At SWF:

• Friday, October 30th, 11:00AM - 12:15PM, The Impact of Youth on Strategic Social Change
• Saturday, October 31st, 7:00 - 9:00PM, Awards: Second Annual State of the World Forum Awards

Biography:

Hafsat Abiola is the daughter of Chief Moshood Abiola, who was elected President of Nigeria in 1993. However the Nigerian military regime never allowed him to take office. Instead Moshood Abiola was arrested and imprisoned for treason. Kudirat Abiola, Chief Moshood's wife, vocally campaigned for her husband's freedom and right to assume the presidency. In June 1996 Kudirat Abiola was assassinated in Lagos - possibly inspired by political motives. Earlier this year Chief Moshood Abiola died in prison of a heart attack.

Twenty-three year old Hafsat has since become a vigorous campaigner for Nigerian democracy and freedom. In honor of her mother, Hafsat founded the Kudirat Institute for Nigerian Democracy (KIND), a body which lobbies for Nigerian democracy throughout the world. Hafsat, through KIND, criticises the failure of the international community to sanction the Nigerian military regime. Meanwhile Hafsat, who recently graduated from Harvard, also supports her four siblings.

Hafsat Abiola is a 1998 recipient of the State of The World Forum Award.

Links:

Kudirat Institute for Nigerian Democracy
Washington Post Article on Hafsat Abiola
BBC Article on Chief Abiola's death