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Tag: young

  • ‘Why I look so young at 76’

    ‘Why I look so young at 76’

    Ageless actress Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, in this chance interview at the launch of Meditations, The Poems of Soji Simpson, a compilation of poems, launched last weekend, shared the secrets of her ever-young look. By Gboyega Alaka

    Last weekend, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett was in her elements, as she rendered the poem, Nigerianisation, written by Soji Simpson, the (then) young Nigerian poet who went missing 43 years ago. Occasion was the launch of Soji Simpson’s poetry annotation, Meditations, The Poems of Soji Simpson, compiled by his brother, Femi Simpson; venue was the Agip Hall of the MUSON Centre and it was a gathering of vintage literary enthusiasts and celebrities. But trust Aunty Tai, as her closer friends love to call her, to wow the audience with her perfect rendition and glam.  The wowing continued at the foyer after the programme, with lots of the august audience milling around her.

    This reporter couldn’t but join the fray. And the first question as he managed to get her attention was just how does she manage to look 50 even at an age well over 70?

    First Ajai-Lycett enthused that she is actually 76; and then she proceeded to reel out her ‘secrets.’

    “I just do my work, I think straight; malice to nobody….  I love people, I love my work, I love my life, I take up challenges; I think challenges build your intellectual and emotional muscles. I don’t worry if things don’t go as I expect them. As a matter of fact, there is a Yoruba saying which translated, means, “When God is doing good, we humans think he is doing evil.” If God doesn’t want you to go somewhere, something will stop you (even if you overly desire that thing); but if you reflect later, you’d find out why you really should not have been there.”

    As an example, she said being at the launch was itself by chance. She said she was there because Femi Simpson, the compiler of the annotation met her by chance at Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos. “As I greeted everybody on the table and introduced myself, Femi was there and he said to me “I’ve been looking for you, this thing is happening and I’d like you to be there.” And that’s why I’m here. I also have a saying that whatever is yours will look you in the face. That’s why we mustn’t struggle unnecessarily over what we don’t have. What you need, you’ll get.”

    Aside staying away from worry, the veteran thespian also said she hasn’t been careless about her intakes. “I don’t take alcohol. I’m a teetotaller. I’ve never drank in my life and I don’t smoke. I try to sleep very well and I eat anything, but in moderation. Also, I don’t worry about not eating. For instance, it’s well past mid-day today and I have not had anything, but it does not worry me.”

    Asked why she has been forever relevant in the art industry? Ajai-Lycett, whose role in Tunde Kelani’s Dazzling Mirage amongst other contemporary Nigerian hit movies still draw accolades, went philosophical. “In this business, if it’s all about you, you will not be relevant. How much can you possibly think about yourself? It’s not about us, it’s not about me; so if you’re thinking of giving service and connecting with people and communicating with people and always giving, what you give to life is what life will give back to you.”

    On whether she knew the ‘missing’ poet, Ajai-Lycett said “I never met him.”

    But she remembers him very well.  “His was the first play I did when I came back from England (in the ’70’s). It was titled The Vogue, and he had gone missing about three years before then. Bayo Awala, who was the producer, was his friend and was always telling me how I would have loved to meet him. So when I heard that he had produced this body of work, I had to make out time, though I’m supposed to have travelled abroad.”

    On what she thinks of the vintage gathering, which included the likes of Kabiyesi, Oba Gbenga Sonuga (Fadesewa of Simawa), former Ogun State governor, Olusegun Osoba, Bashorun JK Randle, veteran broadcaster/actor, Taiwo Obileye, actress Joke Silva, former broadcaster, Patrick Oke, veteran journalist, Kunle Ajibade, Lanre Idowu of Diamond Publications et al, Ajai-Lycett simply said, “The salvation of our country is in Literature. A people who do not read are not going to go far. Even Albert Einstein said ‘imagination is superior to intelligence.’ If you can use your mind and picture all sorts of world, you can bring them into fruition.”

  • AFA, Imo State to train young filmmakers

    AFA, Imo State to train young filmmakers

    Mother company to Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA), the Africa Film Academy (AFA), is partnering the government of Imo State to train youths from the Eastern Nigerian state who desire a career in filmmaking.

    AFA said in a statement on Wednesday that the training which will be intensive, is scheduled to run from April 25 to May 10, 2017 in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

    In the statement signed by founder of AFA, Ms. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, facilitators will include Segun Arinze, Paul Obazele, Tony Anih among others.

    “At the end of the training which will cover script-writing, photography, editing, acting, cinematography, sound, lighting etc, the students are expected to produce short films that will give practical expression to what they will learn during the programme,” she said.

    According to Anyiam-Osigwe, the training is meant “to introduce the prospective youths to how they can start a career in the film industry and technical production and open them to the possibilities that exist.”

    Continuing, she said: “At the end of it, we expect participating students to take their interests to the next level through further education in higher institutions and other institutes where they can acquire more and in-depth knowledge. We want to say that the Imo State Government has been kind enough to sponsor 100 students apart from providing venue and other logistics for the training and this is because of the interest of Governor Rochas Okorocha to empower the youths and create job opportunities for them. Diamond Bank as part of its CSR initiative is also sponsoring 10 students to the training while Africa Magic is also a strategic partner to make this a very successful one,” she said.

  • Don inspires young scholars on hardwork

    Don inspires young scholars on hardwork

    A professor of Early Childhood Education, University of Ibadan, Akinbote Segun Rufus, has asked the youth to take a cue from his grass to grace experience.

    Akinbote counselled that one should not allow their poor background or circumstance limit their future aspirations.

    He  spoke as he was being honoured as a Fellow by the Early Childhood Association of Nigeria (ECAN).

    Prof Rufus became the second Fellow to be so recognised by the body, the first being Prof. Osanyin Ajike Florence, of the Department of Early Childhood Education, University of Lagos who also founded ECAN.

    “I am just a product of hardwork” Akinbote told participants at the ECAN conference held at the College of Education, Agbor, Delta State.

    “I have no secondary education. By by Gods grace, I was able to thrive by dint of hard work. I had my first degree, masters and PhD from the University of Ibadan.

    “I want to encourage aspiring scholars to believe in their dreams. They should remain consistent because those stumbling blocks on their paths will later transform to stepping stones.”

    Akinbote, 68, who expressed delight about the honour, thanked the organiser, adding that he only attended the conference as a participant but least anticipated the honour which he described as a ‘shocker’.

    One of Prof Akinbote’s scholarly product, Dr Komolafe of the Department of Early Childhood Education UNILAG, described the awardee as a ‘core disciplinarian’ and an individual interested in the growth of aspiring scholars.

    “Baba (Prof Akinbote) supervised my PhD and by records, has supervised over 15 PhD. Those of us who received tutelage under him are proud to call ourselves his children and we can hold our heads anywhere,” he said.

    Speaking earlier National Secretary of ECAN, Muyiwa Ashimolowo, said the fellowship award is given in recognition of those who have made significant contributions to early childhood education nationally and globally.

     

  • Catching them young

    Catching them young

    A student of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Abideen Olasupo, has organised an oratory contest for secondary school pupils in Osun State to support efforts in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). HABEEBULAH MORAKINYO (300-Level Law) reports.

    Quality education is the fourth objective of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by the United Nations. But, this is a challenge in many developing countries. Can the goal be achieved in Nigeria? Yes, says Abideen Olasupo of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), who believes education quality can improve if students are engaged in intellectual competition and mentorship.

    •Abideen
    •Abideen

    Abideen, through his Brain Builders International, a non-profit organisation, held an academic contest for over 500 secondary school pupils tagged: Teens speak out. The event, held last Monday, was attended by education stakeholders and entrepreneurs.

    In his address, Abideen said the event was aimed at developing the participants intellectual abilities and promote excellence among the young. He said he had always had the vision to render selfless service that will improve society, noting that he would be satisfied if his efforts to uplift people.

    Since quality education is part of the SDG objectives, Abideen said sustaining the project would help make education attractive to the young and increase their writing prowess. He said he would continue to motivate pupils for lifelong learning and make them good communicators. He advised other youths to come up with idea that could change the course of education in the country.

    The participants in the debate spoke on the topic: Amalgamation of political parties:  A dawn of a new era or a stronger force of political inconsistency? The sessions were anchored by Ismaheel Lateef, a University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) graduate of Linguistics.

    Seventeen secondary schools from three Local Government Areas of Osun State participated in the debate held at the hall of Ifon Erin Community High School in Ifon. The judges included Asimiyu Lukman, an English graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and Afolabi Idris, a Teacher, and Hon. Semih Adabanija.

    After the first round, only five schools were eligible to qualify to the next round. Each of the participants from the successful schools spoke on independent topic in the final round of the contest.

    At the end of the contest, Mercy Popoola of Golden Gate Foundations High School in Ifon came first, while Romoke Mushina of Zakariyya Memorial College in Ilobu came second.

    Also, Nasirudeen Fatai of Erin Community High School became the second runner up; Adewale Opapeju of Ilobu High School, third runner up and Ajibola Alalade of Famous Prince International School, fourth runner up.

    The best five students got scholarship that is worth N25,000 and textbook on English Language and Public Speaking.

    Abideen encouraged the participants to strive for excellence and face their studies, saying education remained the vehicle they could use to attain their future dreams. He urged them to be law-abiding and be change agents.

    Dignitaries present at the occasion included the chairman of Labour Party in the state, Comrade Rufus Oyatoro, Chief Executive Officer of SEAD Africa Initiative and Minority Leader in the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Hon. Semih Adabanija, founder of Liberty Fashion Design, Mr Mutiu Salimon, Managing Director of Lucas Boutique, Mr Akintunde Lukman, a businessman, Rafiu Durodola, and Taiwo Adeniyi, Chief Executive Officer of Demoon Global Consult, among others.

  • The young entrepreneur who is hungry for success

    The young entrepreneur who is hungry for success

    This is a story of a woman, who against all odds, has become a success. She shows the power of grit and determination to succeed in business, despite the many hurdles encountered. She is building  a highly respected foodstuff business, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Lagos-based Wandy Foods Limited, Ms. Gbonju Awojuyigbe,  is  one of Nigeria’s entrepreneurial success stories. However, her entrepreneurial journey was not an easy one, but she remains an inspirational example of triumph over adversity.  The 1992 law graduate from the Nigerian Law School, an alumnus of Fate Foundation and a 2005 Fate Foundation Alumnus Award winner, first worked with First African Trust Bank before fully going into business, leaving the banking industry for food processing business. As a woman, she wanted to show that she could be a successful business person, hence, she  left the bank in 1997. In January 1998, she  started  with plantain flour  business with N5000.

    But before she left banking, she had shown interest in production and the attraction defined what she wanted to do.

    Her late grandmother advised her to try plantain flour production, which was one of the options she had before her.  The reason behind the plantain flour was because of its health benefits. She first started with rice flour and later added plantain flour, bean flour and chili pepper.

    Her first set of customers were  her colleagues, who were buying everything she produced and their patronage encouraged her to supply supermarkets.

    Eventually, she  bought a warehouse in Maryland but when the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)  came for inspection, they said it was too small. So with some help, she got another place at the Technology Incubation Centre (TIC), Lagos under the National Board for Technology Incubation.

    She is involved in the processing of plantain flour, ground rice, bean flour, chili pepper, whole wheat flour, pounded yam flour and pure natural honey. Her products are all over the place.

    To boost her skills, she underwent  various  training in  food  processing  techniques at  the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Success Digest  and London South Bank University.  She is one of the first to package plantain  flour in Lagos.  The experience was pretty interesting. “People wanted to get it, they wanted to test it, wanted to try it and see what it could do,” she said.

    To produce the flour, the plantain is peeled, dried and ground. The flour is almost tasteless because the  green, unripe plantain are being used.

    A sense of achievement with taste of success propelled her to undertake the production of ground rice, bean flour candy on a trial  basis.  The experience gave her  the confidence  to move   ahead   towards   her   goal   of   establishing a   full-fledged value – added  enterprise and since then it has been forward ever. She has taken  up  various types  of  products,  using traditional   recipes   and   innovative   ideas aimed at  getting special  commercial clientele. While quality  processed  products  are  in  high demand  in  market,  her strategy  was to have diversified  quality and  value- added products.  She  has been very busy  with her food processing business, growing  her production capacity and employee base since she started the business.  She recalled that she started with  one employee, but today, she has  10 persons working with her,  processing raw ingredients into finished food products.

    Her value statement concentrates on utilising the local agricultural capacity for finished  products , and creating food sources, which can be preserved long enough to be transported to viable markets, especially given the limited logistics available in the country.

    She learned packaging and production techniques that will benefit her business for years to come in her industry.  In addition, she  is  exploring  partnership  in processing finished products.

    Not only is she providing the  much needed employment, she is creating means to getting fresh  produce to market.  She is accomplishing all of these by applying the skills and knowledge she learnt to create a value chain and market delivery system to Lagos  and other markets, making agribusiness more viable, profitable and sustainable.

    According to her, starting a business is not easy under the nation’s present circumstances. She painted a fairly bleak picture of the current situation, but was optimistic about the future.

    Startups, she said, have to keep even more balls in the air including power outages, funding and the like. Roads from the farms are bad, resulting in long delivery times. Credit, according to her, is a huge problem. Despite this, she is passionate about agriculture and wants to make it big in the sector.

    The Lagos State government offered her and  five  other  entrepreneurs  hectares of land at a reasonable price to grow food crops.  Huge investments are also needed. However, success would make her one of the largest food producers in a few years. Her passion to become a food producer of high scale is her driving force.

    Realising that she may not be able to compete for long in the local market, Awojuyigbe  has  taken the bold step  to  prepare her products for the export market.  The company was looking to diversify and was already operating a small honey   processing unit.

    Her story is an inspiration to many, demonstrating that entrepreneurs are high on imagination even if low on resources. At present, her firm does not have the capabilities to execute large  scale  expansion. But she finds it essential to map the needed capabilities in terms of assets, processes and knowledge.

     

  • Young women-farmers making impact

    Young women-farmers making impact

    A new generation of young women farmers are springing up. They are educated, dynamic and doing well in the market. The new breed women-farmers are not looking at agric in the conventional hoe and cutlass subsistence way, they are bringing innovation and entrepreneurship into it, Daniel Essiet reports.

    While many young people in Nigeria dream of getting well-paid jobs, Chief Executive, Honeysuckles Cynthia Mosunmola Umoru, a zoology graduate, an alumnus of the Pan African University under the Enterprise Development Center (CEM), headed for the farm.  She grew up seeing farmers raise crops, and livestock, living wretched lives. But  she  wasn’t  convinced  they  were doing  farming  the right way. She had big dreams.

    She had bought a large piece of land and started a large-scale farming, approaching farming as a business.

    Today, she  is  seen  as a model as was   elected to the Ashoka Fellowship in 2011. Ashoka Fellows are leading social entrepreneurs who have innovative solutions to social problems and the potential to change patterns across society. They work in over 70 countries around the globe in every area of human need. Umoru belongs to this club of the exalted.

    It was in the university that Cynthia gave her interest in agriculture more attention. She took courses in fisheries, and multi-level marketing, and ran a successful cake and cookie business. Cynthia also realised how useful mini-livestock farming could be for peaking young peoples’ interest in the profession of agriculture. Not able to completely divorce herself from the big industries that often appeal to bright youth, however, Cynthia also participated in an internship at ExxonMobil while at university. After graduation,she  launched Honeysuckles PTL Ventures with the primary aim of selling processed food produce. Soon after launching, Cynthia got the opportunity to supply dressed chicken and catfish to one of the fastest growing food retail chains in the country, when the quick service restaurant industry was emerging in Nigeria. However, scarcity and inconsistent quality led Umoru to begin researching production with the intention of a backward integration in preparation for adequate positioning on the food supply chain. She launched a farm to meet the need.

    At ten years in 2014, Honeysuckles currently focuses on high-quality food products using modern packaging and fast delivery, and has its own farms and ponds. The success earned Umoru, the Business Owner of the Year award, a category of the Future Awards; highly esteemed in Nigeria for recognising talent in the younger generation.

    For her, the   journey has been quite difficult. It took her five years to gain relevance. As a young entrepreneur, in her very early days, she lost a lot of the seed capital she got from financial mentors to poor and bad business decisions she  made because there was no one to talk to. She learnt   the lesson a hard. Today, the story is different. She is very successful. As a result, she is determined to show young people that farming can be glamorous and good fortune for them  to trade places with the business executive in the large conglomerate and also the bank’s middle management cadre, which is the initial attraction for most young graduates .

    She is  now focusing on ways to get a new generation of young people interested in and successful at modern agriculture. She makes the rounds of schools in and around Lagos, speaking before hundreds of high school and university students.

    In fact, in a year-long apprenticeship with her Honeysuckles PTL Ventures, those that choose may rotate through all aspects of the value chain, from production to processing to dealing with the final corporate client. Those with their own agribusinesses learn modern skills and ideas to incorporate into their endeavor, while the high school and university students begin to realise that farming does not have to look like their antiquated ideas.

    Tosin Awoyinka is a graduate of Federal University of Technology Minna, and  Federal University of Technology Akure, .She read  agric engineering. Awoyinka started agro business  with a bold dream – transform her life and  others. Through creativity and persistence, she is gradually building  an agro enterprise of her dream.She into crop production,aquaculture, poultry and processing and grow crops under greenhouses. As a woman who founded and built her  own business from scratch, she know how difficult it can be to turn a dream into a lucrative business.

    She had challenges but with faith, patience, gratitude and keeping her eye on the purpose, accepting variations of ideals,she has been able to make it.An agric engineer, Awoyinka, is collaborating with other agro entrepreneurs to and raise awareness on opportunities for young farmers in agriculture. She part of a business coaching program where she  has the opportunity to connect with dozens upon dozens of like-minded entrepreneurs who are also eager to give back to others.

    An entrepreneur to watch is Betty Afolabi. A young fisheries graduate, University of Ado-Ekiti. Ekiti State,she comes from a long line of entrepreneurs.

    A member, Nigeria Agribusiness Group, Cross River State and Secretary, Cross River State women in aquaculture, Miss  Afolabi,  is  co operator of Bangadonase Nigeria limited,based in Calabar,Cross River State.

    She always knew she will go into business.  — Once the right idea presented itself of course. In her’ case, the right idea came in the form of fish farming. “I started fully in 2010 by hatching fish at the back of my house and also rearing 20 chicks.” She has started a fish business with a partner in Calabar, Mrs. Glory Ado Awe ,also a fisheries  graduate, where  they cultivate and sell grown fish to the  market. In her’ mind the importance of local food cannot be overstated both in regards to the goals of her business and the future of agriculture as a whole.

    Afolabi and her partner are happy that are able to produce good fish.

    Like any other agricultural operation, she faced typical challenges, particularly, getting accepted as a female farmer. But she had to prove her worth in the field. Right now, her   challenges are lack of finance for small scale farmer. The other is unfavourable agricultural policy. This makes exporting her product difficult. In Cross River State, she and other women involved in agriculture have formed a union called Women in Aquaculture. It comprises of over 100 women doing fish business, processing to production. The  other ones are reducing the chance of mortality failure and balancing an increase in production with the ability to sell everything they grow. That being said, she is optimistic about the future of her business. Right now, she is into fingerlings production and also processing of catfish for sale. She is also into shrimps and also consultancy.

    Along the line, she found successful women entrepreneurs are also everyday entrepreneurs.

    Also that people who run businesses are making huge contributions but may not be necessarily brand names.

    She sees the successes of those ventures and realise that there’s a real possibility that their startup can do well. So the female agro entrepreneurs ’re taking a different approach.

    Across the country, executive women   are ramping up agro entrepreneurship opportunities, as they pursue their dreams of lucrative innovation, and startup glory.

    Some of the women involved in agriculture and food production, hold  international  MBAs that   are part of a striking trend among business school students toward entrepreneurship. Increasingly, they are rushing to apply their business skills to their own enterprises. For them, agro entrepreneurship is entering the mainstream in the economy and therefore it’s starting to enter the mainstream in the business schools.

    For instance, Lagos Business School has started something on agribusiness management and this has served as the primary impetus toward entrepreneurship.

    As tech-driven agro business companies are spreading, highly ranked business schools are right on their heels.

    Chief Executive Officer, Melinda-D Global Farms, George Omololu Akinbi said entry of young female graduate into agriculture  portend a greatfuture for the nation.

    According to him, young women pursue agriculture with great vigour. He believes  agriculture is expanding the horizons of  young ladies who want  to become farmers. He look forward to seeing these young women flourish.

    Meanwhile, West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) has urged youths to harness the vast business opportunities in the agricultural sector rather than seek paid employment. Assistant Project Accountant of WAAPP, Mr Godffery Onuegbu,  made at a training workshop for 50 selected youths and women on cassava and fruit juice processing technology, in Awka.

    “We have enough agricultural raw materials available in the southeast that could change the fortunes of our youths and women roaming the streets for employment.

    “A lot of fruits, including oranges, pineapples, pawpaw, mangoes, among others are rotting away in the region which can be harnessed into fruit juice.

    “The by-product from fruit processing can also be converted to animal feed.

    “Nigeria is a ready market for all these produce but the issue is that our youths do not show interest in the business.

    “I encourage the youths to look inwards in the area of agriculture instead of applying for jobs all over the place,” Onuegbu said.

    Technical Assistant to the National Project Coordinator of WAAPP, Mrs Grace Samuel,  said interested youths could be linked to funding institutions.

    Samuel explained that WAAPP was collaborating with the Rural Finance Institution Building Programme to provide grants, not exceeding five million naira, for cassava and fruit juice processing.

    She urged the state governments in the zone to develop an agricultural framework that would encourage the training of the youth in fruit and cassava processing.

  • JCI celebrates 10 outstanding young persons

    JCI celebrates 10 outstanding young persons

    Last week, Junior Chamber International (JCI) Nigeria honoured young entrepreneurs in Lagos, Daniel Essiet reports.

    Junior Chamber International (JCI) Nigeria celebrated young business owners and social entrepreneurs from all over the country at a ceremony in Victoria Island, Lagos at the weekend.

    The crème de la crème gathered, bringing positive role models, to celebrate those devoted to enhancing change and economic inclusion.

    This year’s  Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) were Adebola Olomo, Oresanwo Lolade, Odjenima Atinuke, Araba Steven Omogbolahan, Uyi-Aivinhenyo Patricia, AbdulkadirMukhtar, Onitiju Ibukun, Akintayo Stephen, Steve Harris and Olawale Rotimi.

    According to the organisers, out of 130 nominations received, 20 were selected. They were further screened  by a panel. The public then voted for the final 10.

    The process was anchored by the JCI’s TOYP Team, panel and a team from the international auditing firm – KPMG

    JCI’s National President, Seun Osikalu, said the group was delighted by the quality of persons  chosen for the awards. He said  TOYP, a global initiative which is being replicated in Nigeria, concentrates on formally recognising young people who are making waves in their chosen fields and creating positive impact on other people, their community and the society at large.

    The recognitions, according to him, are to motivate other young people and encourage them in their bid to be socially responsible leaders. However, a diverse and vibrant array of established entrepreneurs featured in the list, highlighting the strength and tenacity of modern entrepreneurship.

    One outstanding entrepreneur was Chief Operating Officer of Solous MRF Limited and West Africa Energy, Mrs Lolade Oresanwo,  who has done much to help businesses reduce and recycle a wastes. Her company has a facility that  picks solid wastes, such as  milk cans, soft drink cans and sort them through for recoverable purpose. The firm, WestAfricaENRG, operates the first materials recovery facility in Nigeria with a focus on zero waste to landfill across the country.

    The other is Olomo Adebola,  chief executive officer, Deefrent Limited. Trained as a lawyer at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Olomo has garnered over 13 years’experience in Communications – in areas, such as marketing, technology, public relations and business strategy.

    Her work at MTN Nigeria won her several awards, including the much-coveted ‘Star Performance’ Award  for Nigeria and WECA (West and Central Africa) in her first year. This earned her a transfer to work with MTN Group, South Africa where she covered various aspects of communications and majored on E-Communications Consultant, Group-wide.

    However, Adebola’s most impressive career move happened in 2010, when she became the helmsman at Deefrent Limited. With her experience and impactful work, she has taken Deefrent from zero to over 100 clients in just five years.

    One  of the  awardess was Stephen Akintayo. An inspirational speaker and entrepreneur, he is the Chief Executive Officer, Gtext Media and Investment Limited, a leading firm in Nigeria, whose services span digital marketing, website design, bulk sms, online advertising, Media, e-commerce, real estate, Consulting and a host of other services.

    Stephen, popularly called Pastor Stephen, is the founder of Omonaija, an online radio station in Lagos.

    His mentorship has helped thousands of people, including graduates and undergraduates in business as well as in relationships. He is also the Founder and President of Infinity Foundation, an indigenous non-governmental organisation that has assisted over 2,000 orphans and vulnerable children, and has also partnered with 22 orphanage homes.

    One of the awardees, Dr Abdulkadir Mukhtar,  said  JCI  has done well to celebrate those unsung heroes who go above and beyond the call of duty to improve the lives of others in the communities around them.

    He  called on young people to take leadership roles in addressing the concerns of the economy and act as pioneers in transformation.

    Designed to highlight the country’s most inspirational and selfless people, the awards have attracted a growing list of corporate  supporters.

    TOYP Chairperson, Adetola Juyitan, said: “This year’s TOYP is coming with an unprecedented class, which is reflected through the quality of shortlisted nominees, the quality of the judges, the audit process managed by KPMG, the organisation of the grand finale of the event, among other things.”

    According to her, “Junior Chamber International, Nigeria has been participating at the international level over the years, and beyond hosting the edition, we will be taking advantage of the platform of this year’s programme to re-reinforce the presence of JCI in Nigeria.”

    She urged young people to contribute to the economy.

    Since 1983, JCI has honoured nearly 300 individuals across 57 countries.

    The criteria for recognition is that a Nigerian must be above 18, but less than 40, and must have excelled in their fields.

     

  • Catching them young

    Catching them young

    Students across West Africa have converged on the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) to participate in a summer programme organised by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASDRA) to train young astronomers in space technology. OLADELE OGE (NYSC Enugu) reports.

    The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has, completed its week-long West African International Summer School for Young Astronomers (WAISSYA).

    The event, held at the Centre for Basic Space Science (CBSS), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), was attended by students across West Africa, who came to acquire knowledge in space research and technology.

    The workshop was aimed at promoting indigenous research in space science and provide opportunities to students and researchers in space management.

    Notable experts in the field, such as Dr Linda Strubbe of the University of British Columbia in Canada; Jielia Zhang of Dunlap Institute in Canada and Bonaventure Okere of the CBSS, were among the facilitators at the summer school.

    Declaring the training open, the NASRDA Director-General, Prof Sheidu Mohammed, represented by CBSS Director, Prof Fidelix Opara, said participation in the training received the nod of the International Astronomy Union (IAU) through the Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) in Cape Town, South Africa.

    Outlining the agency’s achievements and contributions to the development of space technology,  Opara told the participants that NASRDA had built Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to keep the nation afloat in space technology. He said its research had been recommended to various government agencies to tackle insecurity and crimes.

    Opara said the agency needed to build a 25-metre Radio Telescope for data collection of happenings in space to position Nigeria on the world astronomy map. He urged the trainees to use their experience from the training to make enduring careers in space research and technology.

    Prof Edwin Igbokwe, a representative of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Benjamin Ozumba, praised the Federal Government for establishing CBSS and Energy Research Centre in the university.

    The two centres, Igbokwe said, have helped the growth and academic development of the institution.

    Addressing the participants, Mr Shuaibu Abdullahi of the CBSS, said the agency has several activity centres mandated to carry out research and human capacity development in space science and technology to boost the discipline in Nigeria.

    He said the summer school was to improve professional standards and actualise the nation’s vision in space technology. He said the training had made young people a leading voice in astronomical research and development on the continent.

    A professor emeritus, Pius Okeke, who said he had trained over 40 Ph.D students in space technology, said the problem facing space technology development in Nigeria was lack of astronomical radio, which he said could cost N500 million to provide. “This is one of the powerful tools to use in tackling insecurity,” he said.

    During the training, participants had opportunities to access the CBSS’s facilities to test the sun capacity and forecast the weather of many towns. They also used telescope provided by international facilitators to interpret information received from the space.

    The other technical aspect of the training was the use of telescope and picture diagram of cloud in examining the death of stars in their individual space research exercise.

    Other instructors included Chioma Enyiegbulam of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) in Imo State and Temidayo Oniosun of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in Ondo State.

    After the training, two of the trainees informed the class of their discoveries. They responded to the questions from members of the audience.

    Some of the trainees shared their experiences with CAMPUSLIFE.

    Fatai Shodunke, a Corps member in Jos, Plateau State, said: “The training has opened my eyes to the benefits of space technology, which, I believe, has a powerful effect on the wellbeing of humanity. The importance of this discipline will be understood better if schools, government and non-governmental agencies are involved in development plans in urban and rural areas. This is why people need to be enlightened on astronomical research and space development.”

    Joy Ojone, another participant, described the training as “well-organised”, noting that it would stimulate youths’ interest in the technical aspects of astronomy and space research.

    Godson Abbey, a graduate of Physics from Rivers State University Science and Technology (RSUST), urged the government to support teachers and researchers in the agency.

     

  • Young business leaders target 1.2m jobs

    Young business leaders have vowed to generate millions of jobs for the unemployed before the end of next year.

    They made the pledge when they gathered yesterday for the launch of Young Business Leaders of Nigeria (YBLN) – a network of young professionals aimed at assisting budding entrepreneurs to hone and develop their business acumen.

    The focus of discussion at the forum at Muson Centre in Onike, Lagos, was centred on how potential and innovative minds of young people could be harnessed to generate the promised jobs and ease the nation’s employment burden.

    Ms Temitayo Etomi, YBLN founder, said the initiative was aimed at creating platform for entrepreneurs to rally resources together for the financing of practicable business ideas.

    They ideas, she said, would generate decent employment for the youth before the end of December 2016.

    Temitayo, who is a 2014 Mandela Washington Fellow, said several feasible strategies had been mapped out to create opportunities for unemployed and under-employed people, who are willing to change their conditions.

    To achieve the aim, she said the group would engage unemployed youths in batches of mentorship programmes that would run for eight weeks, after which the trainees would be given soft loans to start businesses in their preferred areas of interest.

    If continued, Temitayo, who is the group managing partner of Redwire Marketing Group, said the group, by the end of 2016, would have achieved its projection to engage more than one million jobless youths in lucrative ventures that would have positive impact on the economy, adding that the group would also train unskilled people to create employability values for their self-sustenance.

    She said: “The YBLN has objectives to bring about new idea that will help solve unemployment crisis. It is basically exploring the effort and ideas of a minority in business to help confront the challenges of the majority who don’t have job. We are creating a network of young professionals and business leaders to create platform for solving unemployment crisis we are facing.”

    She said the initiative would be funded from regular contributions by successful businessmen, adding that the money would be used to train jobless youths in employability skills and finance entrepreneurship ideas that are found business-worthy.

    Noting that the rising unemployment was taking its toll on the country, Temitayo said two of every three youths are either unemployed or under-employed. She said government alone could not be responsible for provision of lucrative jobs, saying it was time for young people to think about how they could use their potential to create opportunities for themselves.

    The event featured a discussion on unemployment, which had top business managers, including Mr George Etomi, Managing Partner of Etomi and Partners, Ms Doyin Odunfa, Chief Executive Officer of Digital Jewel and Mr. Uyi Akpata, Country Partner, PricewatersCoopers, as discussants. The Editor of Sunday Punch, Ms Toyosi Ogunseye, moderated the session.

  • I’m still too young for a relationship –NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS SHARON EZEAMAKA

    I’m still too young for a relationship –NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS SHARON EZEAMAKA

    Sharon Ezeamaka was born for television; appearing as a child actor on a TV commercial at age two, and her first movie at age five. She has appeared in over 25 movies, and was on the popular TV shows Dear Mother for 8 years, and MNET Africa’s The Johnsons for two series. Starring as Princess in the current season of MTV Base drama, Shuga, Ezeamaka, who also produces 360nobs on TV, speaks to JOE AGBRO JR., about what she hopes to accomplish in the entertainment industry.

    EXPLAIN your character in Shuga?

    My character is Princess. She is a young naïve girl, she’s Sophie’s little sister, and she came to Lagos (last season), trying to make it in Lagos, to be a Lagos big girl. She made a lot of mistakes, and became HIV positive. That’s basically my character.

    So, what was it like acting this character?

    It was fun. It was a lot of fun. First of all, I worked with so many incredible people, and they made my job easy. It was an experience, and adventure because Princess is different from me in like a billion ways. It was nice playing someone that is not like me.

    In what way are you different from Princess?

    Princess is very head-strong, and she wants to experience life. And she’s not even trying to be careful. Sharon on the other hand is very careful, very cautious and doesn’t care about experiencing the life (laughs). I’m a very cautious, quiet, reserved person. Princess is nothing like that. She’s loud and all that.

    So, was it difficult playing that role?

    Actually, it wasn’t. It was nice. It was fun. It wasn’t like 100 per cent easy, but it was definitely not difficult.

    When you describe yourself as being reserved, and quiet, how did you find yourself into acting, where you have to express yourself?

    I have been acting since I was a baby. I started doing commercials when I was two. I acted in my first film when I was five. Acting is my favourite thing. It’s something I have a huge passion for, so it’s easy to play different characters. I actually enjoy playing different characters. What other job in the world can you play a different character every time you’re on set? So, it’s fun for me.

    Did you study Theatre Arts, or how did you really get into acting?

    From modeling, and doing commercials. My agents got me my first acting gig, and I did it, and liked it. So, I just kept on at it.

    And that was when?

    In 1997.

    So, how many films have you acted in since then?

    I did a lot of movies when I was a child. And then, I was on a TV series, Dear Mother, for eight years. And then, I took a break from acting for about two to three years. And then, I came back in 2013, and did the last season of Shuga, season 3.

    How old are you?

    I’m 23 years old.

    Are you done with school?

    No, I’m going off to college next year to study acting.

    Where?

    So, generally, how has the experience of acting been for you?

    It’s been perfect.

    No hitches?

    No. There are times when I’ve had to work extra hard, like going for days without sleep, and all. But I enjoyed it, so I can’t really say it’s been difficult if I enjoyed doing it. For me, it was fun, it was adventurous. It was an amazing experience. My favourite time in the world is when I’m filming. So, I can’t exactly complain.

    When not acting, is there any other thing you’ll be doing?

    If I wasn’t an actor, I’d probably have studied law and became a criminal defense lawyer.

    Why?

    Because that is the other thing I love apart from acting. I love law. I mean, at some point in my life, I’ll probably still go to Law School.

    How would you compare the production of Shuga with other local film productions in the country?

    I think from when I started till now, the one thing I can say is that the industry has improved in a lot of ways. And it’s amazing to see that the quality of production, the quality of our films, our TV shows, everything is improving.

    What part do you think has not improved?

    There are still some hiccups. The industry is young; it’s only been around for 23 years. So, there is still so much we can do to make our things better, but I think we’re getting there. And eventually, we will get there.

    Some actresses have complained that they’ve had to do other things to get roles?

    That has never happened to me, so I can’t really comment on that. I’ve heard stories, but it has never happened to anybody I know personally, so I cannot comment on something that I haven’t experienced, or somebody that I know hasn’t personally experienced.

    Is this your first time on Shuga?

    No, I was in Shuga when it came to Nigeria last year.

    Comparing Season 3 and Season 4 of Shuga, are their improvements?

    Yeah. The story has developed a lot more, and there are new characters this season. And this Season is probably going to be a lot more intense than last season. There are so many things that are going to shock people. Like ‘how did that happen?’ Last season was more intense, but this season would be really intense.

    Shuga advocates safe sex, but with the spontaneity of sex, do you think that’s achievable?

    I think that’s the point of Shuga. What we’re trying to say is, ‘no matter how spontaneous, you have to remember that you have to play safe, and you have to be careful so you don’t get into trouble, and make mistakes that you’ll regret for the rest of your life.’ That’s actually one of the things that my character goes through in Shuga. She wasn’t careful, or cautious, so, she made a lot of mistakes. So, she had to deal with the mistakes. The whole point is ‘is be careful, play safe, for yourself and for your partner.’

    Are you in a relationship?

    No, I’m not at the moment.

    Why?

    Nothing (laughs)

    I mean, you’re beautiful…

    I was, but I’m not now.

    What happened?

    Nothing. I’m just in a place where I want to focus on myself and my career right now. And I think that’s okay. I’m still really young, so, I have time to do the whole relationship thing later. So, right now, I just want to focus on myself, my life and my career.

    So, what was it like leaving your relationship?

    It wasn’t weird. He’s still my friend. We talk from time to time. So, it’s all good.

    Do you think the message of sexual abstinence for youths is achievable in today’s world where sex is glamorized?

    I’m not completely against it, but the truth is young people would always do the opposite of what you tell them to do anyway. If you tell them to abstain, it would only make them want to do it more. So, I think the best we can do is to teach them how to be safe. But, I mean, abstinence is fine. I mean, to a certain age, yes, you should totally abstain. But, at some point, you’d want to experiment, and you’d want to do everything else, so you might as well just learn how to be safe, and ensure that the moment you’re having sex, you’re not getting STDs, or getting HIV, or getting pregnant when you’re not ready to have children.