a bit of sibling rivalry is essential for success.

‘We are a close-knit family and were all attracted by the strength of the courses on offer.

‘We all gravitated to similar courses because we’ve always been interested in business and management and our father is a successful businessman in Nigeria.’

The brothers and sisters are so close they were even attracted to the same sort of courses.

follow Ronke Lawal (@ronkelawal)

British-born Nigerian Aderonke Lawal, has been shortlisted for Inspiring Leadership in the workplace at the 2011 Precious Awards to be held at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel on October 27th.

This prestigious awards is in its 5th year and has been hailed by business leaders and politicians alike as a superb platform, recognising the achievements of Blacks and Ethnic Minority (BAME) women.

Ronke Lawal is now the Chief Executive of the Islington Chamber of Commerce, a not-for-profit business membership organisation which represents SMEs throughout Islington and beyond.

She joined the Islington Chamber of Commerce in January 2010 and has seen the chamber through difficult times, pursuing a steady strategy of growth and development in difficult times.

Ronke has always had a passion for business and she is keen to share her experiences with self-motivated business women and aspiring young entrepreneurs alike.

Ronke Lawal was born in Hackney, East London of Nigerian parentage. She graduated with honours from Lancaster University with a degree in International Business. She started her own business in 2004.

At the age of 26 she was running 3 businesses, RSL Management Services(a Marketing and PR firm) , Who’s For Dinner (a dinner and dating organisation) and fashion business Simone Williams (as a partner).

“Not only have I been able to change perceptions of what is possible for women in business but I have also been able to champion business in all its forms. I still run my own business in marketing and business development and am a partner in a fashion label and see leadership through example as my main motivation.”  she said.

The PRECIOUS Awards are an opportunity to recognise and celebrate those women of colour in business and leadership, who demonstrate exceptional determination, innovation and entrepreneurial skills and talent.

“It is great to read of the impact which the Awards have had on previous winners, I am sure that their stories will help to inspire others and that the achievements of this year’s nominees will have the same effect”. David Cameron | UK Prime Minister | PRECIOUS AWARDS 2009

Follow Ronke Lawal on Twitter (@ronkelawal)

The Nigerian Community Leeds (NCL) will be celebrating the anniversary of the country’s independence with the Nigeria@50 Fundraising Dinner, which will takes place at the Royal Amouries Saviles Hall, Amouries Square, Leeds, UK on Saturday 9th October 2010.

The Board of Directors, led by it’s Chairman, Sam Leigh and its Nigeria@50 Planning Committee announced to the media that the celebration will culminate in fundraising event themed “Nigeria@50 – Diverse but Stronger than Ever”.

“This is a celebration of the nation in general and Nigerian’s living in Leeds/Yorkshire and the Humber in particular”, said Mr Leigh.

“It will serve as an opportunity for the Nigerian Community Leeds (NCL) to raise much-needed funds to take forward its work to ensure the well-being of its beneficiaries. This is of particular importance in terms of the work with young people and those in need.”

Event Details:

Nigeria@50 Fundraising Dinner takes place on
Date: 9th October 2010
Time: 18:30 – 01:00
Venue: Royal Amouries Saviles Hall, Amouries Square, Leeds.

Nigeria, a British colony attained its independence on the 1st of October 1960. And in October 2010, Nigeria celebrated its 50 years as an independent country.

This will be a time for celebrations, sober reflections and a time to think about the future of the country.

NCL is exists to support members of the public who are Nigerian by birth or descent or marriage or naturalisation or adoption in or around Leeds of all ages and enable them to reach their full potential while contributing to health and socio-economic wellbeing in the City

NCL, which became a Registered Charity in May 2009, is legally formed to operate as a Charity with charitable aims and objectives including but not limited to the following:

• Advancement of Education
• Safe and Cohesive Congregation
• Enable, Enhance and Advance Healthy Lifestyle
• Welfare and Multi-Purpose Projects
• Promotion of Racial Harmony
• Safeguarding Cultural Heritage
• Advancement of Enterprise

NCL is responsible for the highly successful football festival known as Leeds African Cup of Nations (LACON) held in June each year.

Paschal Uche, a 21-year-old Briton of Nigeria origins, was on hand to officially welcome Pope Benedict XVI on behalf of all young people of the UK at Westminster Cathedral today.

Uche, who is  from St Francis of Assisi Church in Stratford, East London, was chosen by the Diocese of Brentwood to greet the Pope.

The Wanstead, Redbridge born, who is also a Pharmacy student at Nottingham University, told the Pontiff: ”For many of us before today you were a face on television or a picture in a church.

”But today we behold you face to face, and on behalf of the Catholic youth of this great nation I would like to express my profound and heartfelt gratitude for your visit.”

Watch the Pope meet young British Catholics below:

Speaking afterwards, Uche told the Telegraph:

“It was just amazing. It was a brilliant experience. The crowd was roaring, it was an amazing feeling. Words can’t describe it.

“The young people really did show with their voices, hearts and smiles how much we do love him.

“In a sense it was a rock star welcome and he really responded to that.”

He said when he finished welcoming the Pope, he was surprised to see the 83-year-old get up off his chair.

He said: “I rushed in to make sure I shook his hand. At first I didn’t really know what to say. Then I asked him for a blessing.

“I was so nervous, especially with all the cheering, but I knew I had to concentrate on doing a good job otherwise it would have let everyone down.

“I was just going to bow and move to one side but then he got up and shook my hand and I took that as an opportunity and said ‘Can I have your blessing, father?’ and he did. It was amazing.

“He said ‘well done’ and ‘you did a great job’ and then he was asking me about where I came from today, where I was born, what I was going in my life. It was such a big highlight for me for my faith and my life.”

Paula and Peter Imafidon from Waltham Forest, London - Photo credit: Excellence In Education/PA Wire

Two nine-year-olds of Nigerian origin, known as the Wonder Twins for their record-beating exam results, are set to become the youngest pupils admitted to a British secondary school.

Paula and Peter Imafidon, from Waltham Forest, London, amazed their Nigerian parents and teachers when they passed an A-level maths exam at the age of seven.

The twins have been waiting to find out which secondary school they will attend, along with thousands of other youngsters – who are two years older – across the country.

Peter and Paula, who attend a state primary in London, were helped by their three older brothers and sisters, all of whom were also child prodigies.

Their father Chris said he was thrilled by his childen’s achievements at school.

He denied any particular genius in the family, crediting their success to the Excellence in Education programme for inner city children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“Every child is a genius,” he said. “Once you identify the talent of a child and put them in the environment that will nurture that talent then the sky is the limit.

“Look at Tiger Woods, or the Williams sisters – they were nurtured.

“You can never rule anything out with them, the competition between the two of them makes them excel in anything they do.

“They are forever competing and fighting, even if it’s just for the remote control or the computer.”

Paula hopes to become a maths teacher, while Peter hopes to become Prime Minister one day.

(PA Wire)

James Onanefe Ibori

A Tory MP is embroiled in controversy after allegations that he “lobbied” on behalf of a Nigerian politician accused of plundering millions of pounds of state funds, the British Independent. Newspaper has reported.

Tony Baldry, MP for Banbury, wrote to the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, expressing concern at the investigation into James Onanefe Ibori and warning it could damage British business interests in Nigeria.

It is believed he also criticised a freezing order on Mr Ibori’s assets. The letter was copied to the Attorney General’s office, the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office.

The letter is understood to refer to an investigation by Scotland Yard detectives which concluded that police believed Mr Ibori, the former governor of the oil-rich Delta state, had siphoned off state funds and laundered cash through British banks which he used to buy a private jet, a £4m house in London, a second home in Dorset and expensive cars.

Mr Baldry’s letter has angered Nigerian groups in the UK. Kayode Ogundamisi of the Nigerian Liberty Foundation said the British MP’s involvement was “completely unacceptable” and amounted to “political lobbying”. “The interests of the Nigerian and British public in the prosecution of this case cannot be overemphasised,” he said.

Critics claim that Nigeria’s efforts at targeting political corruption have stalled since President Umaru Yar’Adua came to power.

They claim that Mr Baldry met the Nigerian President shortly before writing the letter. Mr Ibori is in Nigeria and faces arrest if he returns to the UK. He was regarded as a possible Nigerian presidential candidate until he was investigated for allegedly plundering state funds.

Read more details at The Independent

See also: Africa’s illicit money sent to Western banks

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, retired Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, retired Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa has charged Nigerians in South Africa to be united and to enhance the nation’s image by being of good conduct.

NAN’s  Wole Sogunle reports that Marwa gave the charge yesterday in Johannesburg  in a message to Nigerian businessmen and traders in Yeoville.

The High Commissioner’s message, delivered by the Minister in Charge of Consular and Protocol Matters at the High Commission, Mr Ifeanyi Omokachie, reassured the Nigerian community of the federal government’s commitment to their welfare.

Marwa, who wished them a prosperous new year, said that high level talks had been scheduled between Nigerian and South Africans to iron out grey areas in bilateral relations.

He said that issues of maltreatment of some Nigerians in the area last year were being looked into, assuring that such treatment would soon become a thing of the past through better understanding.

“I can assure you that you will never be disappointed because we are in talks with immigration, police and other top government officials to enable Nigerians earn more respect,” he said.

Marwa tasked the Nigerian community to network and be their brother’s keepers and also be law abiding always.

Also speaking at the meeting, the President, Nigerian Union in South Africa, Mr Jason Osuafor, said Nigerian traders in Yeoville were the best thing that happened to the community.

He said the level of trade being conducted in the area by Nigerians had to a large extent, turned business in the area around.

He charged them to maximize their potentials by utilizing their skills positively.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigerians in the community used the opportunity to air their concerns in the country and sought the High Commissioner’s support.

Some of the speakers said there was a new trend of asking Nigerian married males who were flagged down by policemen on the roads to produce their wives, a situation, they termed strange.

They also asked for support of the High Commission to enable them give the Super Eagles the massive support in the 2010 World Cup by helping them with musical instruments and costumes