A Nigerian Birmingham City University student, Anu Yusuf, aged 26, graduated with a first class in law from Birmingham City University alongside hundreds of her fellow students on Wednesday 27 July, and got married to 27-year-old Joseph Kolawole Ola marry at Birmingham Register Office on the same day.

They met four years ago in Gombe while doing their NYSC, but they have not been able to get married as a result of her coming to study in the UK.

Her husband often joked that he would whisk her away after my graduation to marry her because he can no longer wait, and it became reality as they married on her graduation day.

This also turned out to be advantageous for their family members because they could attend the wedding and the graduation.

The wedding started in the morning with a civil ceremony at Birmingham Register Office, followed by blessing at Anu’s church. The service finished at 1pm with guests served with takeaways meals as some of them headed to the graduation ceremony.

Anu changed from her white wedding dress to her gown and cap for the graduation ceremony.

In an interview, Anu said “It was so special to have my family and friends present for not one, but two of the most significant milestones in my life, and being able to share it with them all is something that I will treasure forever.”

In addition to her studies, Anu also did part time jobs. She worked in the International Office as a marketing and communications assistant until two days to her wedding and graduation.

Anu plans to do a PhD in law, while her husband Ola is studying in Bradford at LIFE Church College.

Nigeria: Meltdown in Nigeria Affecting Neighbouring Countries, Says Benin President

The economic meltdown in Nigeria is affecting neighbouring countries, the President of Benin Republic, Patrice Talon, has said.

Talon who is in Nigeria on a one-day visit spoke at a joint press briefing between him and his host, President Muhammadu Buhari.

He lamented that the economic downturn in Nigeria was gradually affecting his country and other nations in the West African sub region.

Describing Nigeria as the engine room of West Africa, Talon challenged Nigeria to begin to explore its non-oil potentials to boost the country's revenue profile and its standing as a big brother in Africa.

Talon said he was looking forward to reactivating the existing bilateral relationship between Benin and Nigeria especially in the areas of trade relations, economy, energy development and education.

He pledged to partner Nigeria in dealing with the problem of illicit trade affecting both countries.

Earlier, Buhari has said his administration was considering the possibility of using modern technology to transform gas into liquid form for easy export, especially to the West- African sub-region.

The president also said Nigeria is making efforts to ensure that the West African Gas Pipeline project becomes more efficient to stabilise the energy sectors across the West African sub-region.

Buhari said the government was doing everything possible to stabilise the gas pipelines to enhance electricity supply in Benin and other West African sub-region.

"The economy part of (our discussion) it is mainly energy, making sure that the West African Gas pipeline is made much more efficient. This government is making all the efforts it can to stabilise the situation because the resources are there.

"The world knows that Nigeria has plenty of gas, what we need to do is to stabilise the environment so that this gas can be regularly pumped to the sub-region through the infrastructure already in place.

"Also, the Nigerian energy mixed is not doing too badly as gas can now be converted into liquid form gas, the technology is now available, to transfers to Benin Republic to run their power stations.

"The sad and long standing problem is the question of using Benin as a transit camp to bring a lot of goods into Nigeria.

"Under ECOWAS agreement, all we have to do is to remind ourselves about our respective national commitments that other than reall ECOWAS-originated commodities, we should not allow it. If we get strict on that, I think Nigerian industries would benefit from ECOWAS agreements," he said.

SOURCE: Allafrica