So proud to be a Rainbow Refugee

Nigerian mother Tolu, 38, enjoys Irish acceptance

- SHAUNA CORR

A MUM-of-one who was attacked for being gay in her home country has told how taking part in her first Belfast Pride parade lit up her life.

Tolu, 38, whose surname we are not sharing, was studying for a Masters at Queen's University in 2019 when news of her sexuality reached Nigeria.

According to Statista, the African nation is one of 11 countries where people can face the death penalty for having same-sex relationships.

Tolu said the threats that followed her public "outing" left her fearing for her life and her six-year-old son would be taken from her.

So to keep them both safe she had to make the very difficult decision to apply for asylum last year.

We spoke to Tolu ahead of her second march at Belfast Pride with Rainbow Refugees, a group which works to create a safe space for asylum seekers.

She recalled: "Shortly after I started a Masters I encountered some difficulties from my home country.

"My funding was withdrawn because they were saying I had violated the morality clause that is attached to everything in Nigeria."

Tolu added a gay man or woman can face 14 years in prison or the death penalty for being gay depending in Nigeria.