YOUTHVILLE ISSUE #119
Friday, February 24, 2017
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...young at heart
youthville@dailytrust.com
“A strong positive selfimage is the best possible preparation for success” – Joyce Brothers
Nothing kills dream like waiting on government to employ you – Youngpreneur Abubakar Abubakar Usman Yahaya is a budding young entrepreneur with h the acumen of creating wealth through sheer hardwork and discipline. The CEO of Maimus mus Oil has created jobs for hundreds of Nigerians, empowered indigent people and built ilt a 40 bed hospital for his community. Abubakar who was recently named among Arewa ewa top 100 influential people of 2016 spoke to YOUTHVILLE about his motivations.
Text by Bamas Victoria @Bamasvictoria
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et us meet you? I live and do my business in Port Harcourt ,River State. I attended Federal Government College, Kwali, Abuja then Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. I have computer training course from NIIT and did course on peace and conflict resolution USA online. What kind of business are you into? I am into petroleum products sales and hauling. This is an offshoot of my father’s line of business so I grow into it. Following years of taciturn apprentice, I borrowed the business sense of my father to be where I am today. By the special grace of God Maimus Oil is one of the oil companies competing alongside other oil majors in Nigeria. Have you done a white collar job before? I have never put up an application for any job any where. However, I’m motivated by my inner desire to do multiple tasks , create opportunities that is sustaining. This decision put me away from the restrictions of paid employment. Working for someone or organization and waiting for the month to end before I get paid has never appealed to me. Nothing kills dream like waiting on government to employ you.
Everyman was created to turn things around using his hands. What are the skills sets needed for one to toe your line of business? You don’t need any specific skills rather you should have personal discipline and be prudent with finance . By learning the robes of management, I have come to term that for any business to succeed you must be disciplined, prudent and accountable. Above all, those working for you must be duly paid their wages. How does it feel to be listed among arewa 100? I am reminded of the words of Allah in Q2Vs264’ O you who believe! Do not render in vain your charity by reminders of your generosity or by injury, like him who spends his wealth to be seen of men.....’ Haven said this, I feel honored by being among the recipient of arewa 100 but don’t see awards as a measure of human achievement. What can be done to promote the culture of philanthropy and voluntary services in Nigeria? By virtue of the two major faiths in this country, even Africa traditional religion , the virtue and culture of philanthropy is embeded in our spiritual life as there is much emphasis on it in the two major religions in this country. African culture encourages philanthropy and
Foundation launches books, promotes actions on sickle cell Text by Simon E. Sunday @SimonEchewofun
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he Babajide Olowodola Foundation (BOF) based in Abuja has launched two books authored by its founder, Pastor Babajide Olowodola to promote actions on sickle cell disease. Speaking at the launch of the books: ‘Oasis in the Desert’ and ‘Reflections’ in Abuja, Olowodola decried the lack of advanced technologies to treat severe cases of diseases like the sickle cell anaemia. Olowodola who is the Senior Pastor of Foursquare Gospel Church, Asokoro recounted the experience he has had about the sickle cell disease in his family. He said, “We have gone through a long night with our last born who suffers the sickle cell disease and we don’t think another Nigerian should be allowed to go through that experience alone.”
A former minister of health, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, at the book launch said: “In terms of successes in managing the disease, the earlier we can diagnose the better. That is why whatsoever funds Olowodola is able to get from here, he is going to dedicate it or a part of it to getting the equipment for early diagnosis.” He also called for more genotype education for young and intending couples to help prevent further cases of sickle cell and the crisis that comes with it. Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd) at the event said statistics shows that 75 per cent of sickle cell cases recorded in the world occur in Nigeria. He said government is now supporting the cause, adding that, “Let there be contributions from the general public in order to combat this particular disease which harms so many young Nigerians.”
hospitality. Hence, our religious leaders should preach and promote this noble virtue. What are the gains and challenges of being a young entrepreneur? Like all business in Nigeria, the challenge of being an entrepreneur is the lack of
infrastructure and social amenities, it degrades and destroy the little efforts you are putting up plus corruption which is quite demoralizing. Despite all these challenges, you have it at the back of your mind that you have no any other country than Nigeria, is your home which gives you the zeal to keep pushing things up and with the present government
of President Muhammadu Buhari,it gives me hope because impunity is reducing and public officials are becoming responsible and responsive to their duties which is a catalyst to business growth. Advise to young persons who want to follow your footsteps? Resilience in pursuit of genuine purpose and prayer with the right tools is a key in the pursuit of life. Thank you.
‘Worship with Volla’ reality show to hit the screen in March
Volla Worship
Text By Bamas Victoria @BamasVictoria
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gospel reality TV show, worship with Volla is set to commence airing across TV stations in the first week of March. The producer of the show, Idahosa Ernest, while briefing newsmen in Abuja, said that Worship with Volla (WWV) is a
reality show that will feature 30 minnutes of intense worship in music and acoustic performances. Accoridng to him the aim is to create a platform for self expression amongst gospel artistes. Idhaosa added that the reality TV show which will be the first of its kind in Africa will be dedicated to worshiping God. “Our goal is to expose our audience and young people even more to worship music both as an act and as a source of inspiration. We will also create a new breed of worshippers who are unashamed of the gospel”. While noting the challenges of music production in the country, one of the sponsors of the programme, Arome Jakins, said “the music industry is challenging but we are not competing with secular music.” On how they aim to sustain the programme Arome said “ We want to enrich the content of the production so as to attract sponsors for the reality show. There are a lot of people who want to support this venture but we just need to make it attractive for them to come in.”