YOUTHVILLE TRUST
ISSUE #76
....young ..young at heart
Friday, April 29, 2016
Environmental degradation stirred up the activism in me — Emecho
‘A photographer sees beauty in everything grey’ Text by Latifat Opoola @LatifatOpoola
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eing a photographer forces you to see the world in a different way, you cannot help it! You seek beauty in places that on first glance look dull, you see colour where everything seems grey. Such is the case with Solomon Elohor Abe. The young photographer who is also a business consultant started his business, AFE Studios in 2009 which also serves as a training institute where he teaches students Photography & Graphic Design. He told YOUTHVILLE that for one to be a professional in his field, “you must have a passion for photography. You also have to have the ability to
‘Cultism is a prelude 26 >> to terrorism’
creatively think outside the box and continuously learn and experiment”. The Law graduate. Learnt the trade during one of his holidays while in school. “I decided to learn from a photographer who taught me some of the basics. I also learnt by reading books, watching video tutorials and experimenting”. Solomon who manages five staff said professional photography is expensive, however for a starter, what one would need is a camera, a good lens and a speedlight (flash). The young CEO gets his clients mostly through referrals. Abe said the business is a very lucrative one adding that sometimes the amount one earns depends on the kind of job,
the experience and the client. “With my experience, I charge at least N200,000 for a wedding based on the package the client requests for. So generally I’ll say it is lucrative,” he noted. As with many businesses, Solomon’s major challenge is capital, as most of the equipment are expensive. He also said some customers do not really understand the difference between professional photography and others and hence they “tend to complain about the amount we charge.” The proud entrepreneur therefore advised job seekers to start thinking of how to create jobs for themselves. He urged them to be diligent in whatever they do, because in it lies success.
Tuface, Stephanie now ambassadors for youth forum 27 >>
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YOUTHVILLE
Friday, April 29, 2016 Page 26
Environmental degradation stirred up the activism in me — Emecho Emecho Ted is the founder of GEO Blue Nigeria, an n organization known for creating environmentall awareness in the Niger Delta. The young publisher er of local magazine, ‘ECO 99’ is raising more awareness on environmental degradation through gh choral music. Emecho who holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Management spoke with h YOUTHVILLE on the initiative and its successes. Text by Prisca Ekokuje-Emadu
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hat is the driving force behind your initiative? The firm, Geo Blue Nigeria is a platform for an Environmental Awareness Campaign initiative, ‘Raise your voice for a cleaner environment’ in Warri, Delta State. I am passionate about environmental protection/ conservation because this is one area we ignore in the society, most especially in developing countries. I love writing about our environment and hope it will make it a better place for us and our generation. The firm was rendering minor environmental services like solid waste management in Warri with plans of extending into Rivers State. But making profit alone is not our primary objective, as it is about doing what is right. Hence, we indulge ourselves in services like environmental counselling and advocacy, and general housekeeping that would promote environmental awareness.
How long have you been into this? I have been involved in this for six years now, although through unconventional ways. It all began in 2010 from writing environmental articles and posting on social media among others. I also started engaging in some voluntary services like burning of waste materials dumped indiscriminately on nearby streets, clearing of blocked drains, and wetting of dusty areas. I did that because I needed people to know that we all have a role to play in making our society a better place. I expanded to the environmental campaign/ choral music initiative with the support of the Music Academy, Catholic Diocese of Warri. That led to the unveiling of the magazine, ‘ECO 99’. What are your challenges in driving this environmental-friendly campaign? I have faced series of challenges, but funding what I do has been the major one. I have millions of naira including my savings to fund project. Individuals, governmental and
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he Nigerian Turkish Nile University has offered scholarship to the top 100 students that passed the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board Examination (JAMB) in the country. The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Huseyin Sert who disclosed this in an interview with Daily Trust in Abuja recently said 17 per cent of the
years a wider range of campaign network; partnering with likeminded organizations locally and internationally, to promote and spread the importance of our environment using unconventional ways. What advice do you have for other youth? When I was ten, I had always wanted to be the President of Nigeria before I clocked 30 so I could contribute to the country’s development. Today, I have realized that we don’t need to be presidents before we can do this. To those youth roaming the streets without the wherewithal for a formal education, it is not the end. Instead of sitting idly at home doing almost nothing in the name of unemployment, we should tow in the words of Ola Rotimi in his book: the gods are not to blame to the effect that “life is wicked but to resign oneself to fate is to be crippled fast”. It is said that life begins where fear and procrastination ends. Let us imbibe this virtue and make it our watch word in our daily dealings.
‘Cultism is a prelude to terrorism’
Turkish University offers scholarship to top 100 students Text by Abubakar Haruna
nongovernmental organizations can also support this campaign of ‘Raise your voice to a cleaner environment’. I know policies are being made, but it is not enough. The masses must be carried along. They should be educated about the environment. How has your project affected lives? Global warming, air and water pollution, overuse of fertilizers, the negative implication of indiscriminate dumping of waste are the various challenges in the society. Preventing them is still a far knowledge from majority of the world’s population. Awareness as I have done helps to provide employment opportunities, as I have engaged some few youths in my project. Environmental awareness promotes adequate sanitation and improves human hygiene. Reduce the rate of motility in children and aged people. What are your plans for the near future? With the present initiative, we hope to achieve in the next
students’ population are on the university’s scholarship scheme. “We offered 100 per cent scholarship to top 100 students that passed JAMB examination,” he said. Another scholarship was also offered to Nigerians who won gold medal at the recent Olympic game, Prof. Sert added. To encourage excellence, the university said best students from Federal Government schools would enjoy 100 first
time discount of the school fees. While all courses across its departments have been accredited by the National University Commission (NUC), the Vice Chancellor hinted that they would soon run Medical, Mass Communication and Public Administration courses. The university was opened in 2009 with seven departments but now have 17 departments and five faculties, he said.
Text by Latifat Opoola @LatifatOpoola
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ormer Vice Chancellor, of University of Abuja, Professor Nuhu Yaqub has urged students to desist from cultism and other social vices as such traits could translate to acts of terrorism. Prof. Yaqub who is the present Vice Chancellor of the Sokoto State University said his major challenge while serving at UniAbuja was in curbing the activities of cultists. Nuhu who spoke as the chairman of the recently concluded 2nd International Conference organized by the Faculty of Social Science of the university in Abuja said he found the idea of cultism in the school at that time detestable considering that higher institutions are places for moulding characters. He added that cultism is a prelude to terrorism because both are aimed
at creating the culture of fear by using deadly weapons and that whether national or global, terrorism is an arrest of societal development. Earlier, Dean of Social Sciences at the university, Prof. Rhoda Mundi said the conference was organized to produce insightful recommendations to guide policy makers as well as serve as resource for research and scholarship.
Photo: The Hope Newspapers
A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug – Patricia Neal
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Tuface, Stephanie now ambassadors for youth forum
Text by Chidimma C. Okeke
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he Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF) said it is partnering with popular Nigerian stars, Tuface Idibia and Stephanie Okereke-Linus to empower entrepreneurs. A statement by the Director of Communications, Owomilere Obe said Idibia and Stephanie, as new NYPF ambassadors, would participate in the forum’s events that connect entrepreneurs at home and abroad.
“They will lend their voices to projects that stimulate a start-up culture in Nigeria. They will also harness their own ideas and experiences to NYPF goal which is to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs through easy access to capital for innovative ideas and education,” it said. The NYPF’s Chairman, Moses Siasia, had during the signing ceremony in Lagos on Wednesday, said that Idibia and Stephanie were selected to champion NYPF course because of their uniqueness. “As you know Tuface is one of Africa’s finest artists while Stephanie has featured and
produced movies that have been shown all over the world and her passion for the girl child,” he said. NYPF had in March, launched a N500 million seed funds for members in partnership with Heritage Bank. The fund which was called the Young Entrepreneurs and Students Grants (YESGrant) was disbursed by Heritage Bank and was available through the grant’s online application system, www.yesgrant.com. The grant is available to both men and women with innovative ideas under the ages of 40.
YOUTHVILLE
Friday, April 29, 2016 Page 27
How internet addiction is affecting Nigerian youth Text by Kamardeen Abubakar Ismail
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urfing simply means browsing. People engage in surfing for myriad purposes ranging from economic purpose, academic, socialization among others. However, it has assumed a worrisome trend among youth as they are fast becoming addicted to the internet. One of the many youth who browse the internet frequently, David Chukwuma spoke about the effects. He said: “Most youth spend precious time on social networks on issues bordering on amorous relationship, exchanging nude pictures, pornographic videos and other nefarious activities that negate all sense of morality. Some of them have seized this medium to engage in cybercrime.”
A parent residing in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mrs. Helen Thomas also decried the effects such addiction have on children including her son. She said: “Most students spend copious time on the internet chatting. As a result, they are distracted from their academic pursuits. For instance, whenever my son, an undergraduate is on holiday, he is always glued to his phone chatting for hours.” Relating her efforts in curbing such trait, Mrs. Thomas said, “Parents have a lot of roles to play in this regards. We should monitor the activities of our children online.” Pushing for a solution to internet addiction in Nigeria, an Abuja based ICT expert, Mr. Alex Amrenuvore said it is difficult to stop youth from surfing just because of the effects. “All we can do is to censor some of the o b s c e n e sites that are not healthy for their viewing,” he advised.
Empowerment: 500 corps members acquire skills in Sokoto FOODNEWS >> Text from Rakiya A. Muhammad, Sokoto
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ive hundred youth under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Sokoto state have acquired skills in various trades, a Coordinator, Mr. Thomas Yamma has said. Mr. Yamma who spoke on the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme in the state said the scheme is
aimed at reducing the high rate of unemployment. He said: “It was introduced so that after the service year, corps members could be selfemployed and by implication even be employers of labour.” He said the number of redeployed corps members has reduced with encouragements from the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar. “Anytime the Sultan addresses corps
members in his palace, the number of people requesting for redeployment will reduce. The Sultan advises corps members to remain in Sokoto. He always tells them that religion is a thing of choice and they should hold on to their religion,” he told YOUTHVILLE. He urged corps members to strive to adapt to wherever they are posted to and make the best use of the opportunity during the service year.
Child Rights: Screened commissioner to ensure Act in Gombe Text from Simon E. Sunday @SimonEchewofun
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commissionernominee in Gombe, Hajiya Sa’adatu Sa’ad has said she will ensure the domestication of the Child Rights Act once appointed as Commissioner in the Ministry of Women Affairs. Sa’ad, who was the immediate past Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, stated this during the screening of
commissioner-nominees at the Gombe State House of Assembly. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted her as saying: “If given the opportunity to serve in the Ministry of Women Affairs for the second time, I will do everything humanly possible to ensure that the bill before the House is domesticated. Canvassing for support on the Act, Hajiya Sa’adatu said: “Any woman that knows the value of a child will join us in
the train.” She said some people has poor knowledge of the Act thinking it will empower children to be rude and disobedient to their parents as against various cultures and religions. “It baffles me to see children, particularly the girl-child, taken to places to serve as house helps. Such girls are exposed to all kinds of dangers,” the screened commissioner cited some issues necessitating the Act.
Tasty Snacks in Northern Nigeria Text by Eseohe Ebhota @sleek_diva88
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t is widely held that Hausa meals especially the snacks are quite delicious. Most of them are pretty easy to make and they are healthy so this week, our food train brings some of the tasty and rich snacks we have in Northern Nigeria. Kuli-Kuli: Made from roasted peanuts and ground
nuts and ground into a semipaste, it is mixed with selected spices and fried till it becomes hard. This is one snack brings back fond childhood memories. Kuli-kuli is the “goto’’ snack you easily eat any time of the day. Alewa: These are small, white and yellow crumbly sweets that can be at any time of the day and it is mostly loved by kids. Dakkuwa: These are spicy, brown dough balls made from millet and groundnuts, they are not so sweet but they have a peppery taste, and are often sweetened. Awara: Also known as Tofu, this is a very healthy and tasty snack made from soya beans curds. It’s a great source of protein for all the families out there especially the kids.
Exercise is your king and nutrition is your queen, together they create fitness kingdom – Jack Lalane