Maryland State USA and Cross River State Nigeria sign Sister State Agreement

The US state of Maryland is home to more than 23 thousand Nigerians according to the Maryland's governor martin O'Malley. June 20th 2013 at the Maryland State Building, Maryland and cross river state - Nigeria signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a sister state relationship between the two communities.

 The Nigerian community is one of the fastest-growing immigrant groups in Maryland, and as their ranks have expanded; so has their prominence and visibility. Now to cement that relationship, Nigeria's cross river state has sealed a friendship pact with Maryland that will promote tourism, agriculture and industry between the two states.

The sister state agreement will provide a forum for economic development, tourism, and cultural understanding through business, high school, and university exchange programs, improvements in health care and more. 

Presiding over the signing ceremony, Maryland governor, martin O'Malley, noted the sister-state relationship between the Maryland and Cross River provides a unique opportunity for Maryland and its citizens.  The governor observed that the West African nation has a history of good diplomatic relations with the United States and the state of Maryland and that the memorandum of understanding between the two states was vital.

The Miss Africa USA Team was honored to be a part of this historical event. The team was present in full force to help with planning and organizing the Signing event.  The African Royal Family mostly from Cameroon, members of the USA North West Fon's Council were also present to show their support. Cameroon and Nigeria are very Close neighbors and share boundaries, common culture more so with the people of Cross River State, it was therefore an honor to support such an initiative.

Source: Lady Kate Njeuma. Report by Paul Ndiho.

Two Kenyan Men to marry one Wife

Two Kenyan men have signed an agreement to "marry" the same woman. The woman had been having affairs with both men for more than four years and apparently refused to choose between them. The agreement sets out a rota for Sylvester Mwendwa and Elijah Kimani to stay in her house and states they will both help raise any children she bears.

Mr Mwendwa told the BBC he loved the woman and said the contract would "set boundaries" and "keep the peace". Community policing Officer Adhalah Abdulrahman persuaded the two men to marry the woman after he saw them fighting over her in Mombasa county, the local Daily Nation newspaper reports. "We have agreed that from today we will not threaten or have jealous feelings because of our wife, who says she's not ready to let go of any of us," the agreement says, Kenya's NTV station reports.

"Each one will respect the day set aside for him. We agree to love each other and live peacefully. No-one has forced us to make this agreement," it adds. Mr Mwendwa said her parents had given their blessing, while he is planning to pay the bride price. The woman, a widow with two children, did not want to be named.

Mr Mwendwa told the BBC he did not marry the woman simply to satisfy his sexual desires but because he loved her and, most of all, her children. 

Kenyan family lawyer Judy Thongori told the Daily Nation that the law does not explicitly forbid polyandry. "The laws we have do not talk about it but for such a union to be recognised in Kenya, it has to be either under the statutory law or as customary marriage. The question we should ask now is whether these people come from communities that have been practising polyandry," she is quoted as saying.

Source: BBC

Massacre at Nigerian Mosque

At least 44 worshippers have been shot dead at a mosque in northeast Nigeria, officials in Borno state say. The killings took place during dawn prayers on Sunday morning, although news only emerged on Monday. The attack occurred in the town of Konduga, 35km (22 miles) from the state capital Maiduguri.

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