YOUTHVILLE ISSUE #131
Friday, May 19, 2017
08078068532
youthville@dailytrust.com
...young at heart
Don’t wait. The time will never be just right. – Elite Daily
‘Football reduces youth vulnerability to radicalism’ From Ibrahim Musa Giginyu, Kano
Fashion market is COMPETITIVE, but big enough for all — Designer, House of Tysedo Tyna Sedoo Tondo, is the CEO of Lagos-based fashion outfit, ‘House of Tysedo’. The Mass Communication graduate who learnt the art under renowned designer, Frank Osodi revealed tips in this interview on staying competitive and relevant in the industry. By Bamas Victoria @BamasVictoria
W
hat was the motivation behind your outfit? House of Tysedo is a fashion haven created to cloth women, and to showcase the African fashion. The motivation came from my flair for fashion which started from childhood. As an entrepreneur, what are your key challenges in the business? Electricity is one of them as most times, we depend on running the generator and incurring more expenses of fuelling it. The bad economy is playing its role too; people complain so much when you charge them for a job whereas the price of every material in the market has increased. My gains haven’t been much but most importantly, I have been
able to carve a niche for myself and build a strong clientele for my company. What are the improvements that have made you competitive? My employees and I stay abreast of trends in the fashion world. We attend seminars and trainings to improve ourselves. The market is very competitive, but it is also big enough for everyone who knows the fashion trend. Our priority is to satisfy our customers and make them always come back. What are the trainings one should get to do your kind of work? You either go to a fashion school or become an apprentice under an experienced person. For me, I did both. The person must also attend workshops and seminars, and also acquire knowledge on the business aspect of fashion.
Funding is a task for start-ups, how did you source for yours? I faced a lot of funding issues when I was about to start as no help came from anywhere. I applied for grants but none was given to me. I had to work in my bedroom and I never gave up because of my passion. I had to start in a small way and gradually the expansion started. What is your advice to others who seek a similar enterprise? Firstly, they should be sure that is their passion before they start. They must be ready to work hard to face the challenges; it takes time to build a brand in a highly competitive market as fashion industry. They should always put their customers’ happiness before money. Finally, they must always be willing to learn new things without giving up because fashion trends often change.
The Project Director of Youth for Healthy Initiative (Y4HCI), Professor Muhammad Bello Shitu has revealed that the game of soccer is helping both male and female youth serve as agents of peace building, conflict mitigation and resolution in Kano state. Prof. Shitu said the youth development project is promoted by the Inclusive Community Education and Development Association (ICEADA) along with the American Embassy. He added that, soccer is one of the safe space social inclusion activities that have the youth’s total attention these days. The project is using it in changing negative behaviours and in the promotion of peace and healthy living. The project is working in 11 local governments out of the 44 in the state. The primary targets he said were youth of ages 15 to 35 living within the communities involved. Prof. Shitu said, “It is a soccer competition organised under the Y4HCI project to promote peace among youth members of targeted communities. There are 16 soccer teams from 16 targeted communities. However, through these soccer matches, we hope to develop sustainable socially responsive gender-friendly youth engagement, safe spaces for peace, tolerance and civic responsibility using soccer diplomacy,” he said.
Air Peace votes N300m to train students From Abdullateef Aliyu, Lagos Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Barr. Allen Onyema has earmarked over N300 million to train 52 executive members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in non-violence education in Nigeria, and at Emory University in the United States. Onyema stated this when the Grand Patron of NANS in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Ubong King and leaders of the students’ body visited the firm’s headquarters in Lagos. The airline, he added, would also henceforth fly leaders of NANS and all other categories of students to school on resumption and out of school on vacation for a flat fare of N18,000. He urged NANS executive to be serious about the opportunity offered by the airline on the training. Onyema said the trainees
are expected to return home as non-violence experts to support the campaign for peace which his not-for-profit organisation, the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN) had championed for many years. “I like being in the midst of youth who are detribalised in their struggles. Let no one use you to foment trouble. In 2004 when there was militancy that greatly affected oil production in the country, I used FEHN to fight the crisis and a lot of the militants were transformed. “What gives me joy is broad nationalism and not ethnic and divisive nationalism. What we need in Nigeria is broad nationalism,” Onyema said. Earlier, NANS Senate President, Comrade Salam Oyejide praised the airline for distinguishing itself with topnotch flight services, adding that Air Peace has been endorsed as the official airline of Nigerian students.
Entrepreneurship: ‘We’re changing young people’s orientation about trade’ By Latifat Opoola @LatifatOpoola Olamide Olajide and Ojo Oluwafemi are both executive directors of a company, Perspective Changers Multi-concept Limited. The firm encourages and provides entrepreneurial platforms for Nigerian youth and startups. In this encounter with YOUTHVILLE, the budding entrepreneurs say they are
out to change the perspective and orientation of youth about entrepreneurship. “Back then there was a decay and error in the thinking of youth that we are trying to correct. We were told when growing up, that learning a trade leads to poverty. That was embedded in us, but due to the promotion of entrepreneurship lifestyle, we have seen the need to change this orientation,” they said.
Having trained about 2,500 youth in four training sessions since January 2016, the directors said their company provides competitive platform for students in tertiary institutions and also hosts entrepreneurial workshops for students. “We are basically out to encourage entrepreneurs. This will lead to a form of empowerment in the Nation, which will in turn lead to excess output that will lead
to export thereby improving the productivity power of our nation,” they said. The young duo advised youth to be imaginative, creative, and be effective in whatever they lay their hands on stressing that it is their surest way to success. “We want to be known as the most encouraging entrepreneurship platform in Africa. In all these, there have been challenges but they have always been our strength,” they said.
DAILY TRUST, Friday, May 19, 2017
27
YOUTHVILLE
Young Gashash tackles CHILD ABUSE with MUSIC
AGON partners Cone Sport as kits supplier By Latifat Opoola @LatifatOpoola AGON, a mini five-aside league holding in Abuja has partnered with Cone Sports Limited, an indigenous kits brand to supply kits for its activities A statement from AGON said Cone Sport is responsible for producing merchandise for some of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPL) teams including Kano Pillars FC, Shooting Stars Sports Club, Nasarawa United FC, Wiki Tourist FC, El-Kanemi Warriors FC, amongst others. The partnership will manifest at the sixth edition of AGON’s tournament holding tomorrow. It seeks to provide fun-soccer and
meeting Abuja’s social life. AGON’s media executive, Adebanke Bamidele said with the partnership innovative kits that incorporate brand values of the two firms will be created. “These kits and general sporting merchandise will be worn by players, fans and AGON officials at every AGON edition. In addition, Cone Sports will also help AGON to build a stronger presence across the country. “The beauty and efficiency of the jerseys make for a more aesthetically pleasing event and will breed more confidence and comfort amongst team players. It will also of course increase the aesthetic pleasure of fans, supporters and viewers” the statement noted.
‘SDGs projects to enhance lives in Benue’ By Bamas Victoria @Bamas Victoria The National Union of Benue State Students (NUBESS) has said the intervention projects being executed in the state by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will enhance the quality of life in many communities. NUBESS President, Comrade Agoh Mfo Basil speaking in Abuja said the union is “excited by the activities of SDGs being executed through the office of the Special Adviser to Benue State Governor on Development Corporation, SDGs and NEPAD, Dr Magdalyne Dura.” Basil said, “For too long, primary healthcare service has been neglected. The construction of 23 new centres is a serious boost to access to primary healthcare by the population”. He said in the six selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) comprising Agatu, Ohimini, Oju, Ushongo, Gboko and Tarka, the SDGs constructed classroom blocks, steel framed desks and benches, and supply of exercise books to schools.
Entrepreneurs to empower 8,000 under ‘YES 2017’ From Abdullateef Aliyu, Lagos Ahead of the 2017 Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) holding in September 2017, the host, Young Entrepreneurs of Nigeria (YEN) said selected 8,000 youth would be empower across the country. The YEN is the umbrella body and voice for young Nigerian entrepreneurs. It said 500 youth will receive business funding/business tools through YEN and other ‘YES 2017’ partner. Another 500 will receive free business websites; 1,000 youth will be mentored and the other 6,000 youth will receive special business training/ capacity building to support start-ups and enable existing youth entrepreneurs boost their
businesses. The national president, Chris Kohol in a statement in Lagos said the 2017 annual gathering would bring together Nigerian young entrepreneurs at all stages of business development, investors and public officials to discuss challenges and solutions to youth entrepreneurship and empowerment. This year’s summit has the theme, ‘Youth Empowerment: A Panacea for Unemployment, Economic Growth and Sustainable Development’. It will hold in the six geo-political zones in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Yola, Kaduna, Enugu and Abuja with over 20,000 delegates, 1,000 exhibitors, and 60 speakers.
From Maryam Ahmadu-Suka, Kaduna
T
he increasing rate of child abuse including rape, molestation, and trafficking has become a great scourge worldwide. This prompted ten year old Usman Gashash to start a campaign of preaching against all forms of child abuse and early child marriage through his guitar music. Young Gashah called on humanitarian organisations to join the campaign to end ‘child-
soldier’ and the killing of Albinos. He also said violence against children accused of witchcraft is now rampant and needs to be stopped. Gashash in an interview shortly after his performance with kids at their home in Kaduna metropolis said, he and his friends formed a musical group and embarked on campaigns in schools, homes and around his neighbourhood to deter people from promoting child abuse. “Child abuse is a major problem in our world today and
it’s the responsibility of every one to contribute toward finding lasting solution and reducing the increasing violation of child’s rights,” he said. Gashash said his campaign songs focused on access to education, rights to adequate food, shelter, clean water, primary healthcare, leisure and recreation, among others. “I will keep on producing good songs that will protect the image of children all over the African region and world-wide,” Gashash noted.
NSCDC sensitises motorists on human trafficking By Bamas Victoria @BamasVictoria The area commander of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Keffi area command, Kalu Ndukwe, has said human trafficking is on the increase with motorcyclists and drivers playing active roles to promote it. Kalu who made the statement during an ‘Antihuman trafficking and child labour campaign’ held in Keffi, Nasarawa state last weekend said the menace which is promoted by ignorance of the victims has wreaked havoc on the society. He added that the Okada (motorcycle) riders and vehicle drivers are key players when perpetrating these acts.
Kalu believes that sensitization programmes was imperative. “Ignorance level is high, so a rally round town would help create awareness and also enable people to know where to report and where to go in case of any information about it,” he said. The representative of the Nigerian Police Force, Keffi command, Ibrahim Adamu, said the Nigerian police is also fighting the menace and fully support the campaign. The principal of Federal Government College, Keffi, Mrs Lilian M. Magaji said people should be fair and look
after children and wards under their care while encouraging them to place such wards in schools.
AUN graduate bags awards for giving 150 scholarships
By Chidimma C. Okeke A graduate of Accounting at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) class of 2017, Murna Naomi Mamma has bagged an award for her Community Development Service (CDS) in Yola
communities of Adamawa state after she offered 150 scholarships. Murna who was among the class speakers at the 9th Commencement recently, received awards from AUN and Adama Beverage for her leadership and community services. Murna said she sponsored about 150 students in primary and secondary schools to promote the Girl-Child education initiative. Beside this, Murna taught women to read and write, built a water tank for a school in one of the communities, helped expand a clinic and built a modern toilet for a maternity ward.
Speaking on the projects’ funding, she said, “I did not do all these because I have it all. No, it is from my pocket money, my parents and other people’s contribution. It is true I have my own business but I wouldn’t have used my business capital for these.” Her love for community service was sparked in 2013, two weeks after joining the university, she said. Murna then built on this after an exchange programme in the United States. “I realised that community service is treasured and respected, people do it without expecting any returns. It motivated me to think of what I can do to bring about change that was what pushed me,” she said. “I am happy because the scholarship does not end for me or for the children. Wherever I find myself, I will do my best for them to ensure that there is a change in the community,” Murna assured.
Wake up with determination. Go to bed with satisfaction – Elite Daily