Bukola Oriola

Bukola Oriola
Born	1976 (age 48–49) Nigeria
Nationality	Nigerian-American
Occupation(s)	Activist, hair-braider, journalist
Years active	1999-present
Organization	Imprisoned Show
Notable work	Imprisoned: The Travails of a Trafficked Victim
Children	Samuel Jacobs

Bukola Oriola (born 1976) is a Nigerian-American journalist.[1] She lives in Anoka County, Minnesota,[2] and has a son named Samuel Jacobs.[3] She spent six years as a journalist covering education in Nigeria while still living in that country.[4] In 2005, she came to the United States from Nigeria on a two-month work permit in order to cover a New York City meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.[5] She married a US citizen who prevented her from establishing interpersonal relationships with anyone other than himself.[6] He subjugated her to a life of unfree labour, confiscating all of her earnings.[7] She was imprisoned in her home in this manner for two years.[8] Bukola is a speaker, author, mentor, advocate, and entrepreneur.[9]

Publicity

She wrote and self-published a book Imprisoned: The Travails of a Trafficked Victim about her experiences with human trafficking.[10] In August 2013, she appeared on a discussion panel following a screening of the documentary film Not My Life at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs' Cowles Auditorium.[11] On December 16, 2015, she was appointed by President Barack Obama as a member of the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking,[9] and was re-appointed to the same position by President Donald Trump in April, 2018.[12] Bukola won the Cadbury National Award for Education Reporters in 2005.[9] She started a non-profit organization known as "The Enitan Story" in August 2013 to advocate for victims and empower survivors of human trafficking.[9]

She is a fellow of the International Institute for Journalism, Germany.[12]

References

1. "Bukola". Imprisoned Show. 8 December 2012. Archived from the original on September 23, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
2. Elyse Kaner (May 21, 2013). "Anoka County resident heads fundraiser for human trafficking victims". ECM Publishers. Archived from the original on August 17, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
3. Sharon Schmickle (August 12, 2013). "How saving $40 a month can protect from poverty and predatory lenders". MinnPost. Archived from the original on August 30, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
4. Jane Lightbourn (March 16, 2010). "Bukola Oriola tells her story April 10 at UMC". Hastings Star Gazette. Archived from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
5. Julie Buntjer (August 19, 2013). "Fighting to be free: Nigerian woman to speak on human trafficking in Worthington". Daily Globe. Archived from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
6. Nora Leinen (December 16, 2009). "Human trafficking in Minnesota". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Archived from the original on February 25, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
7. Allie Shah (March 31, 2011). "Trafficking victims share pain, healing through art". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
8. Elyse Kaner (May 15, 2013). "Anoka County resident heads fundraiser for human trafficking victims". Sun Focus. Archived from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
9. "Meet Bukola Love Oriola - From a human trafficking victim to a member of the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking - Ventures Africa". Ventures Africa. 2015-12-21. Archived from the original on 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
10. Kathy Magnuson (December 27, 2009). "Changemaker2009: Bukola Oriola". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Archived from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
11. "Not My Life: Human Trafficking, Globally and Locally" (PDF). Minnesota International Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
12. "US-based Nigerian journalist, Bukola Oriola, Re-appointed US Council Member - THISDAYLIVE". THISDAYLIVE. 2018-04-15. Archived from the original on 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2018-05-24.