Remi Sonaiya

Oluremi Comfort Sonaiya (born March 2, 1955), is a Nigerian politician, educationalist and writer.[1] She was Nigeria's only female presidential candidate in the 2015 general election under the platform of the KOWA Party.[2][3] But recently lost her bid to Dr. Adesina Fagbenro Byron in representing the party again in 2019 election.[4][5]

Remi Sonaiya
Born (1955-03-02) March 2, 1955
Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Alma mater
Occupations
  • politician
  • writer
  • educationist
Years active1984–present
Political partyKOWA
SpouseBabafunso Sonaiya
Children2
Websitewww.remisonaiya.com

Early life and education

Sonaiya was born in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, where she completed her primary and secondary school education at St. Luke's Demonstration School, Ibadan and St. Anne's School, Ibadan. In 1977, she graduated from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where she studied French.[6]

She later obtained a Master of Arts degree in French Literature from Cornell University in the United States, and another master's degree in Linguistics from a university in Nigeria in 1984. She returned to Cornell in 1988 to pursue a PhD programme in Linguistics.[7]

Career

In 1982, she was 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.[8][9] 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.[7]

In 2010, she retired from her position at Obafemi Awolowo University and became politically active, joining the 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.[10][11][12] At the election, Sonaiya received 13,076 votes and finished in 12th place.[13]

Publications

Sonaiya is a columnist for The Niche,[14][15] 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)[16]
  • A Trust to Earn – Reflections on Life and Leadership in Nigeria (2010)[15] 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 one son, one daughter and grandchildren.[6]

References
  1. "Nigeria's first female presidential candidate done with 'cheerleading'". Vanguard News. March 18, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  2. McBain, Will (March 26, 2015). "Nigeria election: The country's first-ever female presidential candidate hoping to inspire other women to become politically active". The Independent. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  3. "Exclusive Interview With Professor Remi Sonaiya, KOWA Candidate For President of Nigeria". Sahara Reporters. February 7, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  4. "Fagbenro Byron Emerges as (KOWA) partys President candidate". Pulse.ng. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  5. Sanni, Kunle (September 30, 2018). "2019: KOWA Party announces presidential candidate". The Premium Times, Nigeria. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  6. "Biography". Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  7. Varghese, Johnlee (March 12, 2015). "Nigeria Elections 2015: Who is Comfort Remi Sonaiya, the Only Female Presidential Candidate?". International Business Times. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  8. "OAU Students Jettison Ex-Lecturer Sonaiya". Daily Times of Nigeria. March 28, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  9. Agbonkhese, Josephine (February 8, 2015). "I'm rebuilding Nigeria into a nation that works— Remi Sonaiya, presidential candidate". Vanguard News. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  10. "Ordinary Citiziens [sic] Like Me Can Be President Too – Sonaiya". Channels TV. January 7, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  11. "Soyinka receives Presidential Candidate, Remi Sonaiya, in Lagos". Premium Times. March 26, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  12. Odunsi, Wale (May 25, 2016). "2019: Ignore APC, PDP, explore other options – Ex-presidential candidate, Remi Sonaiya urges Nigerians". Daily Post. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  13. "Summary of Results" (PDF). Independent National Electoral Commission. p. 1. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  14. Johnson-Salami, Laila. "Professor Remi Sonaiya, breaking down barriers for Nigerian women". rizing.org. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  15. "There was no way I could have worked with Jonathan – KOWA Party's Remi Sonaiya – Olisa.tv". olisa.tv. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  16. Remi Sonaiya (2007). Language Matters: Exploring the Dimensions of Multilingualism. Obafemi Awolowo University Press.
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