Human Trafficking, A Tale of Resilience, Hope, and Love

By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News

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Image Source : James Gill Danehouse

Marca, Spain's leading sports newspaper, captured the promising futures of Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal in their headline before the country's Group B victory against the reigning European champions. With a combined age of just 37 Williams turning 22 on July 12 this year and Yamal 17 the day after the two wingers symbolize the bright future of Spanish football.

Ahead of Sunday’s last 16 match against Georgia at 20:00 BST, they are seen as a duo capable of leading Spain to a level of success not seen since their Euro wins in 2008 and 2012. The pair have forged a strong friendship, with Williams mentoring the younger Yamal, inspired by how his older brother Inaki took care of him in their youth.

The Williams brothers, now teammates at Athletic Club, are also leaders in the fight against discrimination in Spain, where racism remains an issue. Nico recently spoke out against a racist social media reaction to Marca's headline, with the Spanish Federation offering immediate support.

The Williams brothers understand the significant platform football provides. They are committed to condemning racism and are aware of the responsibility their words carry. Their journey to Spain is a story of human trafficking, hope, emigration, and the kindness of strangers.

As a child, Inaki Williams didn’t understand why his father Felix had foot problems. When he was 18 and playing for Athletic Club’s first team, his mother Maria explained that Felix's feet were damaged by the Sahara desert sands during their journey from Ghana in search of a better life.

They were stranded halfway to the UK by a gang that took their savings and were arrested in the Spanish enclave of Melilla. A lawyer advised them to claim they were from war torn Liberia to gain asylum, leading them to Catholic priest Inaki Mardones, who found them housing in Bilbao and took them to the hospital where Inaki was born. Named after the priest, Inaki received his first Athletic jersey from him.

Nico later reflected on their journey, expressing gratitude for his parent's sacrifices. He stated that everything he and his brother do is for their parents, who risked their lives for a better future. Life remained challenging for the Williams family despite their newfound security. Felix moved to London to work, sending money home while Inaki took on a fatherly role for Nico. Their mother worked multiple jobs to support the family.

Nico, born on July 12, 2002, in Pamplona, grew up under Inaki’s guidance. He recalls his brother picking him up from school, making sandwiches, and teaching him the discipline needed to succeed as an elite athlete.

On April 28, 2021, the brothers made history by becoming the first siblings to play together for Athletic Club since 1986. After the match, they visited their mother, unable to watch the game due to Covid 19 restrictions.

Nico has formed a strong bond with 16 year old Lamine Yamal in the national team, acting as a mentor much like Inaki did for him. They are often seen together, preparing goal celebrations and enjoying their time on the team. Spain’s national team manager, Luis de la Fuente, values this relationship, having tasked Nico with looking after Yamal during their time in Madrid before friendly games against Colombia and Brazil. Nico’s mentorship has proven invaluable, guiding Yamal and setting a positive example.

Nico, an explosive right footed winger, has shown his potential on both wings and in central positions. Despite a disappointing performance in Spain’s Euro 2024 opener against Croatia, he rebounded with a standout display against Italy. With six successful dribbles in the Euros so far, only Yamal surpasses him with seven.

Nico has already made 16 appearances for Spain and appears destined for a move to one of the world’s biggest clubs. In December, he extended his contract with Athletic Club until June 30, 2027, with a release clause of around £49m, deterring interest from Chelsea and Barcelona.

Despite the speculation, Nico remains committed to Athletic Club, while club president Jon Uriarte expressed confidence in retaining him. For now, Nico is focused on his unfinished business with Spain, wearing the national shirt with pride and distinction.

Nigerian Civil Servant Found Receiving Salary While Working as UK Taxi Driver

By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News

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Image Source : Bloomberg

If you leave your job, it would seem logical that your salary would stop being paid, but not so for a number of former Nigerian civil servants. They have managed to be employed elsewhere sometimes in another country entirely and yet continue to receive a wage from their former workplace. News of this has reached the top, and last week, President Bola Tinubu ordered a crackdown. “The culprits must be made to refund the money they have fraudulently collected,” he said. Sabitu Adams, whose name we have changed to protect his identity, has not resigned from his position as a junior official at a government agency and still gets paid each month, despite leaving Nigeria two years ago.

Mr. Adams added that the loss of his monthly Nigerian salary of 150,000 naira ($100; £80) would not be a great hardship, as he earns a lot more driving a taxi. “When I heard about the president's directive, I smiled because I know I am doing better here and not worried,” the 36 year old said. But why not make it clear to the civil service that he had left? “To be honest, I didn’t resign because I wanted to leave that door open in case I choose to go back to my job after a few years.”

Like Mr. Adams, more than 3.6 million Nigerians have relocated to other countries over the last two years, according to official statistics. Many young Nigerians see little prospect of earning a good living in the country a feeling exacerbated by the collapse in the value of the naira over the past year following the reforms introduced by Mr. Tinubu since he became president. It has become so common for young people to seek their fortunes outside the country, the term “japa” has been coined to describe the phenomenon. It is a word from the Yoruba language meaning to escape or flee.

Mr. Tinubu said he was "struck by the revelations the head of the civil service shared regarding employees who had relocated abroad while drawing salaries without formally resigning". The president said that not only should the money be repaid but those who were complicit in allowing it to happen should be investigated too. “Their supervisors and department heads must also be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud under their watch,” he said. And this may have been the case for Mr. Adams. The UK based taxi driver admitted that he continued to be paid thanks to those in his department, “I had a good understanding with my boss, and he just let me leave."

Often in such cases, the salary is divided between the supervisor who keeps quiet and the person being paid, maybe along with an HR representative. But for Mr. Adams, it was even easier. "In my case, it wasn’t like that as my boss was a relative." Socalled "ghost working" is a major problem in Nigeria. Despite several crackdowns, it is believed that thousands of non existent workers are still being paid. There appear to be very few checks and balances in place. But this is the first time it has been suggested that people who have moved abroad are continuing to be paid their salaries on a large scale.

Auwal Yakasai, who retired as a director in charge of finance at Kano state's information ministry in 2021, said he had heard of such cases. ''To be honest, I have never caught anyone red handed,” Mr. Yakasai, who worked for the government for 32 years, told the BBC. “But I have heard numerous stories of such arrangements, where someone would still be receiving [a] salary after relocating or changing their place of work.” Since he took office in May last year, Mr. Tinubu has pledged to reduce the cost of governance and cut wastage. In January, he directed that all official entourages to state and international events for himself and other government officials be slashed by 60%. Nonetheless, some have noted that there is much talk in Mr. Tinubu’s administration without much action. They cite plans to buy new planes worth millions of dollars for Mr. Tinubu and his deputy Kashim Shettima as an example.

Another was when Mr. Tinubu earlier this month launched a new official residence for Vice President Shettima in the capital, Abuja, with a price tag of $13.6m (£11m). And despite the president's statement about the foreign ghost workers, he did not say exactly what he was doing to crack down on them and take action against those responsible.

Exploring DIY Culture at Pride Events

By C. Perera, JadeTimes News

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Image Source : Clara Bullock

Queer individuals in Bristol are advocating for more accessible Pride events that prioritize women and trans people. In response, campaigners are organizing alternative Pride events that accommodate people with access needs while maintaining the DIY spirit. The Eat Up Collective is hosting its Pride afterparty at the Exchange, featuring an all Bristol lineup of queer bands for the first time.

Jet Middlefinch, a member of the collective, emphasized the importance of supporting underrepresented groups within the LGBTQ community, particularly trans people and women. Middlefinch, who uses "they" and "them" pronouns, highlighted the event’s financial and disability accessibility, noting the absence of strobe lighting and the wheelchair accessible venue. They described the event as an alternative to mainstream Pride celebrations, focusing on those not typically in the spotlight.

The Eat Up Collective provides year round workshops for queer musicians aspiring to enter the Bristol music scene, offering them initial performance opportunities to level the playing field. Feedback from the community indicates a strong desire for more initiatives like this, according to Middlefinch, who also mentioned the collective's dedication to preserving the DIY culture.

Freakshow, an all queer band, is one of the groups performing at the event. Tash Payton, the band’s keyboardist, stated that the event embodies queer inclusivity and holds significant personal importance to the band members. They described their music style as a mix of Johnny Cash and funkadelic with a queer twist, and anticipated a "chaotic" performance reflecting their camaraderie.

Folk musician Alex Garden has organized the first ever Bristol Pride ceilidh at the Old Market Assembly, tailored to those who feel out of place at traditional ceilidh events. Garden, who also uses "they" and "them" pronouns, pointed out the growing number of queer musicians in Bristol’s folk scene and the increasing diversity of official Pride events. Garden noted the emergence of a space for genderqueer musicians to openly embrace their identities.

This collective effort showcases a push for more inclusive and accessible Pride celebrations, reflecting a broader desire for representation and acceptance within the LGBTQ community.