YOUTHVILLE ISSUE #106
Friday, November 25, 2016 08078068532
Youth urged to face realities of life From Emma Elekwa, Awka
Nigerian youth have been challenged to desist from daydreaming and brace up with the realities and challenges of life. The Registrar, Tansian University, Anambra State, Dr. Peter Ejikeme who gave the advice in a youth summit in Awka by the Progressive Anambra Youth (PAY) said it is obvious that the government can no longer provide job for the teeming youth as it is saturated with so many things, including provision of basic infrastructures. “Often times, our youth are misguided in their thinking. The reality on ground is that there is no job anywhere in the country and government can no longer provide jobs for the youth,” he stated. Ejikeme, who is also the Secretary General, Association of Registrars of Nigerian Universities, challenged them to be useful by engaging their heads and hands in meaningful ventures that would place food on their tables. Earlier, the President of the body, Comrade Okafor Nonso-Smart said the organisation believes strongly in entrepreneurship and organizes periodic leadership training where resource persons from different fields are invited to speak to the youth.
Youth told to be peace agents By Abbas Jimoh Nigerian youth have been urged to be more responsible and embrace peace at all times to guarantee sustainable peace in the country. The National Coordinator of Zaymar Islamic Research and Education Research Centre, Hajiya Shifa Garba made the call in Abuja in an interview with reporters. She said the group was founded in 2005 in response to youth restiveness, to check their excessive behaviour and to make them committed to national course. “We are committed to channelling the energy of the youth for economic and national development. We know the youth have the tendency to buy into intra and inter crises but if they are properly guided, they can contribute positively to the growth of the country in all ramifications. We have conducted researches that look into contemporary and global challenges especially as it affects the youth,” she explained.
youthville@dailytrust.com
...young at heart
An obstacle is often a stepping stone. - Prescott
I’ve grown my creative skills to include architecture — Says young Jaja Abdullahi Umar Jaja, an 18-year-old youth from Kebbi state o identified his passion for creativity at a tender age. Young Jaja who n just finished his secondary education at Success Schools, Sokoto in e this interview spoke about his journey in the art world and how he is now modeling architectural designs. By Simon E. Sunday (@SimonEchewofun) & Chidimma C. Okeke
H
ow did you become a creative designer? It is through Talent and passion. When I said talent, I mean I didn’t learn arts in any institution. I grew up with fine arts. I could not tell exactly when I started fine arts and may be how; all I can tell is that I believe I was born with the talent. I have great passion for arts. I love arts. I have great interest, inspiration and admiration for arts. I think this is what motivated me to champion a robust creative art platform. What are your challenges to achieving your art dreams? They range from lack of art appreciation in the community I live, to lack of good materials for my work, to lack of support, and sometimes, financial problems. Unlike other regions of the country, art works are not quite appreciated in Northern Nigeria. It could appear to be a surprise, but believe me, average people from the region do not even know art works are marketed. Art Galleries and exhibition centres can be found only in few northern states. Also, good materials for artworks are not often sold or can merely be found in the region, especially in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
Sometimes, I have to go to Zaria before I can find good materials. How do you market your artworks? I have marketed some but I’m looking for a better way to advertise my products to reach large audience and possibly, make large sales. I have used the social media platforms like Facebook jaja.finearts, Instagram account -@jaja.draws, and twitter, @jaja_ draws. What are current projects? I’m currently working on modelling some architectural buildings. I have modelled a skyscraper, restaurant, and residential buildings. I’m working on modelling more of these. I learnt to do these through Bashir Aliyu, an automotive designer whom Sokoto State Government has sponsored to study automotive design in the United States this year, 2016. I learnt a lot from him and would wish to be sponsored by the state government, private firms or individuals to advance my creative skills and maybe if possible study Architecture in a foreign school. I have made several efforts and attempts to reach critical stakeholders on this and I do hope my voice would be heard through this medium. How do you get funds for your creative works? I source my fund through selling my art works, though I’ve
ale. made only one sale. Whenever I sell an art work, I will investt a share of the fund to da buy art materials and share of the fund to buy someone’s art work, just trying to improve the ation level of art appreciation in Africa. Do you have any expansion plan? ansion in My plans for expansion e years is to the next three to five onal art seller become an international eciator. I can and maybe art appreciator. h selling achieve this through e, on my art works online, ok. places like Facebook. m, com, UGallery.com, and more. I also havee plans to have my art works exhibited in galleries. What are your words to young people? My advice to youth is that they should try to realize their talents, theirr potentials, what they are up to. Many youths don’t know what they are good at. Try to realize yourr d natural skill and work on it.
‘I’ve always wanted to be a fashion designer’ By Latifat La Opoola (@LatifatOpoola) (@La Amraabaya is a growing Amraa fashio fashion line in Abuja. The owner ow and a final year stud student of Business Adminis Administration at Abu Dhabi University in the United Arab Emir Emirates (UAE), Amira Mu Mustapha Yabo spoke wit with our reporter on ho how she started a ye year ago. “I started because I’v I’ve always wanted to become a fashion de designer, and I love el elegant and modest
clothing,” she said. The young entrepreneur from Yabo LGA in Sokoto state added, “Fashion has grown more intertwined with popular culture; its reach and influence have extended to us young. Not to get swayed by the demands of the society, I am specializing in Abaya, to show elegance in such outfits can also be achieved.” The 23-year-old urged youth to provide an emerging market for the fashion world because of the increasing demand to look good and measure up with new trends. “You have to be dedicated and patient in other to succeed and be a
professional,” she quipped. Amira said the infant business however has recorded considerable amount of success adding that the future looks promising. She has a huge hurdle running business and studies. “Being a solo founder and fulltime student makes it extremely hard to take on and execute all the business responsibilities efficiently,” Amira confessed. She called on youth to “create and be part of something that is bigger than you. Nobody is going to give it to you; you have to work for your dreams. Be ruthlessly persistent, and never stop believing.”
DAILY TRUST, Friday, November 25, 2016
26
Fashion: The beauty of headbands By Eseohe Ebhota @EbhotaEseohe
I
n the past, headbands were known to be hair accessories for kids only but that’s not true because recent trends in fashion shows that hair bands can be worn by not just little girls but grownups too. They come in
different shapes, designs and colours. The beauty of head bands is that they can be worn with anything and to anywhere irrespective of the event or place. It also depends on the hairdo you have on as it will determine whether you would need a
headband or not. They can also be worn if you have either a long hair or short hair. What matters is how you wear it to make you look beautiful. So whatever you do this weekend, make sure you get the right type of headband that suits you and use it. Then step out in style.
YOUTHVILLE
Girls face highest HIV threat from men By Judd-Leonard Okafor
A new report by the United Nations AIDS Agency (UNAIDS) has revealed girls between ages 15 and 24 are in the most “incredibly dangerous time” of their lives and getting HIV from men. It said 7,500 young women became newly infected with HIV every week in 2015. “Young women are facing a triple threat,” said UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibé. “They are at high risk of HIV infection, have low rates of HIV testing, and have poor adherence to treatment. The world is failing young women and we urgently need to do more.”
Girls aged between 15 and 19 accounted for nine out of 10 new HIV infections among 10-19-year-olds, according to studies from six locations in eastern and southern Africa. Young women are acquiring new HIV infections from adult men, and young men acquire the virus much later in life as they transition into adult life and continue the cycle of new infections, the report said. Around the world, new HIV infections dropped only 6% between 2010 and 2015. A global target is to reach less than 100,000 new infections among adolescent girls and young women by 2020. The target will require a 74% reduction between now and 2020.
19-year-old is McPherson Varsity’s best graduate From Nurudeen Oyewole, Lagos
Lagos pupils win Lafarge Literacy Competition From Nurudeen Oyewole, Lagos Lagos school pupils, Awosikunde Joshua of Methodist Nursery/ Primary School and Philip Favour of Darocha Nursery/ Primary, School, who represented the State in the 2016 edition of the Lafarge Africa National Literacy Competition, have emerged winners. The winners were rewarded with the star prize of N250,000 each. The first runners up from Plateau State went home with
N200,000 each while the second runners-up were given N150,000 each. The duo defeated their counterparts from Plateau, Gombe, Enugu, Edo and Abuja, who represented North Central, North East, South East, South South and North Central respectively, at the grand finale of the 3rd Literacy Competition held in Lagos. Both Awokusibe and Philip who were quite excited with their victory.
The Group Managing Director, Lafarge Africa Plc, Michel Puchercos said, “Our motivation is to continue to provide support and interventions in the area of education as a focus area for our social investments.” The Chairperson, Ovie Brume Foundation, Ms. Evelyn Oputu said the foundation will exploit the potentials of the young people who do not have the opportunity to further their education.
Nineteen-year-old, Temiloluwa Adunola Sholola this week became the pioneer best graduate of McPherson University (McU), Ogun state. Sholola, a graduate of Accounting and Finance bagged a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.81 ahead of 38 other students. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adeniyi Agunbiade during the maiden convocation ceremony said, out of 39 graduands that convocated eight got First Class, 17 had Second Class Upper Credit,
13 bagged Second Class Lower while one person had a 3rd Class. “This set of 42 pioneer students were admitted into the University in November 2012. Their fewness in number was deliberate. It was part of an attempt to take off with very high standards as was evident, that admission exercise was closed within two months of commencement of the session,” he said. Sholola who won several awards and prizes said she will like to impart on others as her lecturers did done for her.
ITF trains young IDPs on
Kuje youth to transform Council’s social life entrepreneurship skills The youth currently working occupation is farming but have By Latifat Opoola (@LatifatOpoola) To improve on the social life of Kuje Area Council and propagate Gbagyi culture, a group of youth are engaging in drama sessions to provide entertainment for the council.
on a movie titled, ‘Destiny Child’ explained the need to channel their energy into something meaningful, and develop on their talent and potential. Leader of the group, Bitrus Musa Abdulkareem said his 53 members aged between 16 and 33 years agreed to partner with Ho u s e h o l d Media Studio, a media consultancy firm to help produce the movie. Bi t r u s who said the youth major
chosen to act to redirect their energy towards virtuous deeds and away from vices. “There is barely any social activity happening in Kuje, we want to help build a lively and entertaining place where there will be fun and in turn bring lots of other opportunities. “Most of us have graduated secondary school and seeking admission into higher Institutions but because the admissions are not forthcoming, we have resolved to engage in our farming and making movies,” he said. He called for support from the Council and other relevant agencies to help fulfil their dreams and aspirations.
From Omirin Olatunji, Maiduguri The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has launched a three-month-training programme of 600 young Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) selected from various camps across Borno state to eliminate poverty and unemployment. The training also targeted 500 women under the National Enterprises Development Programme (NEDEP) that could fast track the country’s industrial revolution plan. The Northeast Zonal Director, National Industrial
Skills Development Programme (NISDP), Alhaji Aliyu Elkayri, at the flag-off in Maiduguri said additional 600 IDPs were chosen for Borno along with the 500 earlier selected in the sixth phase of the NISDP. “We are witnessing the flagoff of the training scheme, which shall be implemented simultaneously in three other states of Yobe, Adamawa and Taraba. He explained that the beneficiaries will receive intensive training for three months in different skills and trades like tailoring, poultry and cosmetology.
Total empowers 5 Delta youth on business skills From Mohammed Shosanya, Lagos Total Nigeria Plc has presented starter packs to five graduating youth of its 2015 Skills Acquisition Program (SAP) in Koko, Delta state. The Skills Acquisition Program is a sustainable youth development program designed to empower less privileged youths of the affiliate’s host communities.
A statement from the company said the youth were trained in vocations of their choice which include welding and fabrication, fish and crop farming, fashion designing, computer studies, furniture making and hair dressing. This programme since its inception in 2006, it said has graduated 45 youth in the state while paying a two year upfront
shop rent to assist the present beneficiaries. Presenting the starter packs, the Corporate Affairs Manager, Albert Mabuyaku said: “Despite the current tough economic situation, we had to go the extra mile to ensure that these starter packs are procured as we cannot compromise the development of our communities and that of our youth.”
A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do – Walter Bagehot