I replied a bloq the other day about immigration jobs in Nigeria. I would want to believe now, that I was correct about my views.

Imagine the number of young people that lost their lives during the just concluded Immigration recruitment excercise. I will keep on advising young Nigerians to sit back and think about stuffs they could actually use their hands to do that could fetch them some mega bucks.

White collar jobs were not meant for everyone! Imagine the number of lives lost! 2 in Abia, 7 in Kaduna, probably more elsewhere! These are the lives of potential impactors; the next Wole Soyinkas; the next Dora Akunyilis; potential change agents!

These guys were not trained personnels to have been forced to undergo such an herculean task. Atleast, First Aid kits or an Ambulance with trained personnels would have been assigned to every state carrying out the recruitment excercise to resuscitate lives. One would believe that most of these young people probably might have had one heart disease or the other left unattended considering the environmental impact of our today's 'Nigeria'.

I would suggest that, future applicants should be subjected to X-ray examinations before recruitment and the provision of medical experts with required tools to be in full gear during the next recruitment excercise.

We cant afford to lose any more lives!
While mourning, I pray that souls of the departed find rest in the bossom of Abraham. Amen!

Any news from your area??

Hi,
I dont know if you think about this too! Recently, we have witnessed a big 'BOOM' in the Nigerian entertainment scene especially in Nollywood. Ramsey Nouah vs Ini Edo, Zack Orgi vs Sandra Achums, Mike Ezuruonye vs Kamilla Mbrekpe and so on....

Love today, Baba tomorrow, Aki and Pawpaw today, Little rats tomorrow...
When are we going to produce something better....

Considering the number of home movies produced daily, do you think Nollywood encourages the involvement of young people in tackling key issues?

We know that most young people especially, young school leavers stay 'glued' to their TV sets watching 'Nollywood-produced' movies. Dont we think that if Nollywood produced movies that showcase the involvement of young people in tackling key issues, that 'youth activism' would have a place in the minds of young people in Nigeria?

I think we need to address this issue. We can sign up petitions urging Nollywood to produce movies that encourage youth involvement. I think this might work or what do you think??

It is on the news! It is everywhere! Zimbabwe is in trouble! Last night, I watched with keen interest on MTV, where young people questioned Mr. Tsvangirai bout the recent development in Zimbabwe.

I have carefully observed that Mugabe is operating with young people in Zimbabwe. The ones I saw with Matchets, Rifles, Guns, Sticks, Axes and all sorts of deadly weapons were the young ones of Zimbabwe. Guess who stands a better chance to stop this....?

You're right! The YOUNG PEOPLE! Now the million dollar question.... HOW?

I'm still wondering what young people can do to stop this violence and erstore peace to the panic-stricken Zimbabwe. Those wasted lives are the lives of potential TIG members! These are lives of potential agents of change!

I am soliciting for an online forum where young people can contribute their ideas to our Zimbabwean brothers. If you're in support of this, let me know.

Its no use wasting time to say much. I opt for ACTION

Wont you join me?

Accessing President Yar'Adua's 1 year in office, has any impact been made on you as a young Nigerian? Considering his seven points agenda....

Send your replies to aniekanekah@yahoo.com

We sincerely write to ask for your permission to publish your responses on our magazine 'Young Activists Magazine' coming out June 21st, 2008.

Today Nigeria celebrate it greatest asset: Youth and Children as it mark National Children. As we may all know that in 1990 Nigeria joined it counter part to sign the African Charter which include among other things the protestation of the right of children and youth


In September 2000, Nigeria also joined other nations to signed the 8-Time bound declaration of universal commitment to development known as Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Where are we today? Among all the issues affecting the Nation today, children and youth are mostly affected such as poverty, hunger, HIV/AIDS, Climate Change and equality.

As a committed YOUTH DEVELOPEMNT ACTORS, I sincerely encourage that we continue to advocate for the passing of the Child Right Bill which is currently in the House of Assembly.


Let us as,young people come to the realization that to meaningfully participate in planning, developing, and evaluating processes in all decisions pertaining to the welfare of young people is to:

• Be active and knowledgeable participants by informing ourselves about law sconcerning our well being
• Have our voices heard by having representations at appropriate levels of policy making
• Take responsibility for our actions and inactions
• Making improvements by taking result-oriented actions
• Involvement by contributing physically, socially and emotionally at all levels
• Devotion and rendering service
• Be better leaders by listening and sharing the knowledge we have gained


Our Demand
1. Governments to immediately domesticate the March 2007 UN Convention for People with Disabilities, especially Articles 16 and 25 of the convention

2. Transformational programmes for stronger recognition of the importance of SRR among the media, the judiciary, medical fraternity, educational and health authorities, religious and cultural institutions.

3. Donors and development partners to invest in policies and programmes that promote an integrated, comprehensive response to SRHR within and aligned with the Maputo Plan of Action and the MDG’S.

4.Policy makers, public sector, researchers, NGOs, private sector, communities and others to foster partnerships and strengthen collaboration to strengthen advocacy, Programme implementation, research, monitoring and evaluation and resource utilization.

So help us God!!

CLCWA Kano expereinece

It was great seeing the invite for the second National CLCWA conference that was to hold in Kano. I missed the first conference and this second one I was really excited about it since I heard a lot of Good reports from the first conference.
My journey from Warri to Kano ws a long one I had to cut it down so It will not be so tiring, I left Warri for Kaduna and from there moved to Zamafara state where I stayed in our family house (NCCF- Nigerian Christian Corpers Fellowship) where I served as the Bible study secretary in 2006 Bach B in the one year compulsory youths service after graduation.
On arriving Kano I was picked up by my very good friend and comrade in development Emmanuel Gabari, who took me to the Kano State Broadcasting Corporation, I saw the studios and some of the facilities it was my first time in a radio station.
The second day I went in to the ECWA guest house where I got to meet the National Director-Jerry and other team members, Esther, Leke, Emeka and Chinonso .
The summit started later that day, with some presentations and speeches. But the turning f the event for me what made the whole event worth attending was the arrival of Victor Gotevbe, he later became the anchor, motivator of the programme and it was really good having him, we chatted at Night and I got motivated and inspired
By the way I met some old folks there Chisomanga, Washington Dick (the ever present development guy), Umaru Rabiu Maska ( my brother from Katsina), Abdiel my roommate, Purpose Osa from Benin, Sarah Mba, award winning Kabari from Port-Harcourt and a whole lot of folks I may not be able to mention.
I learnt quite a few lessons and made some observations

OBSERVATIONS
1 The organization of CLCWA conferences need to be improved
2. A lot of people involved in development need to be HUMBLE knowing that development work is all about SERVICE and not show off (I cant forget in a hurry the humility of Gbenga Sesan when I hosted in Warri Last August looking forward to this years edition sir)
Henry Ekwuruke, whom I met at the Nigeria Youth Forum in Abuja is another exceptional humble guy. He taught me all night and help to type and arrange my TIG Blog profile. You can’t even ask some people questions without them trying to tell you what they have achieved and where they have been to

LESSONS LEARNT
1. Its possible to achieve a new detribalized Nigeria, we were all from different places but there was genuine harmony ( I key into the New Nigeria Dream of 2025 of Fela Durotoye)
2. From Victor chat all genuine development work will be rewarded and the need to relax and just let things work out
3. From National coordinator you need to have three V’s to succeed, Volunteer, Vision and be Visible. It was a profound motivational piece.
4. Kano is a great place, but they need to wake up early to pen the stores o,k, just joking.

My Kano experience will ever remain in my memory and I will not fail to appreciate Umaru, for the books he gave me at the conference and all those that made it worth attending, thanks to OSIWA for the funding at least 60% of my fare was covered. B the way my roommates were exceptional thanks to the rearrangement of yinka the on ground coordinator.
By the way the conference helped me to build a very strong network. I met some people I really needed to met, Shola was great in given me some good contacts concerning stand up. Then Afolabi the contact of Junior Achievement an organization I had always wanted to volunteer for. Victor finally I joined the NiPRO mailing list, Abdiel sent a good article on making your dream come true and promise to be at Dare 2 ream this year looking forward to seeing you in Warri o.k., Hey Umaru looking forward to seeing you too.
Lastly, Victor what you did to me in the conference motivationally remains eternal. Fro the Kano conference, I got three people in my network that will be in Warri this August for the 2nd Edition of Dare 2 Dream Youth Initiative.

It was great seeing the invite for the second National CLCWA conference that was to hold in Kano. I missed the first conference and this second one I was really excited about it since I heard a lot of Good reports from the first conference.
My journey from Warri to Kano ws a long one I had to cut it down so It will not be so tiring, I left Warri for Kaduna and from there moved to Zamafara state where I stayed in our family house (NCCF- Nigerian Christian Corpers Fellowship) where I served as the Bible study secretary in 2006 Bach B in the one year compulsory youths service after graduation.
On arriving Kano I was picked up by my very good friend and comrade in development Emmanuel Gabari, who took me to the Kano State Broadcasting Corporation, I saw the studios and some of the facilities it was my first time in a radio station.
The second day I went in to the ECWA guest house where I got to meet the National Director-Jerry and other team members, Esther, Leke, Emeka and Chinonso .
The summit started later that day, with some presentations and speeches. But the turning f the event for me what made the whole event worth attending was the arrival of Victor Gotevbe, he later became the anchor, motivator of the programme and it was really good having him, we chatted at Night and I got motivated and inspired
By the way I met some old folks there Chisomanga, Washington Dick (the ever present development guy), Umaru Rabiu Maska ( my brother from Katsina), Abdiel my roommate, Purpose Osa from Benin, Sarah Mba, award winning Kabari from Port-Harcourt and a whole lot of folks I may not be able to mention.
I learnt quite a few lessons and made some observations

OBSERVATIONS
1 The organization of CLCWA conferences need to be improved
2. A lot of people involved in development need to be HUMBLE knowing that development work is all about SERVICE and not show off (I cant forget in a hurry the humility of Gbenga Sesan when I hosted in Warri Last August looking forward to this years edition sir)
Henry Ekwuruke, whom I met at the Nigeria Youth Forum in Abuja is another exceptional humble guy. He taught me all night and help to type and arrange my TIG Blog profile. You can’t even ask some people questions without them trying to tell you what they have achieved and where they have been to

LESSONS LEARNT
1. Its possible to achieve a new detribalized Nigeria, we were all from different places but there was genuine harmony ( I key into the New Nigeria Dream of 2025 of Fela Durotoye)
2. From Victor chat all genuine development work will be rewarded and the need to relax and just let things work out
3. From National coordinator you need to have three V’s to succeed, Volunteer, Vision and be Visible. It was a profound motivational piece.
4. Kano is a great place, but they need to wake up early to pen the stores o,k, just joking.

My Kano experience will ever remain in my memory and I will not fail to appreciate Umaru, for the books he gave me at the conference and all those that made it worth attending, thanks to OSIWA for the funding at least 60% of my fare was covered. B the way my roommates were exceptional thanks to the rearrangement of yinka the on ground coordinator.
By the way the conference helped me to build a very strong network. I met some people I really needed to met, Shola was great in given me some good contacts concerning stand up. Then Afolabi the contact of Junior Achievement an organization I had always wanted to volunteer for. Victor finally I joined the NiPRO mailing list, Abdiel sent a good article on making your dream come true and promise to be at Dare 2 ream this year looking forward to seeing you in Warri o.k., Hey Umaru looking forward to seeing you too.
Lastly, Victor what you did to me in the conference motivationally remains eternal. Fro the Kano conference, I got three people in my network that will be in Warri this August for the 2nd Edition of Dare 2 Dream Youth Initiative.

Hello,

This is to inform everyone who attended any of the ST.
LOUIS SCHOOLS institutions in NIGERIA, that there will
be an important meeting in preparation for the take
off of SLOSA (ST LOUIS OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION)and to
also celebrate 60 years of ST. LOUIS in Nigeria.

DATE MAY 17TH, 2008 VENUE TIME 10AM
*SLOSA AKURE AREA - ST LOUIS GRAMMER SCHOOL AKURE

* SLOSA ONDO AREA - ST LOUIS GRAMMAR SCHOOL ONDO

* SLOSA IKARE/OKA AREA - MOUNT CARMEL GIRLS SEC SCHL
IKARE

* SLOSA ADO-EKITI AREA - ST LOUIS NURPRY SCHL IKERE
* SLOSA LAGOS AREA - ST AGNES' CATHOLIC CHURCH,
MARYLAND, LAGOS
* SLOSA IBADAN AREA - ST LOUIS GRAMMAR SCHOOL, MOKOLA,
IBADAN


DATE MAY 24TH, 2008 VENUE TIME 10.00AM
* SLOSA KANO - ST LOUIS SECONDARY SCHOOL, KANO
* SLOSA ABUJA - REGINA PACIS SCHOOL, ABUJA
* SLOSA KADUNA - ST ANN'S NUR/PRY SCHOOL KADUNA
* SLOSA JOS - ST LOUIS CHURCH, JOS
* SLOSA EDO/DELTA - OLA SCHOOL, ASABA
* SLOSA PORT HARCOURT - MRS ANNMARY AMENE'S HOUSE,
OROMA ESTATE 75 OKPORO ROAD
RUMUDARA, PORTHARCOURT

For further enquiries, pls contact:
SR JUSTINA IHECHERE SSL
080 34092132
080 36571901

Please ensure that you tell someone you know that
attended any of the St Louis institutions, as very
importants issues will be discussed.

Please read and send to someone too, that way the
message will get faster to an old student of ST LOUIS.

Thanks.

Emmanuel Gabari
Radio Kano Fm
www.emmanuelgabari.com
www.nigeriafilms.com
080 36791020


Emmanuel Gabari,
No. 2 Ashton Road,
Kano Nigeria 700001
Tel: 2348054383460
2348036791020
23464977215

Hi Everyone,

I am sure we might have heard about Young Activists Magazine by now.

We'll be going to the press this month end and as a sign of committment and love for CLCWA, I am creating a column tagged "Initiative Watch" for CLCWA members that have pet projects in their community.

Please use this opportunity to showcase your initiative to the world.

Send the name of your initiative (organization), contact details, working area, contact numbers and names. Please dont forget to include the working area of your organization.

We're also accpeting articles and dateline fo submission is just a week from today.

When did I post this blog??
Go check it out....

Please send your detials to yamagng@yahoo.com with the name of your organization in the subject space.

For more information, please dont hesitate to email me on aniekanekah@yahoo.com or call me on +234 806 9387465

Hoping to hear from you soonest.

Aniekan Ekah

If you had just a day to live, what would you do to change the world??

Hi guys would love to introduce you to the works and interviews of my friend Emmanual Gabari, you could read more up at www.nigeriafilms.com

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

We are introducing ‘YOUNG ACTIVISTS” magazine to you!
This magazine will provide a platform for young people to write about the issues they face daily and seek possible solutions to them. This is a new magazine that would satisfy the urge of every youth in Nigeria. We are seeking young adults who are mostly passionate and enjoy writing about the engagement and involvement of young people in issues, want to vent about life issues to contribute essays, stories, opinions, poems, and advice.

We will be getting stuff on daily basis. Areas to be covered include: Human Rights and Equity, Education, Environment, Family & relationships, Health & sexuality, Identity & race, Law & crime, Media, arts & leisure, Money & work, Politics, Conflicts and governance, Reviews, Technology and Innovation, Social affairs, Sports, Values & religion and World affairs.

Please get in touch with us if you would like to be a part of YOUNG ACTIVISTS magazine.
Perhaps you:
•have great ideas for future articles
•are interested in writing an article or column for YOUNG ACTIVISTS.
•can help with photographs for stories in upcoming issues
•have suggestions on improving the format and style of the magazine or website.
•have some ideas on how YOUNG ACTIVISTS magazine can reach more readers out there.

Please feel free to email us on aniekanekah@yahoo.com or call +234 (806) 938 7465, +234 (808) 535 0336, +234 (802) 429 3798 today.

Aniekan Ekah
Young Activists Magazine
Nigeria

Hi,
I've just been motivated to start publishing youth magazines as a medium of creating awareness on common challenges and issues such as emergence from conflict, advancement of democracy, economic empowerment, reducing stigma and raising awareness about HIV/AIDS etc.
The magazine's coverage will only be limited to Nigeria for now and our target audience is the youth.

As a fellow impactor, what NAME would you suggest I give this magazine to make it catchy?
Would you like to volunteer as our correspondent?
Will you take this opportunity to tell the Nigeria youth about your organization, project or initiative?

Post a reply or send me a mail.
I'll be waiting to hear from you!

Aniekan Ekah
African Youth Enlightenment and Development Society
Akwa Ibom State - Nigeria
+234 806 9387465
E-mail: aniekanekah@yahoo.com

The training is Whoa and you will get more details, we are currently doing the Sapele training for youths on Basic ICT in Songhai Delta Amukpe.
the guys and girls are Enthusiatic and there are great potentials for Sapele youths, you get more details as we progress, but tell you what.CLCWA Delta state is working.

Press Release

Nigeria Youth Decide!

The Nigeria Youth Forum, a project of Youngstars Development Initiative, Jos in partnership with British Council, Nigeria held a 4 days Nigeria Youth Stakeholders Forum at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja from Tuesday 18th to Friday 22nd, March 2008. The event was a follow up of a four week online Nigeria Youth e-Forum on the 7-point Agenda of President Yar’Adua, during which over 600 young Nigerian in and outside the country participated. The Nigeria Youth Stakeholders Forum had about 60 young Nigerian citizens from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
The forum commenced with a formal opening ceremony graced by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation represented by Mr. Ibrahim Aminu Gaye, Hon. Minister of Youth Development represented by D S Kigbu, Hon. Speaker, House of Representative, represented by Hon. Obinna Chidoka and in addition there were representatives from State Security Service (– The Presidency) and Chairman BOT Youngstars Development Initiative- Mr. Bulus Dabit and Mr. Adesina Fagbenro, Governance Adviser DFID. Earlier, in the day the British Council Country Director, Mr. Peter Upton, Executive Director Youngstars Kingsley NT Bangwell and Miss Briggs Okorite – a participant of the forum were on AM Express an NTA network Breakfast Television show to talk about the forum extensively.

The NYSF- Abuja 2008
The Nigeria Youth Stakeholder Forum 2008 provided a rare but strategic platform for Young Nigerian citizens to critically examine the policy focus of government, determine how these policies can impact young citizens and also formulate strategies for mainstreaming active youth participation in the policy process and implementation of the 7-point Agenda in 2008.
Outcomes for Action
At the end of the highly interactive 4 days forum the following outcomes were arrived at:
(a) Young citizens agreed to continue to engage government primarily from the policy level both at the state and national levels beginning from 2008 on youth development issues.
(b) The Nigeria Youth Forum shall focus on 2 Agenda of the government as strategic entry points for engagement, the 2 agenda are; Agenda 2 “Food Security & Agriculture” and Agenda 3 “Wealth Creation & Employment” and The Niger Delta, as a special focus in 2008.
(c) An “Action Plan for Engagement” on the government Agenda and policy was developed and is being formulated and shall be presented on the Nigeria Youth E-Forum for further review before finally adopted as “ The Nigeria Youth Manifesto 2008”
(d) As a strategy for continued engagement, Action Groups were constituted comprising participants of the forum, the action groups are – Niger Delta Action Group, Grassroot Mobilization Action Group, Anti-Corruption & Budget Tracking Action Group, Policy & Research Action Group, Media Action Group and Monitoring & Evaluation Action Group. Each Action Group has articulated a work plan for action to facilitate the general goals of the forum.
(e) It was also agreed that in order to ensure that young citizens at the grassroots are carried along, state forum and activities are being formulated to be implemented by members of the Nigeria Youth Forum.

In conclusion, the Nigeria Youth Stakeholders Forum has by virtue of its national composition, policy focus and pragmatic approach ushered in a new level of youth organizing for development in Nigeria. It offers a paradigm shift in youth activism where partnership with government is the key philosophy. The Nigeria Youths have decided that as stakeholders, we have real contributions to make in the nation-state process. We will not stop until we see the Nigeria of our dream.

Signed
NYF Media Team
info@youngstarsfoundation.org
nyfmediateam@yahoo.com
+234-703-812-8910