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Four youngsters win Green Author Prize in Ibadan 46 >>

ISSUE

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YOUTHVILLE

...young at heart

Friday, December 18, 2015

Hard work: ‘Youth need a society that rewards merit’ Thriving venture: ‘I make at least N10,000 daily washing clothes’

Corps member donates 20 First aid kits to Kano schools

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From the

YOUTHVILLE

TEAM

GLANZ

Friday, December 18, 2015 Page 44

Dear Readers, Welcome to this week’s edition of Nigeria’s foremost entertaining, educative and exciting youth-friendly magazine YOUTHVILLE. We have some of the best stories from the education, entertainment, business and fashion world. Get yourself doused with them Ameer Muhammad, an Electrical Engineering first class graduate of BUK leads the pack. Read more about him on REFLECTION as he talked about youth empowerment and governance.

Four young writers are the recipients of this year ‘Green Author Prize’ for poetry which entails getting a co-authored publishing contract. On HealthNews, the Rotary Club and the Kwara state government will do lip surgeries for 100 children in January. How does this work? Read more in SHOWTIME page.

Michael Nwachukwu, a determined laundry shop operator gives a hint on the business prospects. He spoke about having sincerity, integrity and many other secrets to succeeding, all in the BIZWIZ page. We’ve got SPORTSVILLE staring at you there too with the youngest female coach being recognised by FIFA. And in BACKPACK, young Shamsudeen, a corps member donated 20 First aid kits to Kano schools. How he did this will surprise and motivate you to being a source of progress in your area.

Be Motivated, Be Creative and Be an inspiration to others. How? Just tell us your story and we’ll do the rest. You can get in touch with us via our mail: youthville@dailytrust.com . Join our growing community on Facebook: Daily Trust YouthVille and on Twitter: @ DT_YouthVille.

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SUNDAY EBHOTA SULE BAMAS OPOOLA

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Watch out for more entertaining and inspiring stories next week…..

The team wishes her fans and readers a splendid W.E.E.K.E.N.D!!!!

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Tunde N. Abubakar

3RESORTS 1 2 3 TOP

Kano State history museum, Kano Located at Gidan Dan Hausa house, it has a collection of artifacts from stone age to present day within the colonial house of the governor from the 1900’s. A friendly tour guide will explain all objects to tourists.

Kwatarkwashi rock & natural spring, Zamfara Located in Kwatarkwashi town of Bungudu local government area of Zamfara State, the magnificent rock formation of great beauty is about 350 metres above the sea level. This is an ideal place for tourists’ excursion, sightseeing, picnicking, bird view and relaxation.

Lake Alau, Maiduguri Situated off Maiduguri -Bama Road, some 14 kilometres away from Maiduguri, the lake is a natural water storage formed by River Ngada - characterized by a charming, undulating landscape, which is further beautified by the savannah vegetation with sparking shores around it.

TOP COMMENTS Facebook >>>

FB Inbox Comment: Ismail Mohammed W. Golkos Youth empowerment: especially we the youth in the Northeastern Nigeria we needs to be taught various skills and self reliance because we are living in mess poverty and

object inflation in the regions.

RE: Young Mordi, touching lives through advocacy …wants others to take a cue Kenneth Nnamdi: I’m happy for Mordi Ibe Nkeonye Joel. Really happy. I went to the same school with Mordi.

TRENDING

Buhari @73 makes wave

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resident Muhammadu Buhari clocked 73 years this week with shouts of applause and wishes from Nigerians.

Many media reported how families, friends and associates are pouring in best wishes to the President. One of the online media reports that his aides paid him a surprise birthday visit and

presented a big birthday card to Buhari yesterday, Thursday.

Many netizens have reacted to this while joining the train to pour their best wishes too.

One Nasir Shuaibu on Facebook posted: “We wish Mr President good health, strength and wisdom to rebuild Nija and return her lost glory.”

Another, Iliyasu Sarki simply

posted “HBD. Wishing you what you wish for yourself.” Same was the terse words used by Ja’afar Isah Abdullahi: “HBD. We wish you the best PMB.” Sheriff Ayofe Abdulrasheed also posted: “HBD Sir! Wishing you Allah’s rahama sir,” while Salisu Ibrahim who is still fond of the popular slogan, ‘Sai Baba’ posted: “Happy birthday, baba.”

BY AKILA JIBRIN

REFLECTIONS

YOUTHVILLE

Friday, December 18, 2015 Page 45

Hard work: ‘Youth need a society that rewards merit’ Ameer Muhammad, an Electrical Engineering first class graduate of Bayero University, Kano was at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom where he had an M.Sc in Mechatronics.He is doing a Ph.D in Biomedical electronics at the University College, London. In this interview, Muhammad discussed his project, the Initiative for the Revival of Education in Nigeria (IREN).

Text by Mansur Abubakar

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ow excited are you that you will have a Ph.D soon?

I think it is not the PhD that excites me, but the lives that may be touched by having the PhD. I really have a dream of changing the way things are done. The low number of academics in the country is really distressing.

So, it is imperative on those of us that have had the privilege to study in top universities around the world to come back and try to improve the education sector.

Why did you choose to study electrical engineering at the university?

Well, when I was in FGC Malali, I had always represented my school in mathematics, and chemistry competitions. Those were my main strengths with many awards. It was a choice between doing a B.Sc in Mathematics or a B.Eng in Electrical Engineering. My dad told me that because of the society we live in, studying electrical engineering will be a better idea.

But, my mum and others insisted that I read Medicine, because I normally came first in my class. It was my dad that had to convince my mum to let me do what I enjoyed.

Your first class degree from Bayero University Kano set the tone for you, how vital was that?

Having a first class really set the tone for me. Not just after graduation, but during my bachelors programme. I was fortunate to have benefitted from a lot of scholarships in my

days. First, I obtained the Total/ Elf scholarship which had an annual award of 150,000 and I was paid for four academic sessions. Also, I benefitted from the BUK scholarship for best students. My registration fees were refunded to me for four academic sessions. It also laid the foundation for my M.Sc scholarship which I got from National Information technology Development Agency (NITDA) and a PhD scholarship from Presidential Special Scholarship for Innovation and Development (PRESSID), to pursue my PhD in Electronics at the University College, London.

How was your Master’s programme and living in Bath like?

My MSc was in Mechatronics at the University of Bath which is the best in the UK. The programme was really fun. Living in Bath was fascinating, but sometimes lonely.

Because it’s a small but very beautiful city; it has a Palladian architecture. But, the downside of living in Bath was that it was a very expensive city. This is because it’s a tourist city. Bath is located close to the mysterious Stonehenge.

You were absorbed immediately into the workforce after graduation. Do you hope to remain at BUK? I really thank God for being absorbed by BUK immediately after graduation. I think it took some of the pressure off my parents.

Considering the unemployment crisis in Nigeria, I was really fortunate to have gotten the job even though I graduated atop my class with a first class. BUK has contributed immensely in shaping my life, so I owe BUK a lot. I really hope to remain in BUK for a long time.

What could be done to uplift the Nigerian youth?

I think what we need is for government to introduce schemes that develop the

entrepreneurial skills of our youths. I think the YOUWIN programme is a good scheme.

However, we need it to be expanded so that more participants can be accommodated. I think the greatest incentive the youth require is to have a transparent society where merit is duly rewarded.

Also, agriculture in rural areas can be encouraged by government. This can be done in farming intensive towns like Kura in Kano by providing basic amenities so that people can be encouraged to live there. The process can be something like YOUWIN, whereby loans are given to people. With the applicants providing a detailed plan on how to pay back these loans.

Encouraging mining is good too. A large chunk of the unskilled youths in the society can take up manual jobs in the mining industry. Lets emulate Canada, Mexico, Chile and Peru that have invested heavily in mining. Loans could also be provided to youth entrepreneurs who intend to venture into this.

Finally, I think youth should be more involved in the leadership process. I am not very happy with the current leadership recruitment process in Nigeria, because there aren’t many under 40’s in leadership positions. But I think this is something that can be addressed with time.

Currently, the few role models for the youths are people like Davido or Wizkid, and with due respect to them, they may not be the only type of role models we need in a society. Take for instance in cabinet positions, someone under 40 can be selected to understudy brilliant people like Fashola, Amina Mohammed among others, it will enable the President to get first-hand information on what it means to be a Nigerian youth. I am happy that Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i has involved a lot of youths in his government.

What’s your ultimate goal in life?

My ultimate goal is to put smiles on people’s faces. And I will like to be part of a generation that bequeaths a more prosperous Nigeria to future generations.

Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever - Keri Russell

YOUTHVILLE

SHOWTIME

Friday, December 18, 2015 Page 46

EXPONEWS>>

FOODNEWS>>

F e s t i v a l:

Coy to feed 1,000 people today Text by Victoria Bamas @sinach360

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 From left, the Literay Festival winners, Chika Jones Onwuasoanya, Venger Fater and Festus Ayomide.

Four youngsters win Green Author Prize in Ibadan Text by Victoria Bamas @sinach360

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our young writers are the recipients of this year ‘Green Author Prize’ for poetry which entails getting a co-authored publishing contract.

The award and co-authored book titled ‘Verses from the Niger’ was unveiled and presented to Chika Onwuasoanya (Imo), Ayomide Festus (Oyo), Vanger Fater (Benue) and Wazani Adamu Ijafaru (Adamawa) at the recent Words, Rhythm and Rhymes (WRR) Literary Festival at the University of Ibadan, Oyo state.

The 2015 Green Author Prize which was sponsored by the WRR Publishing and Caprecon Development Consult had earlier received entries of 15 poems each from unpublished writers under the age

of 24. One of the recipients, Fater said the event “Is a platform to bring out the voices of writers who despite their talents, resources have deterred them from being recognized.”

To Onwuasoanya, another awardee, one of the challenges of hosting literary events lies with few audience but “like any form of expression, poetry has its place in Nigeria.”

Twenty two year old Ayomide in his remarks said “Poetry is not well appreciated in Nigeria because people feel it is not something that you can make money from.”

The organizers of the event said the Prize was initiated in recognition of the need to give upcoming writers a chance to get heard.

aste of Africa food Festival (TAFF) as part of its social responsibility is set to feed over 1,000 less privileged and internally displaced persons in Abuja.

TAFF principal partner, Ann Nkem Adinkwuye while speaking to newsmen said the exercise which is aimed at giving hope to the hopeless” is a corporate social responsibility in partnership with NGOs and beauty queens to feed 1000 less privileged and internally displaced persons”.

The event which is slated for today has the food gala, project inspire hope, recognition award and African premier food exhibition on its itenary.

The exhibition which is held in partnership with Cheff Mamita Samuel Obla is targeted at promoting 100 Nigerian cuisines, tasting and auctioning of soups from the thirty-six states of Nigeria explained one Adinkwuye.

Adinkwuye explained that the award will be given to peoplea and organizations who vontributed to tye growth of TAFF and also who have been promoting Nigerian and African dishes.

She added that all the food and drinks that will be on display and served will be strictly African and that they are working to add new recipes to the Nigerian cuisines.

HEALTHNEWS>>

Rotary, Kwara to perform lip surgeries for 100 children in 2016 Text by Simon E. Sunday @simonEchewofun

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otary International, District 9125 Nigeria and District 6450 USA have partnered the Kwara state government to conduct free cleft surgeries for 100 children between January 10 and 22, 2016.

The project which also involves the Mike Omotosho Foundation and the Alliance for Smiles based in the United States will have a team of 17 Volunteers in the medical line from the US, Australia and Nigeria handling the cleft lip and palate reformatory surgery.

Cleft lip and cleft palate (Orofacial Cleft) are birth defects that occur when a baby’s

lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy. Orofacial clefts (OFC) are the most common malformations of the head and neck.

Rotary is also calling for the setting up of birth defects registries across the country to help determine Nigeria’s birth defects prevalence.

“Rotary International District 9125 believes that there is an urgent need to invest in children with birth defects and reduce neonatal and under-5 mortality,” District Governor, Dr. Mike Omotosho said in a statement in Abuja.

Nigerian entertainers with traditional titles Text by Victoria Bamas @sinach360

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he year 2015 saw Singer Tuface Idibia joining the league of entertainers with traditional titles.

The African queen coroner was recently honoured with the Tafidan Kudendan of Kudenda given title by His Royal Highness, Galadima of Kudendan Chiefdom in southern Kaduna.

His wife Actress Annie Macaulay by virtue of his title became Matan Tafidan Kudendan. Tuface in appreciation, wrote on his Instagram “And maximum respect to the man himself who made it all happen! His Royal Highness Gabriel Bagudu Galadima.”

In 2014 actress Genevive Nnaji was conferred with the title of ‘Eze Ada I of Amuzu Nweafor’ in her home town of Mbaise, Imo state. In 2011 she

got a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).

Omotola, another actress got a chieftaincy title conferred on her at county home in Ondo state by Oba Victor Kiladejo, of Ondo Kingdom in 2013.

She was named one of the Times Magazine most influential people globally in 2014 and this year, Omotola is among the ‘highest-grossing movie stars’ by Yahoo.

Another entertainer who got a traditional title is Ngozi Ezeonu, ‘The Ezenwanyi Ndigbo NaNollywood’ which literally means ‘Queen mother of practitioners of Igbostock in Nollywood’ Ini Edo, Richard Mofe Damijo, Oge Okoye Chika Ike were also recipients of traditional titles in recent time.

Let us live for the beauty of our own reality - Charles Lamb

BIZWIZ/SPORTS Youth employment: FG targets 400 GIS trainees in Borno From Ibrahim Sawab & Omirin Olatunji, Maiduguri @ikabirsule

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he Federal Ministry of Finance through the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) is now targeting to pass out 400 unemployed graduate youths who have benefited from the orientation training programme held at various centres in Maiduguri the Borno state capital.

The training conducted by Mr. Temitope Ode of Axiom Learning Solutions (ALS), Mr. Steve Attah of Multimix Academy and other facilitators, has equipped the participants with skills and experiences that will open opportunities for their working and business life.

Segmented into batches of 100 participants each, the training were held at the conference hall of the University of Maiduguri and Bar wee hotel.

The Project Director, Mr. Peter Papka who spoke at the sessions, said participants will learn the course of the career development and entrepreneurship skills during the orientation.

“On your part, you must ensure that your internship adds value not only to your immediate employers but to the nation as a whole,” he urged the trainees.

Papka, who was represented by the Head of ICT, Mr. Lassa Ptilapari said the training will prepare trainees on tips for preparing and uploading a Curriculum Vitae (CV) on a CV portal; interviews, selecting careers, among others.

A participant, Musa Mustapha, 25, thanked the GIS for organized the training that will help them and many others to start petty business instead of waiting for white collar jobs.

THRIVING VENTURE:

‘I make at least N10,000 daily washing clothes’ Michael Nwachukwu is a dogged business entrepreneur that had carved a niche in the business of laundry in Kubwa, a suburb in the Federal Capital Territory. In this interview with YOUTHVILLE, he identified sincerity, integrity and precision as secrets to his unprecedented and steady growth.

Text by Emma Elekwa hat informed your choice of the business?

I started the business about 10 years ago. I am a professional in electrical installation but after travelling out, on my return, things didn’t work out as planned.

Luckily, I got a shop, a friend encouraged me to consider laundry, so I started.

W

What are the likely challenges you encountered while starting?

Like in any other business, starting was quite challenging because when I got a shop, there was no money to put it in proper shape. In fact, the table I started with was inherited while the pressing iron was given to me by a friend. Light

YOUTHVILLE

Friday, December 18, 2015 Page 47

aas usual, had been eepileptic, but I kept on managing. Though the m money we spend on m ffuel alone is enough tto pay salaries of some staff.

I left for another shop place which was later demolished and the story goes on. Relocating from one place to another was quite challenging, if not for any other thing, loss of customers.

When is your peak period and how much do you make per day?

Mostly it is festive periods.

We also experience a boost in the business as soon as salaries are paid. But the middle of the month is always dry for us. In short, once the economy is buoyant, our patronage increases. As per profit, it all depends, sometimes we can wash up to 80 to 100 clothes per day, making up to N10,000 profit from them, especially weekends.

You seem to enjoy more patronage than your peers. What is the secret?

For me, the secret of our growth is sincerity and integrity. I was thought to be meticulous in whatever I do. I always

tell my staff to always try not to postpone any work to avoid disappointing our esteemed clients. I don’t joke with time. Besides, if in the course of washing I observed that a button is missing in a customer’s cloth, I go ahead to fix it. Any part that is torn, I engage the services of a tailor to amend it without extra charges.

Again, there is a standard we set. Once we come across any money inside any clothe, it must be returned to the owner, no matter how small. It is not ours, it belongs to the customer. I’ve once found a N100,000 in a client’s pocket and I returned it to him. That singular gesture had paid off greatly.

What is your advice to the young ones on being enterprising?

They should learn not to despise little beginning.

They should desist from complaining of lack of job. Idleness should be vehemently discouraged.

Personally, I had always desired to be on my own.

I had severally rejected offers from people to come and work for them.

There are people in this business that are making millions as it is a business you can start with little capital.

SPORTVILLE

Youngest female coach enters

WORLD BOOK

RECORDS

Text by Ibrahim Kabiru Sule @ikabirsule

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he youngest person ever to take a national team to the FIFA Women World Cup, Vanessa Arauz has said that youthful age should not serve as barrier for aspiring coaches to fulfill their dream.

Arauz, aged 26 had in June guided the Ecuador women’s national team to the tournament, which led to her recognition as the youngest women coach in the world by the Guinness Book of Records.

She said the secret of her success followed her undying resolve to

forge ahead despite the seeming difficulties and advised young individuals to remain determined in their career pursuits.

“It wasn’t easy to begin with. I look even younger than I am, so how was I going to have the authority I needed? I came to understand, though, that getting their respect was more down to the work I did than my age or career path,” she said when asked by FIFA.com on how she found coaching after her appointment.

When asked about her world cup

appearance experience, the young coach said some older coaches “almost looking upon me as a daughter or granddaughter” were amazed at her football talk.

She narrated that “The funniest thing that ever happened to me was on a flight with the national team, when I was given a seat right next to the emergency exit. Before we took off a flight attendant came and asked me, for security reasons, if I was old enough to be seated there. You can imagine how much my players laughed at that.”

The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity - Peter Drucker

YOUTHVILLE

BACKPACK

Friday, December 18, 2015 Page 48

How we worked our way to the top in

NECO EXAMS - 7 TOP SCORERS T From Nurudeen Oyewole, Lagos

hough a total of 969,491 candidates sat for the June/July 2015 National Examination Council (NECO) SSCE, yet only seven of them made it to national reckoning as outstanding ones on the account of their impressive results.

For each of the candidates with impressive results in the 2015 NECO June/July Senior Secondary School Examinations (SSCE), the award ceremony hosted by the publishing outfit, LearnAfrica Plc could not have come at a better time than it did.

The joy of the winning teenagers was understandable. Out of about a

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million candidates who sat for the annual terminal examinations, it was seven of them, fondly dubbed “NECO Superstars”, at the national award ceremony, who emerged the high-fliers.

And for each of them, there is a story to tell.

Alabi Phillip Oluwalase, the 16-yearold with the overall best result, said his night rest had to be sacrificed to give him ample time to study for the exams.

To him, sleeping in the night is a taboo that must be avoided.

“And when I was doing my personal reading at home, I was spending between seven and eight hours. While

others were sleeping, I don’t sleep,” said Oluwalase who completed his secondary education at Our Lady and Saint Francis College, Osogbo.

For Nwaoha Justin Ifeayin, the candidate who emerged with the second best overall result, the major challenge in his preparation for NECO examination was the usual lethargy often experienced by students who had written WASSCE and who simply may want to undermine the NECO exams, believing they have studied hard enough in the first examination.

“I think the major challenge I have was how to get myself adjusted to the reality that after the WASCCE Exams, I still need to study hard to prepare for NECO exams. Though it was not easy, I nonetheless forced my body, soul and heart into it and I thank God I made that decision because it paid off,” Nwaoha, now an alumnus of Isolog College, Ojodu, Lagos, said.

Babalola David Oluwasayo of Oritamefa Baptist Model School, Ibadan, Oyo state, had the third best overall result. He said he was nearly entrapped with the usual-afterWASSCE lethargy bug, before he allowed commonsense to dictate for him.

WEEKLY TOP EARNERS FOR WORDS BARN GAME EMERGE

he newly launched Words Barn App is another exciting opportunity to interact. Being present on the Google Playstore, youth have begun exploring it.

The Top point earners in the YOUTHZ STARS 1 titled competition played last week on

the app are: Ray Zee who had 125 points, Maxine Olude with 60 points and Zhana Bliss with 56 points!

Enjoy talking football championships, Nigerian football legends, foods, fun holiday tips and lots more right on the App while you challenge your friends to play!

The winning teenagers emerged with the best result in their respective states.

They were among 111 candidates earlier recognised across 36 states and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. Toluwalase led in Osun, Nwaoha led in Lagos while Babalola led in Oyo states respectively.

They have since been offered admission to study medicine in their chosen universities. While both Toluwalase and Babalola had secured admissions to University of Ibadan (UI), Nwaoha had also secured admission for the same course in University of Lagos (UNILAG). They were rewarded with cheques of N100,000, N80,000 and N60,000 respectively.

Four other students with impressive results in four selected subjects also went home with N50,000 cheques and a laptop each.

The LearnAfrica-NECO excellence awards is an initiative of LearnAfrica Education Development Foundationthe corporate social responsibility arm of LearnAfrica Plc (formerly Longman Nigeria Plc).

In his remark, the Managing Director, LearnAfrica Plc, Chief Emeke Iwerebon said: “we truly believe that there is a seed of greatness in every child, in every boy and in every girl.

CAMPUSGIST >>

The next competition is titled YOUTHZ STARS2 starting this Sunday. More participants are enjoined to sign up and play the educative game, score high points and be recognised!

Contributed by Rachael Ejoke, Words Barn App founder.

NSU, KEFFI

3rd PG admission list out Applicants for the School of Postgraduate Studies at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) can now check their status for the third admission list. It can be checked via the PDF file via: http://nsuk.edu.ng/ nasarawa-state-university-keffi-schoolof-postgraduate-studies-third-list-for20152016-session/

Success Corner!

Corps member donates 20 First aid kits to Kano schools Text by Simon E. Sunday @SimonEchewofun

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corps member, Saminu Shamsudeen, serving in Minjibir Local Government Area of Kano state has donated 20 First aid kits to select primary, secondary and almajiri schools.

Shamsudeen, 26 from Kaduna state told YOUTHVILLE that the lack of such medical tool was a felt need in the immediate community where he served after he had visited some of the schools.

The Glass Technology graduate from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria said: “As a Civic Education teacher in GJSS Minjibir, I observed that many students who fall ill during school hours do not have any instant medical attention. Some are taken to the community hospital which adds to breaks in class activities

especially for minor illnesses which could be addressed with first aid.”

“There was an Almajiri Mallam who comes to ask us for our financial assistance to help treat his ill students.

After these observations, I worked on constructing the first aid boxes and donated them to the schools while educating them on how to use them,” he said.

Shamsudeen said he constructed the boxes and put the most important items and drugs with the help of a medical doctor, Dr. Sedney, and that the project since it was launched, has been helpful in treating mild cases. He was among the six serving corps members to be awarded recognition by the local government.

Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten - B. F. Skinner