I am sitting in the eInclusion Ministerial Conference and Expo beginning in Vienna today, and I have very (very) mixed feelings. While I admire the obvious effort put into this conference and the entire eInclusion concept as driven by the European Union, I am wondering when African governments will quit the low-hanging fruit of “pot belly politicking” and focus on the real essence of governance — improving the lives of the people. This is the 21st century and the average African youth is increasingly becoming less competitive in a world that has obviously lost all its borders. But I am glad that even in the face of this obvious neglect on the part of African governments, there are people (and institutions) that are consistently bridging the gap between what is and what must be. They are my heroes!

I return to Lagos (tomorrow), happy about how my discussions have gone at the various preparatory meetings — and also with some renewed passion to catch up with the many demonstrations I have seen at the 2 different conferences I have attended here in Austria (in Graz and now Vienna) thanks to the Salzburg-based International Centre for New Media. My return to Lagos is made more exciting by the fact that in six (6) days, the Ajegunle.org project will be celebrating the first set of graduates who have now gone through the various phases of the project — orientation, capacity building, internship, peer training and consistent reports to PIN; another reminder of those efforts that dare to confront the status quo in order to take Nigeria (and her youth, especially) to the New Economy. The project is driven by a young man whose passion I am yet to fathom; he knows how to deliver even in the face of near-zero resources: Ugochukwu Nwosu.

Ugo started volunteering for Paradigm Initiative Nigeria even before we became a legal entity. At the time when PIN was just an online group that tried its best to connect youth to any possible ICT opportunities, Ugo joined others to contribute man-hours to make this possible. I was quite surprised that he chose to return to that same role of a volunteer when he completed his undergraduate studies, and he has since moved on from volunteer to intern and then full time staff. While I keep myself busy with the task of institutional development and also attend to the commitments that come with my service in a number of roles, Ugo is the one who keeps the engine of progress in PIN going. When PIN becomes the institution I’m working hard to build, it should not be a surprise to see Ugo play a role that many of his peers will consider lucky. It would have been duly earned. I am not afraid to celebrate you, Ugo, because you represent the generation of youth who are now leading the campaign I spent my last decade working on. Thank you!

Each time I look to the corner of my office where a good number of award plaques sit, I think about the people who have now taken the message and have turned it into a lifestyle. To Ugo and the many young people who still understand the principle of delayed gratification (and forge ahead to deliver change even under the least comfortable circumstances), I salute you. You are my heroes, I celebrate you!

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I’m in Austria to conclude talks on a new initiative that will help Paradigm Initiative Nigeria and other partners connect young Nigerians (and eventually Africans) with the opportunities that come with innovation (with a special leaning towards mobile applications). Like many first-time visits, this has been a splendid one for me. From the diplomatic intervention to the 9-hour wait in Doha (thanks to the lounge whose name I’ve now forgotten), “where’s my 30 year-old blonde” wait at the train terminal, nice 3-hour trip with my guide-turned-friend, warm welcome by my hosts and progress on the mission, I’m loving it! I think I should also say I love the snow too, because it was actually fun getting lost last night and falling twice (do I now have to buy anti-slide shoes?) in the snow. Confession: I love Lagos more, even if the heat is often unbearable

The meetings were timed to coincide with the Europrix Festival in Graz and it’s been 2 full days of inspiration! Meeting young Europeans who are showcasing their innovative projects has added new flavour to the content of my meeting discussions — and I can’t wait to see young Africans come together to celebrate innovation and create new pathways for their respective industries. Listen to the organizers: The EUROPRIX winning projects are the best of young multimedia contents and design in Europe. The projects and products are the top selection from all entries to the Top Talent Award. They show that the new developments are not isolated, but that from the Baltic to the Mediterranean, from small towns to the European metro centres, young media designers have taken charge of the technologies to create new applications and contents that work in the real world.

Following yesterday’s beautiful session that featured a keynote presentation and discussions led by past winners of Europrix awards in different categories, today’s session focuses on demonstrations by category finalists. You can see a complete list of nominees here but the Robovox demonstration was really cool! The Robovox, a large interactive public sound installation using SMS for general public interaction, allows anyone to say anything out loud (and anonymously) by sending text messages to the robot via a short code. Even though the demonstration was made with a much smaller (about 2m) robot, the Robovox installation is usually 8m tall and has traveled to a number of public squares across the world. During the presentation, various text messages made their way to the short code and Martin Bricelj had to allow Robovox to say the many things that anonymous text authors just had to let out.

I wonder if the idea can be integrated into the existing public monuments so that the three elders that greet you as you enter Lagos can say Eko o ni b’aje! to remind everyone who drives into town that we make Lagos whatever it becomes.

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The Management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (OAU) through its Advancement Office is presently updating the institution’s Alumni Database. This initiative, as part of the University Strategic plan seeks to increase the database to 30,000 from the pool of about 66,000 graduates which the University has produced in the last 46 years of its existence.

We therefore appeal that you support this initiative by sending us the list of OAU Alumni that you know, stating their names in full (former names if married), course of study, year of graduation, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and current rank/status at work.

It would be appreciated if the information is sent to us through these addresses: advancement[at]oauife.edu.ng or alumnire[at]oauife.edu.ng.

We assure you that the information we receive will be treated confidentially.

Thank you.

Signed
‘Ronke Ajibola
Executive Director
University Advancement Office
Obafemi Awolowo University
Ile-Ife.

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Yes, he did! And you can be sure I did not swap names, that’s right: Obama’s campaign ran just like the kind of campaign Prof. Pat Utomi discussed with his team.

I had the rare priviledge of being close to the campaign Prof. Pat Utomi ran towards his April 2007 candidacy for the presidency of Nigeria and I wasn’t surprised when he told me sometime during Obama’s 21-month campaign that the ideas he saw in play were very close to what he advocated in Nigeria. I remember discussions around setting up RestoreNigeria.org, when he hinted that he wanted a grassroots campaign that allowed market women, students and every stakeholder to contribute their single-digit contributions so that government would truly be driven by these people (the true stakeholders) and not the moneybags who usually expect their own dividends of democracy after bankrolling campaigns.

He also insisted on creating a platform to allow all Nigerian citizens to contribute ideas towards the governance of Nigeria — as he presently advocates through the opposition website, www.shadownigeria.org. How could I also forget his choice of Web 2.0 tools during the campaign — he blogged at UtomiNotes.com, uploaded YouTube videos and he’s now on FaceBook! I remember a few people asking if he was truly the one running the FaceBook page himself, noting that Nigerian public officers are known to have secretaries who have deputies — who in turn have assistants (and those assistants often have Vice-Assistants). I also remember his request for some high-level animation to go along with his Public Declaration at the Musa Yar’adua centre in Abuja.

SMS was central to the Utomi campaign too. And you can probably remember that the words “change,” “values” and “issues” were not far from most of his speecehs! Okay. If he ran the kind of campaign Obama ran much after his own, how come he lost. Well, the answer is obvious: amongst many others that are too political for this page, many of us didn’t seal the deal. Think about the role that American youth played during Obama’s election and you’ll see a missing opportunity from our 2007 elections in Nigeria. How many of us were excited about the opportunity to vote for change following 8 years of a president who had become quite unpopular (let’s face it, they share similar near-exit ratings and I bet you know the two people I refer to here.)

Will we do something different in 2011? Will young professionals ensure that they are registered on time? Will students mobilise their friends towards active involvement in that election (and we know just how to do that, don’t we?) Unfortunately, Nigeria’s middle class has created a pseudo-government of their own by installing generators to replace a dysfunctional power utility company, bore holes to stand in for some agency we used to call “Water Corporation” when I was growing up, private guards (of all shades, sizes, uniforms and languages) to take care of what the “Men In Black” are paid to do, and self-created happiness (either through religion, extra hours with colleagues who’re also scared of the bridge during high-traffic hours at work or … you know) to make up for that joy that comes from a government’s fulfilment of its promises to her citizens. Thus, it is difficult for that same middle class to be bothered about elections, it’s only one of those things they’ve learnt to “endure.”

But not in 2011. The lessons of Obama’s choice as “leader of the free world” will be lost if we don’t wear the robes of citizen participation now — not when 2011 suddenly happens on us. We must start mobilising the majority that is right so that the minority that has held us bound can feel the pulse. This is already November 2008 and if you discount the holidays, 2009 is here. The budget debates and new year lull (and possibly some breaking news — as we usually have it but hopefully not with the price of PMS this time) will then make way for mid 2009 by which time the political parties will be preparing for the string of primaries and fundraising events that will lead to the full-blown campaign for April 2011. We should have new dates for some positions owing to tribunal rulings but April 2011 (or thereabout) will be time to decide who the next president will be.

We must not miss the opportunity to tell the world that Nigeria — just like the US — knows just when to surprise the world. We always do that with football, and we don’t lack the intelligence (or number) to achieve the same in the most important part of our socio-political existence. I know that we’ll have many Utomi-like (and if you prefer, Obama-like) campaigns towards 2011 but the difference this time should be our response to the call and deliberate choice to follow through with the message of change. We’re not lacking in technology gurus who can help mobilise 60% of Nigeria’s population (the youth) towards virtuous political involvement, and this should meet with political genius that can take advantage of that wave of change — and also deliver on its promise as, and when, due. Obama’s 21-month campaign and the 2007 candidacy of Pat Utomi are serious pointers to the possibilities that are ahead for Nigeria.

Regardless of where you are, get ready for the much-needed revolution. At home, on holiday, in diaspora, on extended stay, planning to return or officially back in Nigeria? Arise and obey the call. Arise, O compatriots. Nigeria’s call obey. To serve our Fatherland with love and strength and faith. The labour of our heroes past “should” never be in vain. To serve with heart and might, one nation bound in freedom. Peace. And unity! O God of creation, direct our noble cause. Guide our leaders right. Help our youth the truth to know: In love and honesty to grow, and living just and true. Great lofty heights attain, to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign! As for me, I pledge to Nigeria, my country: To be faithful, loyal and honest; to serve Nigeria with all my strength. To defend her unity, and uphold her honour and glory. So help me, God. The journey towards 2011 presents Nigeria with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to return to our place as (or fulfil the dream of becoming) the Giant of Africa.

My name is ‘Gbenga Sesan and I approve this message… but with no political ambition for now (maybe later).

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He should be tired by now. It’s been a long 21 months of hard work (you can capitalize and underline that) and even though the strength you draw from speaking with a crowd of over 120,000 can be intoxicating, it’s already 11:30pm in his time zone and it will be a long day tomorrow — not with the thousands of names and roles that need to be sorted out.

At exactly 5am Nigerian time (GMT + 1) today, Barack Obama was declared the winner of the US elections — following one of the most interesting series of events (from the primaries through to election day) that literally caught the world on the edge of its seat. When he announced his candidacy, many laughed off the ambition of the skinny guy with a funny name, some admired his courage but wished he could wait for his own time and others simply told him what many of us have been told: don’t disgrace yourself. Now, after an almost impossible process that will be the subject of near-eternal analysis, that one is the leader of the free world.

As the fine words eased their way through his lips, my phone rang a number of times. Odd hours, yes, but there were many who stayed awake to watch the turn of events as the voice of the people was being interpreted through the votes of millions who despised the odds to support change. It’s the first time a man of colour will be president in the United States but that’s not the major attraction (even though no one can deny its historic significance). Yes, his success in this venture will help many truly believe that dreams do come true, including those eloquently expressed by a King who once had a dream. One of the text messages referred to the possibility of tears in the eyes of Rev. King but even if it’s tough to picture tears in the eyes of the dead, it won’t be difficult to imagine how his voice would have expressed the words: “Yes, we can!” Actually, he would now say, “Yes, we have!”

The major attractions here are the many lessons that this beautiful story (third in the series after Dreams of My Father and The Audacity of Hope) teaches the individual, developing nations and the world at large. It should now be a taboo for anyone to laugh at another person who dares to express their hope to become something greater than themselves — even if their name, background, experience or your assessment offer them no hope. It should also be a thing of shame for any African leader to offer up excuses that good leadership is far from those who are blessed with a certain skin colour. Born to a Kenyan father and discouraged by those who should be his mentors, Barry showcased an example in working deliberately towards set objectives. But as he said during his speech almost half an hour ago, the true winners are the people. Now, that is a direct challenge to the citizens of Nigeria and other nations where we have almost left elections to those who try to scare us away from the process.

Young Africans followed this election with so much passion. Many disagreed on the choice of candidates in elections that would not accept our opinion, but shall we shy away from that with possible outcomes that can shape our future? Ghana goes to the polls in December and many others (South Africa, etc) are waiting for 2009. Can young professionals shed the garment of apathy and decide to get involved? There would have been no President-Elect Obama if those who voted assumed that he was going against too powerful a machinery during the primaries, or if they returned home on election day because the queues were long. Many will spend much of today looking many times over at the same document (for lack of sleep) and the Kenyan government has declared a public holiday for Thursday. Will we see this same passion translated into citizen participation and possible contribution to the development of the land whose song we sing?

Congratulations, Barack, and all the best with the huge work ahead of you! For the rest of us, we have found inspiration to aim for any heights and we have seen the power of the seeming minority that refuse to stay away from a process that could tip the scale for them — and for generations ahead. It’s the day after Barack, let’s ride the wings of change here at home too.

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As part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week activity holding in November during week 17 – 23, the Youth Entrepreneurship Award is developed as a local initiative to inspire young people and organisations in Nigeria to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity. The awards is designed to lift the spirit of entrepreneurship, engage and encourage young people to pursue entrepreneurial ideas with the support of entrepreneurs, government officials, non-profit leaders and educators. Indeed, the awards received a boost globally when it was quoted as the most active activity for Global Entrepreneurship Week in Nigeria on the global event website – www.unleashingideas.org.

The Youth Entrepreneurship awards come in 11 categories and winners will be issued an award plague, a certificate signed by our partner university and a N50, 000 cheque. The Awards will indeed honour individuals and institutions through the appreciation of innovative business process, business excellence and overall leadership success in entrepreneurship development, plus acknowledged publicly the vital contribution made by individuals and student led institutions to the vibrancy of young entrepreneurship in Nigeria . Indeed, this is the first of its kind.

The Youth Entrepreneurship Awards will attract Vice chancellors, Heads of Businesses, Student Union Governments, University student led associations, Youth organisations, Departmental heads and several youths across the country.

This year’s Youth Entrepreneurship Awards will be presented at a gala ceremony to be held on 21st November, 2008 at the Newcastle Hotels, Owerri, Imo State , South East, Nigeria . The aim is to make Youth Entrepreneurship Awards an annual event in Nigeria.

The event is an initiative of the London based Withworth Entreprenueship Consultancy.

Award Categories


Youth Ambassador for Entrepreneurship Development Award

This award will go the outstanding individual who has best demonstrated exceptional selfless commitment to the development of entrepreneurship in the community and Nigeria . The judges will be looking for evidence of how the individual has significantly improved the awareness of entrepreneurship in the nation.

Age limit: 30 years and under Cash Amount: N50, 000



Award for Excellence in Enterprise development services

This award will go to the organisation that can best demonstrate that it has strongly invested in developing and raising young entrepreneurs in Nigeria . The application can be based on the development of a specific project.

Cash Amount: N50, 000



Student Company of the Year Award

This award will go to the student company that can best demonstrate innovativeness, strong growth and firm prove that it was started and being run by a student or inside an institution.

Age limit: 30 years and under Cash Amount: N50, 000



Entrepreneurship Lifetime Achievement Award

This award will go to the individual who has contributed enormously to the growth of entrepreneurship and is a role model for young upcoming entrepreneurs in Nigeria .

Age limit: 45 yrs and above Cash Amount: N50, 000



Rising Entrepreneurial Institution Award

This award will go to an institution that can best demonstrate that its approach to learning is innovative and maintains a high focus on entrepreneurship development within the academic environment.

Cash Amount: N50, 000


Best Supporting Media on Entrepreneurship Award

This award will go to the best media outfit that has demonstrated total commitment to the promotion of entrepreneurship learning and awareness in Nigeria .



Aspiring Young Entrepreneur Scholarship Merit Award

This award will go to a student who has demonstrated that he or she has an outstanding skill to develop a good business upon graduation. This will be based on previous business skill achievements.

Age limit: up to 25 years Cash Amount: N50, 000



Outstanding Contribution to Entrepreneurship Development Award

This award will go to the individual or organisation that has shown they can bring about change in the lives of young people through entrepreneurship activities. This can be based on numerous projects and commitments.

Individual/Organisation: Any Cash Amount: N50, 000



Young Creative Entrepreneur of the Year Award

This award will specifically recognise the most talented youth or youth group in Nigeria . Be it in music, sports or business. This award will connect young creative entrepreneurs in Nigeria with emerging investors.

Age limit: 30 years and under Cash Amount: N50, 000



Best Supporting Company on University Entrepreneurship Education Campaign Award

This award will go to the company that has demonstrated continuous support for enterprise education in our institutions.



Best Supporting Youth Bank of the Year Award

This prestigious award goes to the best bank which has invested in the improvement of basic learning conditions in our academic institutions.




Nomination Procedures


Nomination is open to all. Prospective awardees can nominate themselves.

Simply nominate a qualified person and send the details under any category of awards via

Email: yea2008@ymail.com or Text details to 08054409005.

Nomination Submission ends November 5th 2008.

Finalist will be notified before or on November 10th, 2008

Admission is free and there will be a full feast however will encourage participants to register online here for a secured seat as seats might be limited. Or contact the Award team on

08082180513, 08062725951, 08037105484, 08039548256, 08036903696, 07031541543

For Details

withworthfutunes@yahoo.com

http://www.entrepreneurshipevents.com/YouthEvent1.aspx

If a group has Nelson Mandela, Graça Machel, Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan, Ela Bhatt, Lakhdar Brahimi, Gro Brundtland, Fernando H Cardoso, Jimmy Carter, Mary Robinson, Muhammad Yunus and Aung San Suu Kyi as its members, then you can be sure that it deserves the name, The Elders.

As stated on the group’s website: “Out of deep concern for the challenges currently facing all of the people of our world, Nelson Mandela, Graça Machel and Desmond Tutu have convened a group of leaders to contribute their wisdom, independent leadership and integrity to tackling some of the world’s toughest problems.” I was glad to read these words spoken by Madiba:

This group can speak freely and boldly, working both publicly and behind the scenes on whatever actions need to be taken. Together we will work to support courage where there is fear, foster agreement where there is conflict, and inspire hope where there is despair.”

Desmond Tutu, a man whose shadow lights my path (as a Desmond Tutu Fellow) also had this to say:

“Despite all the ghastliness that is around, human beings are made for goodness. The ones who ought to be held in high regard are not the ones who are militarily powerful, nor even economically prosperous. They are the ones who have a commitment to try and make the world a better place. We - The Elders - will endeavour to support those people and do our best for humanity.”

The Elders’ group is supported by Richard Branson, Bridgeway Foundation, Michael Chambers, Ray Chambers, Peter Gabriel, Humaity United, Amy Robbins, Shashi Ruia, Jeff Skoll, Dick Tarlow and The United Nations Foundation. I spent some time earlier in the year following the work that the group has done and I decided to support with the little help I may be able to give to these men and women who have not only inspired hope — but whose actions (shadows) are bright enough to light the path of those of us who believe that one (wo)man can make a difference regardless of location or complexity.

Yesterday, I got word from Joshua Robert Wiese who works on the ICT side of The Elders’ Every Human Has Rights campaign and I’m glad to invite everyone to sign the declaration in commemoration of it’s 60th anniversary. Signing the declaration this time is not for ratification by any nation-state or group, but as a sign of your decision to live out the declaration. If we all lived out the words of that declaration, we’ll probably not have to lobby any governments to make true it’s words. “2008 is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 60th anniversary. It’s time for a global conversation about human rights and the values that unite us as one human family. But it can also be a time when each of us chooses to take human rights into our daily lives, by joining a powerful people network,” was how the campaign website aptly put the message.

Read it, understand it, sign it, and pass it on.

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This is fresh from the stables of the bright young minds behind The Future… awards. Well done Chude, Debola, Emilia! They are another reason why I still believe.

As The Future Awards team fulfills its promise to crisscross the nation with the message of inspiration for young Nigerians from varying backgrounds, it has been a rollercoaster ride!

On the 22nd of October, the national tour moved to the ancient city of Benin in Edo State, where The Future Awards engaged with a crowd of over 1, 500 at the Sports Complex of the University of Benin. Hosted in conjunction with rave Benin TV show; Music Mix, CFI Benin chapter and Nigeria International, the meeting saw a presentation of the idea and took questions from the guests.

“Honestly,” said Onyebuchi Aihie, Mass Communication student of the university and one of the attendees, “I have heard about The Future Awards on television but I really didn’t know what it was about – you know all of these things that happen in Lagos are usually only for the famous ones; but I am so happy they came to Benin because so much is happening in Nigeria and the youth of this country need to come together and say: it cannot continue like this.”

Guests at the ‘town hall’ meeting were informed of the 20 award categories, how to nominate via the website www.thefuturenigeria.com, what the Awards is looking for, a peep at the profiles of past winners, a peek into what to expect for the next edition, and how to spread the word.

Immediately after, the train moved to Zodiac Hotel in Enugu on the 25th of October, where, for an hour, there was a vibrant, robust conversation with hundreds of young passionate Nigerians about Nigeria and its future. If the crowd at Benin was enthusiastic, Enugu was over the top with excitement!

In a presentation made by the Operations Director for the Awards, Adebola Williams, he repeated the process of re-introducing the Awards, and answering questions from the audience, whilst distributing the event flyers and posters, as well as the special “i am the future” campaign t-shirts and stickers.

“The guests identified with the stories of past winners, especially some like Tara Fela-Durotoye, Genevieve Nnaji and Basketmouth who were specifically mentioned as role models,” Williams reports. “It’s amazing the kind of passion that young people still have for Nigeria – and you know, one needs to say to government, and to corporate Nigeria, what are we doing to make sure that this passion doesn’t die? I stood there facing the crowd, and I thought to myself: ‘Waoh’. We cannot, must not, allow The Future Awards to even slow down one bit! For the sake of our nation, for the sake of our youth, all hands have to be on deck.”

“The Future” is a year-long national project that terminates in the yearly Awards which identify and celebrate young Nigerians achievers between the ages of 18 and 31. The awards proper holds on the 18th of January 2009 (this will be the 4th edition) in Lagos, but the national tour started from the 1st of October and now moves from Enugu to Calabar, Jos and Ile-Ife.

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I write

To exhale all this

Exhausting rush in the world

This confused hurry

Everyone seems to be in

Like our stars Paul Tergat

Tegla Lorupe

Catherine Ndereba

Towards the finishing line

With focus, determination, speed

I write my way away from

All this mayhem to

The serenity within me



I write

Because it’s

A nutritious delicacy

Minerals to my mind

Refreshing me to unwind

Vitamins to my soul

Nourishing me to be whole

I write to see the light

To be the light that shines

Like the Day Star

In a glow that blows you away like a

Motivated typhoon at the top of

Donald Trump’s, Richard Brunson’s

Bill Gates’

Payrolls



I write

To eternally liberate

This ocean of emotions

Surfing inside of me

When tis not enough to cry

Words like tears

Wash away my fears

When laughter plays hard

My pen on my pad

Spells out the cheers

When confused, afraid, perturbed

In my words I can be

‘Conje’ or even Leila Ali

And box the uncertainties away



I write

Because my word is mighty

A weighty gift

From the Almighty

I write to be

The voice of my time

A revered record

The future will love to flaunt

I write to

Roar with the lions

Soar with the eagles

Flow with the rivers

I write

To be free

To be ME

These are tough times! Discussions with friends, colleagues, mentors and family over the past few days gave me a reason to ask myself if I still believe in the dream we have so glowingly referred to as a New Nigeria. Even with my deliberate policy of never featuring bad new about Nigeria on this blog (isn’t there enough of that elsewhere on the web?) I cannot shy away from the things I see and hear.

Innocent calls with voices clad in concerned tones have followed our decision to host The Alternative (one of the activities of our Microsoft-sponsored Internet Safety, Security and Privacy Initiative for Nigeria that seeks to redirect the energy of Nigerian youth from online criminal activities) and was held in Lagos yesterday, Saturday, October 25. From feedback, I think one of the highlights of the night was the display of campaign stickers, like the one above. Honestly, maga no need pay, I go work for ma dough! We had fun, thanks to Owen Gee, Rooftop MCs and Banky W! It was fun watching the campaign ambassadors and others on the red carpet. I have more ideas now about the documentary that will come out of this — and the projects (musical collaboration, the rehabilitation program, sticker campaign, decentralized campaign projects by ambassadors, etc).

I have spent much of the month speaking to various youth groups about the need for our generation to stand up to the task of nation building, including the day spent discussing The Audacity of Hope in Ibadan. Everyone’s got Obama’s name (and possible post-November 4 story) on their lips but how many young Nigerians have thought about daring to macth our hope with deserving action? One question that keeps coming my way in each meeting is: “With the way our youth want to hammer by all means, are we not in trouble?” Well, what with the fact that deferred gratification is almost synonymous with folly in our generation. This was at the centre of a meeting between Fela Durotoye, Dr. Seyi Adebayo-Olubi, Deolu Akinyemi and myself during PIN’s inaugural board meeting last week.

But… I still believe. I still believe because at the centre of this all is my choice to light a candle rather than spend so much time cursing the darkness. Listening to the icons of change around the table, my mind played a video of the various young Nigerians who are holding the forte in their respective areas of influence. Change needs few committed people who can continuosly remind themselves of why they believe in their dreams — regardless of obvious obstacles. I see the rot but I still believe that we can’t outsource the act of removing the rot — we have to do it ourselves. I feel the anger (and I should add cynism) but I still believe that change is often fuelled by anger and made irreversible by frustration at the status quo. I hear the stories but can’t fail to appreciate the fact that your positive story (and mine) may just be the catalyst for change among our peers.

As I made my way from the Akanu Ibiam Airport (Enugu) towards Awka to discuss with another group of young Nigerians last week, I was reminded of another reason why I still believe: there are countless others who still do too! I was in Minna the day after and then Jedi’s I’m Unique seminar on Friday. Then Planet One on Saturday just did it for me… not the main event itself but the silent whispers across the room, the few words spoken with hope in people’s faces. One social vice, or the many rots can not hold us back. Even though it’s dark, rather than curse the darkness, we will light a candle (at least). I still believe, and that’s why I’ll keep working hard for change.

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Working on the ongoing social campaign to redirect the energy of young Nigerians – from cybercrime – towards positive engagements, I took a trip back to my earlier eMails on brining IT literacy to young Nigerians — at a time when internet access was plug and pray (you had to take a walk after entering the website address so it would have loaded by the time you returned to your seat). I came across an interesting eMail message…

At about this same time 8 years and 12 days ago (5:56am on Monday, October 2, 2000), I rose from deep thoughts to write to Dr. Philip Emeagwali. The eMail is reproduced below:

Good day sir,

I found out your site and address after so much search.

I do not need to tell you how I got to know about you because the whole world does.

I am a final year student at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in Nigeria. I’m in the Electronic and Electrical Engineering department and I’m building an infotech career in Internet Technologies (with websitedesigns and eCommerce options). I am also presently the chairman of the electronic club of the department.

All that was necessary so that my purpose of sending the mail will be understood.

Sir, we have a dying need here in Ife and in Nigeria at large.

I HAVE A DREAM! I have a dream that despite the climate here, Nigerians would be able to see, harness and synergize the innate potentials to produce Global Impact. We have what it takes and I believe we can fly, taking advantage of the present democratic dispensation.

Sir, we need encouragement for the average Nigerian undergraduate because the system over the years has changed our paradigm to chasing after certificates rather than expertise.

We need someone like you, a Nigerian and a frontliner in Global Technological trends to salvage the situation.

Sir, I’m writing to find out how you can be of help to us. We have already held a seminar where we discussed NEXT GENERATION, taking the bulls by the horns to harness our potentials so as to make global impact. That was actually when someone gave me your website address.

Sir, I would eagerly await a response to your mail and thus continue with the correspondence. Thanks for believing in us. Thanks for your anticipated cooperation.

Yours,

‘Gbenga Sesan

About 24 hours later (at exactly 4:55am), he replied with a copy to Mr. Chris Uwaje who, at the time, was the president of the Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN). The events that followed that response have been chronicled in my forthcoming book.

We have come a long way since October 2, 2000. At the time, very few campuses had internet access. Today, the issue is not the access but what we do with it. Increasingly, internet access has become available but we need to treat the cancerous growth that appears to be attached to this rather good news. Cybercrime is a topic that may have many sides to it but I choose to look at the angle of providing alternative positive opportunities for the many young people who are daily attracted to the vice in the name of how for do. When we gather at Planet One on October 25 for The Alternative, it will not be a time to curse the crime or accuse the actor, it will be a time to discuss how we can provide an alternative that will create a much better scenario.

With the number of phone calls I have received (describing how each person has been a victim of an increasingly smarter group of online crime actors) since we announced the event on FaceBook, I am convinced that we need to act now. As we presently do with our Ajegunle.org model, we will work with partners to retrain at-risk youth and empower them to create an enviable career in IT (as they already invest their energy in this area, even though in a negative sense) so they can inspire positive peer pressure. Details will be unveiled next week Saturday at the event and , and I can’t wait to see how we can add another drop to this much-needed ocean of change.

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If you’re looking for young talents, come to Nigeria. They’re everywhere – in technology, entertainment, the arts, fashion, sports… the list is endless. But one vice has brought us more shame than the fame we earned through our dignified labour. It’s cybercrime, aka Yahoo! Yahoo!

Paradigm Initiative Nigeria and Microsoft Nigeria proudly present The Alternative, our opportunity to redirect the energy of young Nigerians – from Yahoo! Yahoo! – towards positive engagements, through the Internet Safety, Security and Privacy Initiative for Nigeria (ISSPIN) campaign and follow-up project.

There will be internet safety technology demonstrations by Microsoft; announcement of national essay and quiz competition winners; decoration of Internet Safety, Security and Privacy Initiative for Nigeria (ISSPIN) Ambassadors, public presentation of Microsoft/PIN’s technology capacity building program for young Nigerians, red carpet reception, music, and much more…

Featuring: Banky W, Rooftop MCs and Owen Gee…

The date is Saturday, October 25, 2008 and time is 3:00pm. Location? De Event Place, Planet One Entertainment, Lagos. For your invitations please write to thealternative@pinigeria.org, call 0702 830 72 05 or 0702 830 72 06.

This event is sponsored by Microsoft Nigeria and proudly supported by Planet One Entertainment, Soundcity, Teledom Group, New Nigeria Club, NairaHost, Blarque Brother Entertainment and Nigeria Computer Society!

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- Categories finally expanded from 15 to 20
- Fantastic performances by Omawumi, Rooftop MCs and MI
- Prof (Mrs) Jadesola Akande honoured

You would be forgiven if you thought you were at any of the major Nigerian awards; not just a launch. There was glam, there was glitz, and there was a blinding array of stars as Season 4 of Nigeria’s biggest youth event, The Future.. Awards, was launched in Lagos on the 30th of September.

The venue was rave new place, Studio 868 in Victoria Island and the action started right from the exclusive Nigezie green carpet as cameras clicked away and guests sipped from their cocktail glasses.

The guests were welcomed into the venue by the anchors, Cool FM’s Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi and ace comedian, Jedidiah. Then the show kicked off with comedy and a performance by rave new guitarist, Bez Idakula. This was followed by a special post-humous tribute given by Prof. Pat Utomi in honour of late Board of Trustees member, Prof Jadesola Akande – the award was presented to her son, Debo, by Ms. Bennie Uche.

What followed was a very moving Keynote Speech delivered by the event’s Creative Director, Chude Jideonwo. The, speech, titled ‘Yes We Can’ and which won standing and thunderous clapping ovations traced the story and evolution of The Future Awards over the past three successful years and tied it to the story of this next generation. “In business and technology, music, movies and the media, fashion and beauty, sports and advocacy, comedy and the corporate environment, young people were making such giant strides,” he said, “Why wasn’t the media talking about those ones? Why wasn’t the government trumpeting those examples? Why wasn’t the true story being told that young positive role models were actually in the majority?”

The event saw spectacular performances by Omawumi of Idols West Africa, whose new single, In the Music, got the guests screaming and swaying; ace rapper MI, who ’set the roof on fire’, and the Rooftop MCs who took it to another level with their mega-hit track, La gi mo.

Unveiled at the occasion during a presentation by the event’s PR Director, Emilia Asim-Ita, were the new logo and the new website. Also unveiled was the ‘i am the future’ campaign which is the theme of the entire media campaign for the awards – TV, radio, print and outdoor; working with brand ambassadors; ‘Gbenga Sesan, IK Osakioduwa (Wildchild) and Tara Fela-Durotoye, who are the only three people to have won twice at The Future Awards.

Nominations were also formally declared open as from 12 midnight on that day: the awards have been expanded from 15 over the past three years to 20, and the judges were unveiled to include Mo Abudu (Moments with Mo), Bolanle Austen-Peters (Terra Kulture), Siene Allwell-Brown (Nigeria LNG), with Dr. Reuben Abati remaining its Chair.

Guests at the star-studded party included Stella Damascus, Michelle Dede, Tara Fela-Durotoye, Bukola Adubi, Toni Kan, Ebuka Obi Uchendu, Funke Bucknor, Soundcity’s Onyinye Igwe, the winners of Nigeria ’s Next Top Model with the organizer Joan Okorodudu, Big Brother’s Ofunneka, Najite Dede, amongst others.

The train now moves to the national tours, which will take the Awards team to town hall meetings in Abuja , Kaduna , Enugu , Ibadan , Benin and Lagos to engage the youths at the grassroots.

Nominations are to be submitted via the website and by phone and close on the 31st of October. The date of the Awards proper was also unveiled to be the 18th of January, 2009, in Lagos .

This launch event was held with support from Macleans, Yvent Couture, Zapphaire Events, Nigezie, Total Consult, O’Naphtali, Royal Mega Printing, Wea Concepts, Tremor Perfect, Saheeto, La Bash, and Nigeria International.

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What do Microsoft, Teledom Group, Nigeria Computer Society, New Nigeria Club, NairaHost, Empire Mates, Planet One, Temwangbon Entertainment, ISSPIN “Ambassadors” and Paradigm Initiative Nigeria have in common?

In what will go down in history as an urgent response to a clear need, various organizations have thrown their weight behind the ongoing Internet Safety, Security and Privacy Initiative for Nigeria campaign (www.pinigeria.org/isspin). Let’s face it, we all wish for an end to the embarrassing situation that sees an odd number of cybercafe users employing a tool that has helped nations jumpstart their economy to slow ours down. TV shows, media debates and various discussions across the world have pointed accusing fingers in Nigeria’s direction — and some have even given a global vice a name that makes it sound Nigerian! Have you considered how much more trouble may be brewing with the unlimited number of “opportunities” that have now opened up for online criminal acts with the continuing democratisation of access?

This should not be! We can’t sit by and watch our youth waste the two opportunities that we have to compete in the New Economy — time and ICTs. They buy bulk time in cybercafes, own wireless cards and laptops, and are getting smarter by the day. Gone (well, not really) are the days when they only tried to work through eMail messages with obvious spelling errors — and why do they always leave Caps Lock on each time they send emotional lies our way? They don’t only waste time on these acts that have earned us an unenviable number 3 spot in relation to online crime, our inability to help them find better use of new technologies will only cloud the possible use of the same for socio-economic transformation.

Well, all hope is not lost! Various institutions are adding their voice to this campaign by the day. It began with Microsoft — the brain behind the Internet Safety, Secutiry and Privacy Initiative — for that much-needed support to help kick-start the process. Microsoft Nigeria’s committment to a long-term partnership will help Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) add value to the lives of Nigeria’s youth through the many opportunities that Information and Communication Technologies provide. When PIN came up with the idea of an Essay Competition that will allow young Nigerians to add their voice to “Curbing Cybercrime in Nigeria,” Teledom Group didn’t waste time in expressing their unreserved support for the initiative — and that explains the first set of mouth-watering prizes for the competition. Teledom didn’t stop there, they have also announced prizes for the Quiz Competition that will see secondary school students across Nigeria battle it out and decide who’s boss when the issue is ICTs.

When you have Nigeria Computer Society’s blesisng for an initiative (as we do for the Essay Competition), you can be sure of the professional touch that keeps the effort going. With New Nigeria Club (in collaboration with Generis Solutions) having announced their support for the essay competition and NairaHost also voicing their key support, we can only imagine how exciting this will be for those students who’re presently thinking through (and writing) their essays. Thanks to Empire Mates Entertainment, Planet One and Temwangbon Entertainment, Lagos will feel the vibes on October 25! Let me not say more than that for now… watch out! The ISSPIN “Ambassadors” spread across 11 states and I must thank each of them for the amazing plans they have put together for their own roles in the campaign — and for the work they are already doing.

While the campaign workshops are rolled out in Anambra, Delta, Niger and Ondo states over the next few days, there will be parallel events (led by ISSPIN Ambassadors) in Abuja, Lagos and other locations across Nigeria. We are not surprised at the keen interest shown by various institutions within and outside Nigeria (e.g. Germany, UK, USA) because the message is very clear: it’s time to redeem Nigeria’s lost Human Capital by redirecting the energy of our youth towards appropriate use of online resources. The Internet Safety, Security and Privacy Initiative for Nigeria (ISSPIN) is not just a Microsoft-sponsored or Paradigm Initiative Nigeria-driven project, it’s a nation’s response to a vice that has eaten too deep into the fine fabric of our nation and world.

Join us today… Please visit www.pinigeria.org/isspin, write to info[at]pinigeria.org or call (+234)-741-56-25 to discuss your role in this campaign.

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The concern for internet safety is a global phenomenon, especially as those who never had access are increasingly being connected through their computers, mobile phones and other devices. While the prevalence of social networking websites, online communities and internet-enabled processes should be great news for individual, corporate and government users, the concern for safety remains a major source of concern. A 2007 Internet Crime report listed Nigeria as number three on the list of the world’s top ten online crime spots; and the prevalence of cybercrime among a sizeable number of young Nigerians goes to show the need for immediate concern, especially with the recent boom in mobile service provision and online payment platforms in Nigeria.

With support from Microsoft Nigeria, Nigeria Computer Society and Teledom Group, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria is proud to announce an essay competition as part of its ongoing social campaign against cybercrime. Essays may only be submitted by students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria and the theme to be explored is “Curbing Cybercrime in Nigeria,” with a focus on what must be done to redirect the energy of young Nigerians towards productive online engagements. Essays, which should not exceed 500 words, must be submitted as Microsoft Word attachments to essay@pinigeria.org by 11:59pm on October 19, 2008. The winning essay will be announced at the campaign event holding in Lagos on the 25th of October, 2008, so all those whose essays go past the first screening exercise will be invited to attend the event. Prizes to be won include Laptops, Multimedia Desktop PCs and GPRS-Enabled GSM Wristwatches.

For more details about the anti-cybercrime social campaign, please visit www.pinigeria.org/isspin or contact info@pinigeria.org

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