YOUTHVILLE ISSUE #104
Friday, November 11, 2016 08078068532
youthville@dailytrust.com
...young .young a att h heart e ar t
To stay youthful, stay useful – John Keats
Agric business is more profitable than others, young farmer testifies
NOUN, World Bank to train 800 artisans in Kaduna
Bawa Benjamin is an entrepreneur who is into agriculture and photography. In this interaction with YOUTHVILLE, he spoke about how he started and where he is heading in the business.
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and the World Bank is planning to train over 800 artisans in Kaduna state. A statement from the University’s Director of Media and Publicity, Malam Ibrahim Sheme said the project will also have the support of the state government, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the Housing Developers Institute. A meeting between the institution and the partners was held in Kaduna recently where the Director of NOUN’s Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies and Lifelong Learning (CESLL), Prof. Grace Joktan said the training, which involves eight different trades, would be done in batches and that the participants would be certified after practical and examinations are conducted. “This hands-on skill training is practical-oriented and will require some level of certification after a successful examination is carried out at the expiration of the programme. “Already, the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Abdalla Uba Adamu, has approved for the institution to conduct the training by the provision of a secretariat to be managed by an Assistant Registrar, developed a curriculum for the programme and provided all logistics required for the smooth operation of the training,” Prof. Joktan said. She added that the training, at the request of the Kaduna state government, is for the provision of skills to male and female artisans, and would target four local government areas within the metropolis which are Igabi, Kaduna North, Kaduna South and Chikun.
By Latifat Opoola (@LatifatOpoola)
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It started with a hundred bags of oranges I bought from Benue state to sell in Port Harcourt. This introduced me into the food market business but at the time I was losing money because I was buying and selling, then I realized in the business chain only the farmers and transporters of the goods make the money, so I decided to go into the main farming, and that is how I got to learn about farming business,” Bawa said while recounting his early experience. The Chemistry graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria is the facilitator of “Youngman Africa, save our nation project” a non-governmental organization, and the chairman of Gamji Maza Cooperative Multipurpose Society. He is also a knowledge development facilitator commissioned to train corps members in camp on of leadership roles, and skills acquisition in agriculture, power, energy generation,
mining, food processing, film and photography. The 33 year old indigene of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State said he started in 2010 with a capital of N50,000 while in school. He cultivated three hectares of beans and had a turnout of N85,000 in his first planting season. Farming business is a very lucrative business he confirmed, boasting he made N220,000 at the end of the planting season. Bawa who loves being productive said: “I love to create opportunities, impart knowledge and share ideas. Armed with professional photography skills, Bawa began training youth corps members in camp in 2013. Now he joggles his business as a farmer and his knowledge development facilitation. He said no business is as profitable as the agriculture business, stressing that one hardly loses. Giving tips on being a successful farmer, Bawa said one needs to join a
cooperative business for easy access to loans and services of extension workers. The young farmer who notes that his major challenge is getting machinery, fertilizers, herbicide and pesticides readily available, said the cooperative is expanding by planting 20 hectares of rice next year, rising from the five hectares it has this year. “We are expecting a loan of N10million from the Bank of Agriculture. When that comes, we hope to rear about 2,000 birds, we would disburse this to our members and they would pay 10 per cent of their profit on the loan they collected,” he noted. Bawa who has 16 people on his payroll urged youth to not allow social vices control their lives. He also advised them to make their passion an obsession adding that it is a sure way to drive their dreams. “Everybody is willing to start something but not everybody is willing to pay the price. Most youth are not focused,” he said.
Union, Kwara Poly train 250 youth on skills From Romoke W. Ahmad, Ilorin The Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), in collaboration with Kwara State Polytechnic, recently kicked off Skill Acquisition programme for 250 indigenes of Ilorin Emirate. The youth according to the organisers are to be trained in paint production, soap making, tie and dye, beads making, air freshener, tailoring, POP ceiling, hair dressing among others in three months, when certificates will be issued to the trainees.
The IEDPU President, Alhaji Adulhamid Hadi said the programme is first of its kind since the inception of the union over 50 years ago and that it would help to address the growing unemployment rate especially during this period of recession. “The success of the programme depends on you (trainees), and we will continue to monitor you. If you have problem along the line, please let us know, we will assist you. Please count yourselves lucky because over 2000 applied for it,” Hadi said. The Rector of the Polytechnic, Alhaji
Mas’ud Elelu said the partnership is an indication of the union’s confidence in the skills training offered by the institution. He explained that towards the end of 2010, the polytechnic was able access TETFUND to put up a befitting Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC), for 2009/2010 projects intervention. He explained that the management has introduced trades in paint production, soap making and others in line with National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) syllabus.
NYCN, Foundation partner on youth empowerment By John Chuks Azu The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) is partnering with Touching Lives International Foundation (LTI) to empower Nigerian youth with various skills. The NYCN officials disclosed this at the reception of the President of the Philippines-based charity and networking organisation, Mrs Junlyn Afalla at the Youth House in Abuja recently. NYCN President, Murtala Muhammed while receiving the dignitary assured of the success of her empowerment agenda in Nigeria and the entire world. A member, Board of Trust of the council, Oscar Kalu lauded the packages offered by the Foundation, explaining
that it has made the work of the council “easier and sweeter”. Mrs Afalla said the Foundation will combine its vision with that of the council for mutual benefits. The Country Manager of LTI, Engr Daniel Mmecha Kalu and the Abuja coordinator, Mimika Ajinge commended assured that with the platform and From right: President, National Youth Council structure of NYCN in place, of Nigeria (NYCN), Murtala Muhammed receives a lot of lives will be touched. the President of Touching Lives International “I like to say with what you (TLI), Junlyn Afalla at the Youth House in Abuja have we are going to go very recently. far in reaching out to many bakery, soap making, network, makeup, youth in the country,” Mimika said. The company offers skills in areas fashion designing, aquaculture, among like website designing, cinematography, others trades.
By Chidimma C. Okeke
GT Bank launches fashion weekend in Lagos From Nurudeen Oyewole, Lagos Guaranty Trust Bank Plc has launched a two-day fashion weekend aimed at strengthening small businesses in key economic sector in Lagos. At a briefing by the GT Bank’s Senior Manager, Communications and External affairs, Oyinade Adegbite, the bank said the idea behind the initiative is geared towards boosting expertise, exposure and business growth. The bank’s fashion weekend slated for November 12 and 13 will attract global fashion personalities, among other dignitaries from different sectors, said Adegbite. “Attendees will be treated to a series of fashion events such as Entrepreneurial and Fashion Master Classes, Retail Exhibitions and glamorous Runaway Shows,” she said. The fashion Master Classes will allow entrepreneurs have the unique opportunity to interact with and learn from global fashion industry leaders.
DAILY TRUST, Friday, November 11, 2016
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YOUTHVILLE
Creative artist, Oyeleye: My local language cartoon helping children Kofoworola Oyeleye is the Chief Executive Officer and Creative Director of Iyin Creative based in Lagos. In this interview with Daily Trust YOUTHVILLE, she spoke on how over 5,000 children have used her cartoon to learn native Nigerian languages and culture.
By Kehinde Olufowobi, Lagos
H
ow Iyin creative came up Iyin-Creative is an innovative animation and illustration company that creates animated content aimed at preserving and promoting Nigerian and African cultural heritage. I got the idea to create Iyin-Creative when I decided to create a fun alternative to help my daughter learn Yoruba language. I wanted her to have something she would enjoy learning from, so I created a cartoon teaching not just Yoruba but also Hausa and Igbo, which is ‘Anilingo’. Over 5,000 children may have benefitted from the initiative The ground-work started in 2013, but the company went into full swing in 2014. So far, I would estimate it at over 5,000 children.
Apart from individual families, we also have schools and cultural societies who use Anilingo as a learning resource; through this we are able to impact the lives of many children both in Nigeria and around the world. My means of funding the initiative I feel blessed as I got funding from the Federal Government’s YOUWIN scheme, and I am now an ambassador of Intel. As great as my business idea is, I have only come this far by God’s favour. It is imperative to preserve our native languages Our native languages our identity. are English and other foreign languages do not belong to us, if we do not preserve our languages and cultures, we lose our heritage and all that we are.
Young fashion designers display skills at Turkish show From Abdullateef Aliyu, Lagos Hundreds of young fashion designers attended the 2016 Fashion and Beauty Show organized by Meridyen International Fair Organization supported by Ministry of Economic and Republic of Turkey. The show which has deepened business relations between Nigeria and the Republic of Turkey via the promotion of local fashion designs was the fifth of its kind held in
Lagos. Fashion Designers under the aegis of Fashion Designers’ Association of Nigeria (FADAN) exhibited their designs at the show promoted by the Turkish organization and supported by their local partners, Atlantic Exhibition of Nigeria. International Sale Director of Meridyen, Nuvit Becan and Managing Director of Atlantic, Ayodeji Olugbade said the Meridyen had consistently organized
the exhibition for five years as a platform to showcase the richness of local designs and promotion of entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths. He said this had increased trade relations between Nigeria and Turkey President of FADAN, Mrs. Funmi Ajila-Ladipo hailed the organizers for their support and encouragement of local designers, saying it would go a long way in promoting locally made designs.
Wizkid, 5 others win big at 2016 AFRIMA Awards By SSimon E. Sunday @ @SimonEchewofun About five top artistes from Nigeria including Wizkid, Falz, Patoranking and Flavour were at the glare at the 2016 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) which held this week in Lagos. Out of the 22 awards under th the continental categories, the Nige Nigerian stars clinched five. Wizkid h song, ‘Final (Baba Nla) won with his Artiste of the year Award; Falz’s ‘Bad Bado Baddest’ hit song won the Revelation of the African Continent award. Patoranking
FBN Holdings engages youth on financial literacy From Sunday Michael Ogwu, Lagos @SundayMichaelOg In its commitment to encourage savings culture among Nigerians, FBN Holdings Plc engaged children and youth last Monday to mark the 2016 World Savings Day. The annual event helps to raise awareness on financial literacy while boosting the financial inclusion drive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in terms of number of people that have banking relationship with financial institutions. FBNHoldings Global Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney in a briefing in Lagos said: “We recognize that financial literacy is a key
enabler in our quest for financial inclusion and that we must begin by ensuring that our children are properly empowered with a sound financial education.” FirstBank and FBN Merchant Bank collaborated to adopt 11 schools in each geo-political zone to mark the day. An average of 400 students per school were taught the basics of money and empowered with the financial knowledge they need to be relevant in the global economy. To further secure the financial future of young students, FirstBank has in place the MeFirst Account targeted at secondary school students, between 12 to 17 years to make them financially savvy, whilst saving up funds for their education and other future endeavours.
Centre seeks more actions against youth restiveness By Simon E. Sunday @SimonEchewofun The Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) has called for more actions to curb youth restiveness and other security issues across Africa. Speaking at its Africa Leadership and Security Summit in Abuja yesterday, the National Coordinator, Comrade Sheriff Mulade said the recent uprising of political issues, menace of insurgency, resourcebased issues in the Niger Delta of Nigeria and civil unrests in some African states give cause for concern. “Available development index has rated some African States among the poorest and under developed in the world with distressing rate of youth unemployment,” he said. Mulade also said the summit was meant to enlighten participants on how to play significant roles in their own growth and development. CEPEJ is a pan African non-governmental civil society operating since 2007 to promote and protect fundamental human rights,
rule of law and environmental justice and peaceful dialogues towards achieving sustainable development in Nigeria and other Africa countries. The Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND) in a paper presentation by Mr. Nkasi Owode said activities of 13 militancy groups have resulted in 35 attacks on oil and gas infrastructures between February and October 2016. PIND revealed that between January and August this year, 535 deaths have been caused by cultism, 136 deaths traced to political violence and 125 to kidnappings. It noted that unless the bases of such crises are addressed by engaging youth in gainful employment among other development initiatives, the region may remain volatile. The Senate President, Bukola Saraki who was represented by a Member of Senate Committee on Security and Intelligence Committee, Senator Gbenga Ashafa at the summit said the Cyber Crime Act of 2015 is one of the instances of the several laws being enacted to boost security.
clinched the best reggae song award with ‘No Kissing’ while Flavour got the y Best Artiste in African Contemporary with ‘Mmege Mmege’. heir Other Nigerian artistes who had their names carved out include Niniola who alongside Eddy Kenzo of Uganda got the heir Best African Collaboration with their song, ‘Mbilo Mbilo’. The regional categories had 10 awards with Flavour and Aramide clinching two. Flavour won the Best Male artiste in West Africa with his song, ‘Dance’ while the latter won the Best Female Artiste in West Africa with ‘I don’t care’.
By means of affection, gain the heart of the youth - St. John Bosco