Fatima Umar

Development Practitioner

All tweets are personal and not a reflection of any institution.

[Fatima Umar @fatiumar]

One minute we're a little too comfortable in our corners and the next, God decides to shake us up a little to remind us he's always there.

[David Hundeyin @DavidHundeyin]

Keeping everyone (including Africans) completely ignorant about Africa and the central role it plays in the economic and natural world is a core feature of Europeanised education, not a bug.

You're not supposed to know that the DRC is the most resource-rich country in the world, with an estimated $24 trillion sitting under its soil. You're not supposed to know that the rise of "western civilisation" from the 15th century on was entirely made possible by European contact with Africa, and that the resources and labour extracted from coastal West Africa from 1492 onwards are the entire reason why both American continents exist in their current form.

You're not supposed to know that both WW1 and WW2 were essentially wars fought over the right to African colonial domination and expansion, and that even the uranium that was used in "Little Boy" and "Fat Man" dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki came from Shinkolobwe uranium mine in eastern DRC. You're not supposed to know that the reason the country of France exists in its current form is because tens of thousands of conscripted West African soldiers fought and won against the Nazis in Europe, and the French thereafter shipped them back to West Africa and massacred them at Camp Thiaroye in Senegal to avoid paying them their due wages.

You're not supposed to know that there was nothing cold about the so-called Cold War, because the vast majority of the hot theaters it was physically fought in were on the continent of Africa. (Zimbabwe, DRC, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Angola, Eritrea, Zambia etc). You're not supposed to know that the ongoing Ukraine war and the war in the Sahel are in fact the same conflict being fought by the same 2 sides, and that the reason France is desperately pushing funding and arms to Ukraine even as it falls into internal crisis is that Ukraine is acting as its proxy army in West Africa, as it tries to regain its lost colonial territories there, especially Niger where the cheap yellowcake uranium for its famously cheap nuclear energy used to come from before the 2023 revolution.

You're definitely not supposed to know that the entire global economy and system of trade as you know it is built on ruthless extraction from Africa and ensuring that Africa does not control anything it exports. You're not supposed to know that "Italian leather" doesn't come from Italy - it comes from Kano, Nigeria. You're not supposed to know that "Swiss chocolate" does not exist because cocoa does not grow anywhere in Switzerland or Europe - it comes from Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria. You're not supposed to know that Israel and the UAE control the global diamond and gold markets even though Israel has no diamond mine and the UAE has zero gold mines, because both resources are literally being stolen from the DRC and Sudan on an industrial basis.

You're basically not supposed to understand that the entire geopolitical world as you know it, rests entirely on extraction from Africa, poverty of Africans, and your own ignorance about where everything you use comes from.

Completely deliberate 500+ year-old feature, not accidental bug.

[Fatima Umar @fatiumar]

@JoAnkeFool @itsJohnRocker Why exactly are you angry?

[David Hundeyin @DavidHundeyin]

I've recruited an entire team twice in the past 3 years, and I've also consulted for founders on the continent looking for high quality affordable talent. It's very well known across Africa and beyond that if you're looking for high quality African talent that will work like their life depends on it and won't cost an arm and a leg, you go to Nigeria.

Nigeria lacks lots of things, but qualified, talented people who are ready to work their ass off are not among them. I've seen it first hand. Except you're looking for an astronaut, there is literally no vacancy you cannot fill in Nigeria. Anyone who says they "couldn't fill job openings" in Nigeria is a bloody liar.

It's simply not true and there's nothing to argue about.

[Fatima Umar @fatiumar]

@Qaazi_szn @juliet_ifechi @Emarged We do know what many of them looked like, and it was not these "Europeanised" illustrations.

[Fatima Umar @fatiumar]

@juliet_ifechi @Emarged Except, many biblical characters did NOT look like this.

[Fatima Umar @fatiumar]

@daniel_mainn That's why life expectancy is lower for men. Because, why?

[Fatima Umar @fatiumar]

@NigerDeltaEngr @OurFavOnlineDoc Lol

[Fatima Umar @fatiumar]

@ruffydfire 💔💔💔

[Fatima Umar @fatiumar]

@jivaska01 Specifically, Maman Fati's ogbono soup.

[Fatima Umar @fatiumar]

@Benking443 This is so cruel. Shame on you.

[Fatima Umar @fatiumar]

@Spectranet_NG @SpectranetCare how is it that I paid for installation over a week ago, and it's still not done? Quite ridiculous. Kindly process a refund. I'm no longer interested in your service.

[Fatima Umar @fatiumar]

@creepydotorg Nothing beats when Poussey died in OITNB for me.

[Fatima Umar @fatiumar]

@jivaska022 🥹🥹🥹🥹
I love you too ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Fatima Umar @fatiumar]

@jivaska022 Congrats my darling❤️❤️❤️

[UNDP Nigeria @UNDPNigeria]

Today, the Internal Displacement Solutions Fund (IDSF) & Partners kicked off a 2-day technical meeting on financing solutions for internal displacement in NE🇳🇬 & Benue State.

The goal is to develop strategic financing solutions for sustainable housing, livelihoods & jobs.

[Fatima Umar @fatiumar]

Another day to discuss Financing for Development. Today the focus is on IDPs, exploring financing options for livelihoods, job creation and housing.

@UNDPNigeria

[UNDP Nigeria @UNDPNigeria]

Day one of the 3rd Annual @_AfricanUnion MSME Forum was insightful and engaging.

Day two promises even more, featuring discussions on:
✴️ Financial inclusion
✴️ Tools for African MSMEs
✴️ Digital and financial literacy, and much more!

Stay tuned for updates!!! #AUMSMEFORUM2024

[UNDP Nigeria @UNDPNigeria]

We are live at the 3rd @_AfricanUnion MSME Forum in Windhoek 🇳🇦.

This year's theme, "Fostering Financial Empowerment and Educational Innovation for African Startups & MSMEs," will focus on strategically empowering small businesses across Africa to thrive in the #AfCFTA.

[UNDP Nigeria @UNDPNigeria]

Big win for Abia State!

Its Ease of Doing Business score soared by 25% to 5.59 📈.

Thanks to progress made in investment promotion, skills & labor with the strong backing of the Integrated National Financing Framework #INFF programme.

Learn more 🔗 https://t.co/NMBesVuwLc

[Fatima Umar @fatiumar]

Excited to support Nigeria's first official outing under the #AfCFTA

It's about time we prioritise trade among Africans.

[UNDP Nigeria @UNDPNigeria]

We are excited to support @NigeriaGov in launching the first batch of trading under the #AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative. This milestone highlights Nigeria's key role in regional economic integration & our commitment to sustainable development and shared prosperity across Africa.