A disabled Nigerian man, who has resided in the UK for 38 years, is facing the prospect of being forcibly removed from the country by the Home Office, the Guardian UK reports.

Anthony Olubunmi George, now 61 years old, arrived in the UK at the age of 24 back in 1986, from Nigeria.

Since then, he has remained in the UK and, according to the Guardian, has a clean record with no criminal convictions.

In 2019, he experienced two strokes that had a significant impact on his ability to speak and move.

According to George, he no longer has any immediate relatives residing in Nigeria.

He is said to have faced numerous episodes of homelessness and admitted that he has lost track of the countless friends who have sheltered him over the years.

George said, “I don’t know how many different sofas I’ve slept on – too many to count. I don’t have my life, living the way I’m living now. My health problems since I had my stroke are my biggest worry. All I’m asking for is some kindness from the Home Office.”

George has submitted multiple applications for leave to remain in the UK, all of which have been denied by the Home Office, with the most recent rejection occurring on May 7, 2024.

In 2005, his previous solicitors submitted a falsified entry stamp in his passport which has since been reported to the police and the legal regulatory bodies.

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According to George, he was completely unaware of the passport stamp until several years later, as he revealed to the Guardian.

According to his current lawyer, Naga Kandiah of MTC Solicitors, George’s difficulties can be attributed to his poor past legal representation.

In their latest rejection, officials from the Home Office stated that the situation was not deemed to be an exceptional circumstance.

Kandiah has filed an appeal challenging the most recent denial.

Kandiah said, “My client has been living in limbo for 38 years, with no family, has suffered two strokes and has no family left in Nigeria.

“His situation is not just because of Home Office policies but also because of poor representation by previous solicitors who failed to uphold professional integrity and ethical standards.”

A spokesperson for the Home Office told the Guardian that, “applications have to be considered on their merits in accordance with the immigration rules with the responsibility on applicants to demonstrate they meet these rules.

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The Guardian also covered the story of Nelson Shardey, a 74-year-old newsagent from Merseyside.

Shardey has been living in the UK since 1977 and was recently denied indefinite leave to remain by the Home Office, despite having spent the majority of his adult life in the country.

Dignitaries from Nigeria and across the United Kingdom stormed the city of London on Friday, May 17 2024, for the 2nd edition of Triangle Face of Africa Award.

Triangle Face of Africa Leadership Award is a yearly event that honours Nigerians and Africans who have positively impacted lives and also distinguished themselves in their areas of endeavors.

The 2024 event was spiced with a lecture titled, “Navigating Security Challenges in Nigeria: A Comprehensive Approach to Solutions” was delivered by the duo of Professor Ojo Emmanuel Ademola and Dr. Nathaniel Oyinloye.

Dignitaries honoured at the London event include Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Duoye Diri; the Nigerian Interior Minister, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; General Overseer of the Love of Christ Generation, Rev. (Dr) Esther Abimbola Ajayi; renowned clergy and APC stalwart, Cardinal James Omolaja Odunmbaku (Baba Eto) and the Chief of Staff to Lagos State, Tayo Ayinde.

Other honorees include the Chief of Staff to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rev.(Mrs) Ijeoma Ajibade; the National Director for Safeguarding Church of England, Alexander Kubeyinje and the CEO of EB Properties, Sunday Aderibigbe,Mr Kayode Adegbite,Festus Akingbaso,Hon.Bamidele salam and Abiola Oladapo and Olumide Tijani

While welcoming the honorees and guests to the event, the publisher of Triangle Magazine, Otunba Femi Salako thanked dignitaries and guests present at the event for honoring him with their valued presence.

Otunba Salako emphasized that the yearly award was intended to celebrate the achievements of outstanding Nigerians and Africans that have made significant contributions to their communities and the world at large. He also added that the yearly award was a platform that would inspire Nigerians and Africans across the globe to strive towards excellence.

Salako also described topic of the event’s lecture as thought provoking and timely in view of the security challenges confronting Nigeria. He however, appreciated the two guest lecturers, Professor Ojo Emmanuel Ademola and Dr. Nathaniel Oyinloye for their robust intellectual contributions, which made the lecture quite insightful and invaluable.

“This award ceremony is not just about recognizing individual achievements, but also about creating a platform to inspire others to strive for excellence. We aim to bring together leaders and change-makers from various fields to celebrate African excellence and promote unity and progress”.

While Otunba Salako congratulated the honorees for their well deserved recognition, he also charged them to continually make impacts in their communities and the world at large. He also urged the guests and the honorees to celebrate the excellence inherent in Africa. He further urged Africans to inspire one another, and work together towards a brighter future for the African continent.

The roll call of guests at the event include the UK Mobility Security, Compliance Vice President of EMEA, Nicanor Chavez; the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Duoye Diri, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, who represented the Bayelsa State Governor; Chief (Mrs) Simi Odunmbaku, who represented her husband and the Lagos State Chief of Staff; son of the General Overseer of the Love of Christ Generation, Emmanuel Ajayi; publisher of African Briefing,John Offei-Ansah; and the magazine’s editor, Desmond Davies; clergymen amongst others.

Saudi Arabia has hosted its first-ever fashion show where women model for swimsuits without covering their heads.

The poolside show was held on Friday during the inaugural Red Sea Fashion Week at the St. Regis Red Sea Resort.

Influenced heavily by its adherence to Islamic law, Saudi Arabia is one of the most conservative countries in terms of women’s fashion.

In public, women are traditionally expected to wear the abaya, a loose-fitting black cloak, with a headscarf to cover their hair.

Although Saudi Arabia has gradually seen reforms allowing freedom in dressing and reducing the enforcement of strict dress codes, social expectations and cultural norms still maintain a conservative approach to women’s fashion, particularly in public and formal settings.

The Red Sea Fashion Week swimwear show featured the summer beachwear collection by Moroccan designer Yasmina Qanzal.

The collection included mostly one-piece swimsuits in shades of red, beige and blue.

The Arabian models had exposed shoulders while some had their midriffs partially visible.

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Qanzal, a media report state, said it was “an honour” to be a part of such a historic fashion moment in the country.

“This country is very conservative but we tried to show elegant swimsuits which represent the Arab world,” the designer said.

“When we came here, we understood that a swimsuit fashion show in Saudi Arabia is a historic moment because it is the first time to have such an event.”

The Red Sea Fashion Week is part of the Red Sea Global project, a cornerstone of Saudi’s Vision 2030 social and economic reform plan.

The programme, championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to modernise Saudi Arabia and diversify its economy beyond oil.

Mohammed, who became first in line to the throne in 2017, has since initiated a series of social reforms in the country.

Those changes include re-introducing cinemas and organising mixed-gender music festivals.