YOUTHVILLE ISSUE #145
Friday, August 25, 2017
08078068532
‘Much study makes mathematics a walkover for me’ From Nurudeen Oyewole, Lagos
Oluwanifise Onafowokan, a student of The Ambassador College, Ota, Ogun State has revealed how long hours of studies and practice have made mathematics an easy subject for her. Onafowokan, who is participating in the Senior Category of the 2017 Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV show sponsored by Cowbell, explained that her love for Mathematics started early because of encouragement from her parents. She said the subject which usually scares most students, comes naturally to her because of her devotion. “I love solving Mathematical problems until I get tired. It has become a part of me. It is fun taking my mathematics textbook and my workbook; it relieves my stress. I just love Mathematics,” she said. She praised her teacher and the school management for providing a conducive atmosphere for talents to boom among the students. At the end of the recent preliminary round, Onafowokan and Plangdi Nepele of the Baptist High School, Naraguta in Jos, Plateau State advanced to the semifinal stage. Onafowokan and Nepele, who got 95 per cent in the qualifying examinations conducted in March 2017 expressed confidence in their ability to excel in the competition.
NGO’s forum focus on safety for humanitarian workers By Bamas Victoria @bamasvictoria The Nigerian International NonGovernmental Forum (NINGO Forum) has reiterated its focus on the protection of civilians in conflict, particularly from sexual abuse, exploitation and dangers faced by humanitarian aid workers. This remark was made by the country director for Mercy Corps, Darius Radcliffe in Abuja while marking the World Humanitarian Day (WHD) recently. The WHD holds on August 19 every year. Radcliffe said since the rise of the insurgency in the Northeast, women, men and children have faced grave human rights violations including sexual and gender-based violence. Children have been also abducted and drafted to become suicide bombers, he added. Radcliffe said that this year alone humanitarian assistance has been delivered to over 1.8 million displaced Nigerians, with about half being children. He however noted that “the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region remains one of the most severe in the world today” as 8.5m people remain in need of assistance. The NINGO forum coordinator, Drake Ssengyange said that this year’s theme “not a target” (#NotATarget) was chosen because health and aid workers who care for people affected during conflicts are increasingly being targeted in addition to the looting of medicines and relief supplies. He added that the theme reaffirms the facts that conflicts take a toll on both civilian and aid workers; as such rule breakers should be properly sanctioned.
youthville@dailytrust.com
...young at heart
Twenty eight year old Amina Mercy Jibrin, from Borno state is the clothier who designs handmade handbags, bracelets and caps she brands as ‘M33NAJAYY CONCEPT’. The Film Television and Radio Studies graduate of Staffordshire University, United Kingdom spoke about her business in this interview with the Daily Trust YOUTHVILLE.
By Latifat Opoola @LatifatOpoola
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our field is not in business. Why then do you pick on fashion? It started during my National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) one year programme when I acquired the skills through the skill acquisition programme at the orientation camp. However, there is no professional requirement to start any business; I believe it’s just the basic interest and patience. I became interested after the programme and the motivation for me was because I had always wanted to run my own clothing line which I had tagged ’Unique Fashion Accessory World’. I started with approximately N20, 000. How lucrative has the business been since you started? It is a very lucrative business with a huge turnover if the marketing strategies are well established. In my case, I have an approximate annual turn-over of about five million naira. How do you attract customers? I attract customers by doing a lot of social media and personal marketing. My target customers are teenagers and adults. I use Pinterest, a social media platform because it gives me an idea of what is trending among the age a bracket of my clients and target market. What challenges do you face in this business? My greatest challenge is with
Dreams and Dedication are a powerful combination. – William Longgood
I’ve learnt that
patience, persistence pay for start-ups — Clothier, Amina
payment since I allow my customers buy on credit considering the current economic situation in the country. I am also facing the challenge of sourcing for materials for my products. ny people have you How many empowered through this venture? Currently I have two employees but e large orders, I employ when I have asual hands for support. additional casual ur advice to youth on What is your self-reliance?? ld learn a trade and They should que brand with it. create a unique at we patronize Most of what as are now massfrom overseas produced and they lose the quality we deserve and yearn for. For someone starting an independent n my field, business in ould always he/she should e quality of consider the ed and be very materials used esigns because creative in designs uniqueness always creates a stand out. What is the greatest lesson learntt so far in your business? The best lesson I have learnt so far is to be very patient and persistent. Is your business registered as a ntity? corporate entity? usiness My business rently is currently
registered as a business name and this takes just a week with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC); the only challenge faced might be with sourcing for a right name for the business that has not been already used/registered with the commission.
5 schools win 2017 Abuja’s Young Stars spelling bee By Simon E. Sunday @SimonEchewofun Three pupils and two students of five schools within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have won the 2017 edition of the Abuja Young Stars spelling bee organised by the Africa Young Stars Concepts Limited. The Coordinator/ CEO of the youth advocacy firm, Mr Eugene
Akhamiokhor Ighabor said 18 schools participated in the contest under five categories. The contest which held last week at the Dutse-Alhaji town of the FCT had Amiable Schools as the winner in both the junior and senior secondary school categories. For the primary school categories, All Saints’ School, Dutse-Alhaji won for grade five and six; Angel Wings International S c h o o l , K u b w a emerged the best in grade three and four, while Glory of God International S c h o o l , Sokale-Abuja won in grade one and two. Mr Ighabor in his speech
called on all participating schools and parents to collaborate with his advocacy organization to exploit the hidden potential in youth and children. While speaking to the Daily Trust YOUTHVILLE after presenting prizes and awards to the winners, Mr Ighabor said the competition helps to rekindle the reading culture in children and inculcate the spirit of healthy rivalry in them. He noted that the contest is one of the numerous school programmes the organization rolls out annually. He called on lovers of good things to key into this project of training youth and children to become African stars. Chairman of the event, Mr Adeniyi Olungeleko admonished the participants on the need to inculcate the spirit of hard work to build themselves. He also reminded the youth and children at the event that they are the hope of the nation as what they sow now in tears will contribute greatly to the nation’s greatness.
DAILY TRUST, Friday, August 25, 2017
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YOUTHVILLE
Enterprise: ‘Women are often underestimated, but I am pressing on’
Abuja hosts Selasi fashion show By Bamas Victoria @BamasVictoria
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n a bid to promote upcoming designers within and outside Nigeria and to recognise those who have contributed passionately and made a difference in the fashion industry Selasi fashion show was held in Abuja last weekend. The annual event which was started by Patience Saha was hosted by celebrity fashionista Denrele Edun and Elisabeth. One of the organisers Mercy Ilomechina told Daily Trust YOUTHVILLE that the show also extends “to training young talents in fashion designing, embroidery,
By Latifat Opoola @LatifatOpoola
k hi d beading.” b di ” sketching, and In this year’s edition which makes it the third, Nine designers showcased their work: Ebydency clothiers, Toxeen couture, Selasi clothiers, Sitgon Afrique, House of BB plus, Vivienne Saeze Apparel, the Giovanni place, Milly’s and Reve couture-GH. Mercy called on Fashion lovers to watch out for the 2018 edition while urging fashion designers to use the event to showcase their work. “Selasi Fashion Show is an event that aims at show-casing talented fashion designers across Africa. We believe in the potential of African designs hence this platform to promote African fashion to the world,” she explained.
VSO trains youth on peace promotion in Ikorodu From Waheed Issa, Lagos An international d e v e l o p m e n t organization, Voluntary Service Oversea (VSO) said it has partnered with professionals to train some youth on promoting peace around the Ikorodu area of Lagos state. The training which was to mark the recent International Youth Day had the theme, ‘Building Resilience youth for peace’. It includes educating the youth on health, livelihood and youth development
in their immediate environment to make sure that nobody influences them to join any conflict activities. The Country Recruitment Manager of VSO, Mr. Sulaimon Aliyu Abubakar, said “We have chosen Ikorodu as a place where we will celebrate this year as a result of the recent conflicts in Ikorodu. “The organisation had a three-day training for 220 youth in Ikorodu after which, they went out for a campaign to promote peace,” he noted.
One of the beneficiaries and level two student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Shedrack Osuala said: “The conflicts happening in Lagos, Ikorodu to be precise is affecting the youth and we are also the mechanism used in these conflicts. This training has equipped us with the ability to be resilient.” He however urged the youth not to take the opportunity of being idle or being in poverty to be among the miscreants causing chaos in the community.
Apply acquired knowledge to benefit the public, youth urged From Risikat Ramoni, Lagos Nigerian youth have been urged not to place much value on certificates but on the application of knowledge and skills they acquired in school for the benefit of the public. The Director of MOD Education – an international education foundation, Mr Michael Dosunmu spoke in Lagos while launching of International English Language Testing System (IELTS) centre this week. Dosunmu, who is also the Director of IELTS Lagos centre, said the location of the first IELTS testing centre in West Africa in Lagos was a key milestone in their journey to serve the Nigerian market.
“Our mission is to be the preferred medium for educational advancement of Nigeria and West Africa through the empowerment of her human capital benchmark in agreement with the best international education standard,” he stated. He added that IELTS, which is jointly owned by British Council, IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment, was designed to assess the language ability of people who need to study or work in countries where English is the official language of communication. “IELTS is the world’s most popular English Language proficiency test for higher education and global migration with over 2.9 million tests taken last year,” Dosunmu said.
Although women are often underestimated in some ventures alongside the dearth of basic infrastructures, Islam Muhammad Dasuki, a veil promoter said she is not deterred, but has focused on achieving success in her veil business. Islam in a chat with our reporter said she started her business ‘OnVeil’ this year with the ultimate goal of being purchased globally. The International Relations undergraduate said she learned how to create and design the veils on her own, “before starting the business I sketched random prints or designs which was like a hobby before bringing them to life”. “The intricacy and delicate touch a veil gives to a woman is not only about religion in my eyes. The attraction drawn to her soft eyes and kind words when all
else is covered makes me fall in love with buying veils and now starting my own brand,” she added. The young entrepreneur, who started with N100, 000 said any business started with the determination to make it a success will always be profitable. Islam who uses social media platforms to advertise her products says her “target is everyone; I don’t have a specific stand as everyone has a woman in their life”. The employer of two said, “Most women are underestimated and in real circumstances people feel they can’t do what they set out to do. It can be a struggle, but I don’t let that deter me”. She advised youth to be patient and tolerant at all times especially when venturing into a business. “Don’t start without determination and with tolerance you’ll get through it because you’ll face a lot of challenges along the way,” Islam advised.
Rotary’s NNPPC donates N7m solar borehole to Daki Biyu By Simon Echewofun Sunday @SimonEchewofun The Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee (NNPPC) of the Rotary Club has donated a N7 million solar-powered borehole to Daki Biyu community of Jabi District in Abuja. Commissioning the project last Wednesday, the Chairman, Rotary’s International Polio Plus Committee (IPPC), Rotarian Michael McGovern said the project serves as motivation for the Community in the polio immunization exercise being supported globally by Rotary International. The community where the project is situated near the city centre was
adopted by the Rotary Club of Abuja – Utako. Mr McGovern said it is a gift from the Rotary International in support of polio eradication through the NNPPC. He said, “I am very happy to be here in this village representing Rotarians around the world to provide clean water. Rotary has been working to eradicate polio and one of the ways the disease comes is from drinking water,” he said. Chairman of the NNPPC, Dr. Tunji Funsho said the community had initially a stream water source and then buy a 20 litre of water for N100 which is not enough for a family. This was a reason for choosing the
community, he said. “Because it is a solarpowered borehole that does not require any other electricity, it costs about N7 million. We do our projects according to the needs of the community,” he noted. The Community Chief, Esu Isiaku Lamishi, ‘Dakacin Daki Biyu’ lauded the project noting that rather than giving water to strangers as their tradition demands, they have seen strangers giving them water sources through the Rotary Club. “Although we did not use our money to build it but I understand the effort put into. I assure you that I know how we will maintain the facility that it will last for over 100 years,” he said.
Author Bukar invites Osinbajo, others to book launch By Simon E. Sunday @SimonEchewofun An author of a book titled ‘Guide to explore your entrepreneurial potential for Nigerian students,’ Mr Mohammed Bukar said he is inviting the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representative Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara to his book launch. Bukar in a statement said he collaborated with key federal government agencies including the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST), Small and Medium scale Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for the book launch. Also invited for the event are the Vice President Dangote Group and President, Nigeria Agribusiness Group, Alhaji Sani Dangote and the Minister of
Communication Barr. AbdulRahim Adebayo Shittu. Bukar developed his writing skills while studying Computer and Communication Engineering at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi. Over the years, he said he has had a dream to launch his first book which he is achieving shortly.
Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground – Teddy Roosevelt