Omoyele Sowore is a popular Nigerian human rights activist, writer, politician, blogger, lecturer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of the popular online news agency known as Sahara Reporters. Sowore is currently contesting for President in the 2019 Nigeria elections.

iDONSABI.com presents you with the biography of Omoyele Sowore, the 2019 Presidential candidate under the platform of the African Action Congress party which he created.

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Sowore Early Life

Omoyele Sowore was born on the 16^th of February, 1971 in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Although he belongs to the Ijaw Apoi tribe of Ese-Ondo, Ondo State, he was raised in the Niger Delta.

Sowore was born into a polygamous family with about sixteen siblings. He began contributing to the family wellbeing at the age of 12.  At this time, he had learnt to ride a motorcycle which he rides to the lake to fish for the family before leaving for school in the morning.

Between 1989 and 1995, Sowore had his higher education at the University of Lagos where he studied Geography and Regional Planning. He was expelled twice from school due to his engagement in student activism and politics.

Between 1992 and 1994, he was the President of the University of Lagos Student Union Government. During his tenure, he was well known for his intensive engagement in anti-corruption and anti-cultism campaigns and advocacy.

In 1999, Sowore was attacked and injured by cultists. Soon after the attack, he left the country for the United States.

He later proceeded to obtain a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Columbia University.

Sowore Political career

Sowore’s engagement in politics and activism can be traced back to his university years.

In the year 1989, Sowore was one of the students who protested the terms of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan for a Nigerian oil pipeline. One of the terms of the IMF loan was to reduce the number of Universities in Nigeria from twenty-eight (28) to five (5).

In 1992, Sowore was reported to have led about 5,000 students in a protest against the government. About seven died during this after police opened fire on the students. As a result, Sowore was arrested and tortured.

In 1993, Sowore was also actively involved in the demand for democratic rule as against the existing military rule operating at the period.

In the year 2006, Sowore started the Sahara Reporters, an online news agency with the intention of tackling corruption and erroneous government practices. The news agency was started in Manhattan and receives supports through grants by the Ford Foundation as well as Omidyar Foundation.

The Sahara Reporters media has a policy which prevents it from accepting donations or running adverts from the Nigerian Government.

On the 25^th of February, 2018, Sowore declared his interest to run for the post of the president in the 2019 Nigerian Elections. In August of the same year, he founded the African Action Congress (AAC), a political party to afford him a platform to run in the elections.

On the 6^th of October, 2018. He was successful at the AAC primary elections and officially became the Presidential Candidate of the party.

Sowore was reported to have defied the debate rules of engagement when he mentioned and humiliated corrupt leaders who were members of the opposition party.

Sowore Net Worth

Although the wealth of the popular blogger is not easy to calculate. His news agency, Sahara Reporters is said to worth about $10 million.

Sowore is the owner of Sahara reporters which he founded in the year 2006. The agency has its headquarters in the United States. He also lectures at the School of Visual Art and City University of New York.

Sowore Marriage

Sowore is reportedly married to a woman whose identity is not publicised.  His wife and children are settled in the United States.

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Sowore is one of the youngest contestants in the Nigeria 2019 Presidential elections and is quite popular amongst the youth.