YOUTHVILLE ISSUE #91 1
Friday, August 12, 2016 08078068532
YOUTH DAY: ‘Our choices could make or mar the society’
A young writer, Aisha Faruk has called on Nigerian youth to examine their choices as they could make or mar the society. In an article commemorating today’s World Youth Day, she said it is conspicuously obvious that the youth are the future of all generations. “This youthful stage in life is indeed very critical and crucial to the youth and the society in which they dwell. The make-up and qualities make them either strong or weak pillar for the society,” Aisha explained. The writer noted that some youth use the youthful period of planning to actually plan and strategize on things that would benefit them in life, while others waste the time by investing in fruitless ventures that would benefit neither them nor their society. While advising youth to use their energy for positive impact, she said: “You have all the advantages – time and energy; but remember that they are transient. So, you must strike at the right time.” She prayed that the Almighty will guard, guide and direct every youth to be useful and become the reliable hope and future of the society; and become positive models and mentors for rising generations to emulate. Aisha Faruk can be reached via: saffanawa@gmail.com
Be patient, Presidential spokesman urges youth Text from Dotun Omisakin, Lagos The Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, has enjoined youth to exercise patience with the present administration. Adesina who spoke at a youth programme at the Foursquare Gospel Church also enjoined them to pray for the progress of the country and for President Muhammadu Buhari to succeed in changing the fortune of Nigeria. He said the administration is desirous of giving premium to youth development, saying that was why appointments of some advisers on youth matters were made. “The government has plans for the youths but the state of the economy is difficult. Your role is to pray for the country,” he said. Adesina said the slump in price of crude oil is eating deep into the fabric of the nation’s revenue. However, he said for the first time, the last major revenue shared among the federal, state and local governments came from non-oil sector.
youthville@dailytrust.com
...young at heart
Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever. - Keri Russell
Economy: Job creation, best choice for youth — YOUWIN Awardee, Chinedu
Mmadu Chinedu Emmnauel read Computer Sciences at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The entrepreneur founded ‘The Symbol Multi-concepts Ltd’ which he expanded in Abuja, with funds obtained during the first phase of the Youth With Innovation in Nigeria (YOUWIN) scheme. After eight years in his research and entertainment based firm, Chinedu speaks on why job creation still remains the best choice for the youth. Text by Simon E. Sunday @SimonEchewofun
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hat drives your passion for youth empowerment? It is a fact that there is high rate of unemployment but youthful skills abound in Nigeria. This gives me concerns that these youth cannot get jobs, get loans or grants to develop their skills. To encourage others, my firm conceived a project: The Symbol Reality Show to empower many. How will this project affect the lives of youth? A UNESCO’s prediction in 2012 said in 50 years ahead, most Nigerian languages would go into extinction and that so many are already endangered. For eight years, we researched on how to preserve the various Nigerian languages. With our vision of youth empowerment, we developed the project tailored to suit their interest while providing a platform to engage them. The TV reality show seeks to reward speakers of native languages, provide start-up capitals for non-winners while creating job platforms for any participant who either did not win or did not get the capital. The TV show was flagged off on July 20, 2016 and entries have been open till October. The show entertains, enlightens
and educates participants; it also provides an empowerment platform for youth to start businesses, but they must sign unto it. We initiated this because it is quite clear that job creation remains the best choice for youth to grow the economy, and this can work best if we bring out the creativity in us. What other rewards would participants get from the show? There are prizes to be won and they include a Kia Sportage SUV, a N5 million grant and a trip to three tourist centres in Nigeria. Five persons are expected to win N1.5million each. The cash consolation prizes range from N50,000 to N250,000, and a chance to attend a recognised business school. On the grant, organisers of the show will give start-up capitals to deserving participants from N200,000 to one million naira without interest or collateral. The condition is that, the winner of the business idea will have to share profit with our firm on a ratio basis. Other qualified participants will be drafted to work as staff with the winning business idea and proposal. Those who are interested in this may not necessarily participate in the show. Young talents can participate by registering, and do auditions by November. We will start considering
business plans from then till December. The reality TV show which will hold on national TV channels will start by January 2017 when shortlisted participants will stay at the Symbol Kingdom for six weeks to learn skills in business, leadership, and entrepreneurship skills. They will compete on working knowledge of their languages or any Nigerian language that they can speak fluently. Do you have any challenge achieving your set goals? At the moment we don’t have much sponsors and supporters. Beside Sgoch Network and KIA, we are urging firms to invest in our programme and the Nigerian youth. How does one become a participant in this project? We encourage interested and young talents to visit our website via, www.thesymboltvrealityshow. com, on Facebook at ‘THE SYMBOL TV REALITY SHOW’, and on Twitter via, @symbolreality1 to get details on the registration and participation process nationwide. What is your expansion plan in the next five years? In five years we want to get 15 per cent of Nigerian youth empowered, either through self-employment or by providing employment for others through the ideas of their mates.
Enterprise: ‘I learnt never to give up on my dream’ Text by Latifat Opoo Opoola (@LatifatOpoola) (@LatifatOpoo “In five years, I would have expanded my brand and have de branches delivering services to more customers. I would have created job said Maryam more jobs,” Satomi, founder of SaatsMa SaatsMaris Creations. Marya Maryam in an intervie interview with Y O U T H V I L L E e n c o u r a g e d young ones to be entre entrepreneurs. She said paid jobs may not be guaranteed considering th that the tiers of ggovernments are
finding it hard to pay salaries now. Maryam, a fashion designer started in January after her National Youth Service year. She feels the clothing business is lucrative but requires enough patience to thrive. “During my service year, I saved enough to pay and learn tailoring for just four months. However, I learnt very fast because of my zeal and my teacher was also good,” she said. The lady who has always had the passion to create and wear sophisticated clothes said she started with N200,000 fund sourced from her family and friends. “I didn't rent the place for my business. I bought the machine, necessary equipment and
furnished the place,” Maryam said. Specializing in children and adult wears, she said to excel, “one needs to have the passion for fashion and design, lots of practice, commitment and above all, prayers.” Her clients have been attracted through samples of her work on social media, through referrals and by personal sales. She added: “My family members naturally patronize to show their support.” “Our youth should understand that when they have the passion for something, they should go for it. Just dreaming isn't enough; work hard to make it a reality. Do not wait on promises, you can always start small,” was her candid advice to those who would want to tread her path.
DAILY TRUST, Friday, August 12, 2016
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YOUTHVILLE
Uniabuja starts Master’s in Corruption Studies Text by Judd-Leonard Okafor @judd_leonard The University of Abuja senate has approved Master's and postgraduate certificate programmes in corruption studies among seven new courses. The others include nongovernmental organisation management, youth care management, leadership and public governance, peace and conflict management, criminology and security studies, and social rehabilitation studies Forty-three master's and 13 postgraduate diploma students have been admitted for 2016/2017 academic session while over 200 applications are being processed, officials said. The courses are offered in collaboration with APUDI Institute for Peace Studies and Social Rehabilitation (APIS).
MTV Base VJ search 2012 edition
MTV Base searches for screen TALENT in Abuja Text by Simon E. Sunday @SimonEchewofun
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TV Base, a music channel popular on the DSTV platform has held the third edition of its audition in Abuja to pick the next young talented Nigerian to become its ‘Video Junkie’. The two-day audition, which held in three zones started at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja with its tag: MTV Base VJ search Nigeria. The judges on the panel include some
radio personalities like Chase, Big Mo, Vidi, Amaka Fressh, and music producer GospelOnDeBeatz. The 2013 winner of the VJ Search, Ehizokjie Okoegulae, was also a member of the search panel, The event which had a good turnout of young Nigerians was quite a platform for the hopefuls. In a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report, a judge, Big Mo said the contest was to scout for potential video presenters and that the finals would
NGO to sponsor education for IDPs children Text by Bamas Victoria @BamasVictoria
hold in Lagos at a later date. The winner will also travel around the continent representing MTV Base, and would be rewarded with a twoyear contract worth N20 million, she said. Recall that Okoegulae who won the 2013 edition was rewarded with 10,000 dollars and a brand new car. He now hosts the MTV Base show, ‘Naija Top 10‘, and ‘Word on the Street’. The search will hold in Enugu today and in Lagos by August 16, the report said.
NGO to empower 70 unemployed youth from states Text from Emma Elekwa, Awka A firm, Grassroots Empowerment Initiative for Positive Change and Development has said it would empower over 70 unemployed youth in rural areas of Nigeria. The national coordinator, Feyisola George, who stated this while receiving an award of excellence from the Miss Nigeria House Beauty Pageant, Queen Isaac Zoey in Awka said it is supporting
APUDI is Almustapha Peace, Unity and Development Initiative founded by retired Major Hamza Almustapha, Chief Security Adviser to former Head of State, General Sani Abacha. The Director of the Centre for Corruption Studies in the University, Professor Emmanuel Danladi at the orientation ceremony said the Centre, which has 10 pioneer master's students, offers training that discourage inducement for people to become corrupt. "If I didn't do what I'm supposed to do, I have corrupted the system," he said. "If I'm supposed to do this and I didn't do it the way I'm supposed to do it, it is corruption." The Director General of APIN/ University of Abuja, Prof. Danladi Atu said the Institute has dual modes of online teaching and direct teaching.
government’s efforts by giving out scholarships. “Now that the change has come, we want to see how we can empower youth at the grass root. We are planning on giving out scholarship to indigent students and bring electricity to the poorest villages. “It will start soon, and we already have coordinators in the 36 states and the FCT,” he added.
A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), ‘I am. I can. I will.’ said it will train some exceptional children of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) whom it picked at the IDPs camp school in Karmajiji, Abuja. The founder, Mrs Nene Akintan who addressed newsmen at the camp said, “The goal is to empower, boys, girls and women to do anything they want to achieve and to believe in themselves.” She said the firm has identified four excelling children and offered to take over their education. “Their class performance was a criterion for the selection. The motivation was to empower people because I have three kids and I know that they are
fortunate, and I want them to imbibe the culture of service to humanity,” Nene said. The founder said they will visit all the IDPs camps in Abuja, in Yola and eventually in Edo state. Ten year old Fatimah Isah, a beneficiary expressed her appreciation saying, “What I need most is education. I want to be learned and look forward to becoming a doctor someday.” A member of the team, Olympia Okonmah in her 20s, said her interactions with the children were interesting because they are cultured and enthusiastic. For 17 year old Temi Akintan, another member, appreciation was the key. “My experience today has been really enlightening because they were appreciative for little things like stickers , but in Canada people won’t be really grateful for them.”
GO during bers of the N Team mem IDP camp in iji aj the Karm their visit to ey . Photo: Rodn Abuja recently
Young author: Crave for peace in Jos inspired my writing TText by Francis Arinze Iloani Twenty two year old lawyer, Edify Y Yakusak said she was motivated to w write her novel depicting the crisis in Jos so peace can be restored in the North Central city. Speaking in Abuja recently at the book launch, 'After They Left', Edify said the world seemed to move on as religious and ethnic violence ravaged the city. "There were no hashtags" for the
victims or even the crisis in the city," she said with a voice laden with emotions. She said the media failed the people of Jos as little publicity was given to the violence, massacres and the ordeal of people who were displaced from their homes. Edify decided to put the Jos crisis on record for posterity sake and that of a frantic contribution to restoring peace in the city. The lawyer turned novelist told
the gathering that she had dreamt of being a pilot when she was nine years old but chose another call to be a medical doctor and help people. However, Edify said both dreams died when she found herself reading Law. The writing passion sprang up and became dominant, a development that gave birth to her novel. 'After They Left' is a story with themes of love mixed in violence, death, arson, captivity, kidnapping and family politics.
Let us live for the beauty of our own reality. - Charles Lamb