Hungarian parliamentarian condemns attacks on Nigerian Christians, says it's persecution

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György Hölvényi, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Hungary’s co-ruling Christian Democrats (KDNP), has strongly condemned the attacks against Nigerian Christians, categorizing them as clear instances of persecution.

During a plenary debate on Wednesday in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the MEP made the remarks while addressing the attacks over Christmas.

Hölvényi expressed deep concern over the raids, brutal killings, and attacks on churches during Pentecost and Christmas Eve in Nigeria, asserting that such acts could only be interpreted as persecution of Christians.

He criticized the ideological blindness of some European decision-makers, arguing that their insensitivity to human suffering, particularly among Christians, makes the affected communities even more vulnerable.

During the debate, the Hungarian MEP highlighted the lack of substantive reaction from the European External Action Service and emphasized the urgent need for the West to protect persecuted Christians.

Hölvényi cited the data from Open Doors, a human rights organization, stating that last year alone, more than 4,000 of the 5,000 victims of jihadist attacks in Nigeria were Christians.

Referring to the Christmas attacks in Nigeria, where 20 Christian settlements were targeted and around 200 Christians were massacred, Hölvényi criticized the central government’s apparent inability to stop the violence.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to turn words into action, emphasizing the responsibility of Europe to address violence against Christians as a human rights issue.

Hölvényi concluded his speech by stating, “We Europeans cannot turn a blind eye to violence against Christians.

“We cannot ignore the persecution against Christians. This is a human rights issue. It is time for action to replace silence.”

Tech wave sweeps across Nigeria as number of coders increases by 45%

In a notable trend, the tech wave in Nigeria is witnessing a surge in the number of coders, with a remarkable 45% increase.

Data from GitHub, a leading developer platform, reveals that the count of software developers in the country rose to 872,162 in 2023, reflecting significant growth.

GitHub clarified that their developer accounts count excludes users flagged as ‘spammy’ or identified as bots, maintaining the reliability of the reported figures.

While GitHub’s total developer count globally exceeds 100 million, it is estimated that about 90% of developers actively engage with the platform.

Substantial growth in the number of developers in Nigeria was observed from the third quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023.

During this period, the developer count increased from 598,921 to 872,162. Nigeria has the highest number of developers on the continent, surpassing other key African economies like Egypt and South Africa.

As of the end of Q3, 2023, Egypt had 792,790 developers on GitHub, and South Africa had 540,586.

While GitHub’s data provides insights into the thriving developer community, it’s important to note that not all developers on the platform are necessarily employed.

The surge in the coder population on GitHub surpasses previous estimates, challenging perceptions and underscoring the dynamic growth of Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.

GitHub is a pivotal platform for developers to collaborate, showcase their skills, and contribute to diverse projects.

”The increasing momentum in the software development space aligns with the broader tech trends in Nigeria, with startups investing in talent development programs.

”The country’s tech landscape continues to evolve, offering new opportunities and contributing to the expansion of the digital economy,” a report from GitHub read.