Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Abuja Stakeholders forum..Grace Poitn Hotel

Hi friends am paticipating at the Nigeria Youth Stakeholders Forum on the 7 Points Agenda of the Musa Yar'Adua government at the Grace Point Hotel in Wuse, Abuja FCT from 18th-21st of March, 2008. We will be discussing though this week on Nigeria financing for Youth Development and other issues as it affects young people, especially around the present administration's key issues, keyed in the 7 point agenda. I was the menber of the Working group 4 on Niger Delta Issues, and our work was to reduce a 13 point issue into 3 points in the order of highest priority towards the active engagement of the government at the higest level in Nigeria And we delivered! Representative Chinedu Chidoka came representing the Honourble Speaker of the Nigeria House of Representatives, who was unavoidably absence at the event, others include the special guest of honour of the event, Honourable Minister of Youth Development of Nigeria, representative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SMEDAN and other relevant agencies including Youngstars Foundation. Young people from all over Nigeria came to participate and lend their voice to an initiative that was developed with them, for them and by them. Conveyned by the Young Stars Foundation, Jos, a youth-led development initiative and sponsored by British Council Nigeria, the Nigeria Youth Stakeholders Forum promises Nigeria a fight in policy for the realization of potentials of young Nigerians as development actors in community development and Nigeria development efforts in 2008 and beyond. Pamela Braide, Coordinator of the Youth Employment Summit - Nigeria Country Network will deliver a paper this morning and carry participant through a key training in Policy and Advocacy while the Executive Director of Youngstars Development Initiative, Kingsley Bangwell, was around yesterday to deliver a note on 'Addressing the issues of Youth Participation in Nigeria'.
this forum has been great and exciting, i have been taking some pics which i will post soon. i now know certainly that the change we have been waiting for in Nigeria will soon come and it is here.
details and pics coming up SOON

Monday, February 25, 2008

at Calabr ToT

My Calabar Experience

Calabar to me is a beautifull city, that paints the picture of the New Nigeria that want to live nin.
On arrival, I used calculux line, nice service good transport company, I headed straight t tombai guest house.
I appreciate the air in calabar its so fresh and calabar is green that made me come up with the keep warri green campaign and we are entering the first phase of that project by carrying out sensitization workshops here in secondary schools.
Mr Jerry is a solid leader, his compassion, forthrightness and listening ability is what emulating. My teachers were very great Esther, Emeka and the inspiring Leke…o boy you are great.
The meeting opened me up to a whole world of possibilities in IT and taking it global platform, and also the networking was awesome, I was able to network with Purpose (Benin City) the founder of Smiles Africa, Ebi the Bayela state coordinator of CLCWA.
The open forum we had was thought provoking, from the open forums you could tell that Nigeria will be great because a new generation is coming that will build it. I believe we are moving from the Nigeria we are living now to the Nigeria we want to be in.
My fellow Delta state delegate was simple awesome, Fego. I learnt a lot of lessons from her. by the way watch out for her soon coming magazine INSPIRO you do not want to miss it mail her figobud@yahoo.com for details
One of the experiences of Calabar was the local dishes, pepper soup rice and Eba/afam. True to its description on papers, calabar is a clean city. I do not know how far we can go but I want to be an agent of change in transforming warri to become a CLEAN/GREEN city starting from secondary schools here and building there capacity to be volunteers, check this blog for project note on this, this will be carried out under the Earth Charter platform.
Like Nigeria that we are now, most times the street lights were not on due to PHCN, but believe we can begin to power the street lights of our nation wth solar systems and other forms of energy.
If every city can become like Calabar, we can have a clean Nigeria that wil be the first step to CHANGE & DEVELOPMENT.
I commend the efforts of Jerry, National coordinator for CLCWA and his implementing team for the great work done. In warri slang’s “u 2 much”.
I will write more on calabar,gat to go…

My Profile

A dynamic young man committed to youth capacity building. He holds a B.sc (ED) Degree in Social Studies Education and a BCC in Leadership from the prestigious Daystar Leadership Academy, Lagos. He has interest in some core issues amongst which are: National Development, under this he holds the New Nigeria Dream Summit every August in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria, the last key note speakers were the Ex-president of PENGASSAN Dr Brown Ogbeifun (www.brownogbeifun.com) and Gbenga Sessan, ED of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria. ENVIRONMENT; He leads the Earth Charter youth Group Warri (www.earthcharter.org) and currently organizes workshops for secondary school student, which will lead to the Earth Charter Youth Environment Summit in the second face of the project after which we which we would flag of KEEP WARRI GREEN campaign.
A UNICEF trained peer educator, he also holds a trainer certificate of the TIG/CLCWA (www.takingitglobal.org). He also debuts as the Deputy Volunteer Coordinator CLCWA Delta state. In recognition of his thought provoking contributions he was invited the first week of the Nigeria e-youth forum to Abuja under the auspices of British Council/ Youngstars foundation.
In recognition of his contribution to developmental efforts in the state he won an award at the Delta Youth Summit in January 2008 in Asaba where he also led a working group.
He is married and resides in Warri, where he is the team leader of an FBO Dare 2 Dream Youth Initiative.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Anchoring @ Delta Youth Summit

Youth Leaders of 2day


Youths are leaders of tomorrow, that has been the common saying we hear always as youths, but I feel it is time to change that parable. THE YOUTHS ARE LEADERS OF TODAY. When we talk about been leaders of tomorrow w wait till tomorrow for us to start preparing and leading. But with the new paradigm we have to start today. HIV/AIDS affects us today, wars affect us today....we must start today. if not know when? We are the leaders of today.
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” Albert Einstein. It is time to do something
All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing. Edmund Burke
Let the few good youths stand up

Black & Successfull


To succeed as a black man you and I must resolve to wipe out mass ignorance. We can never rise beyond the level of our knowledge. Foolish people value activity over wisdom, but wise people always value wisdom over activity. Abraham Lincoln former America president once said; if I have ten hours to cut down a tree I will spend the first six hours sharpening my axe. Friend, getting educated, getting information, developing mental excellence is sharpening your axe.



Those who use their brains travel faster through life than those who use their physical energy. We must be determined to improve mentally, morally and spiritually to meet the basic needs in our society. We must develop a creative society, a creative culture. We are used in our environment to living with our problems; we believe life is overwhelming that the forces that control this earth are overwhelming, that there is no point in solving some of the problems we have around us. You and I must resolve to wipe out mass ignorance, our leaders must teach and inspire masses to wipe out mass ignorance. Let it begin with you; take a course, read a book.
got this on my mail from a Nigeria Pastor Sam Adeyemi i thougth to post it to all men of African descent and all my white brothers and youths passionate for LEADERSHIP DEVLOPMENT,
SUCCCESS IS IN THE MIND

Defining the New Nigeria

What is the New Nigeria?.
The New Nigeria in my perspective is:
A Nigeria where Peace, Justice and Equity will reign
A Nigeria where you are not judged by your tribe but by your character and values
A Nigeria where her citizenry are committed to the nation and productive individually
A Nigeria that will produce role models, servant- leaders for the world to emulate
A Nigeria where the labours of our heroes past shall not be in vain
A Nigeria that will be safe and be a peaceful habitation for all.
ANigeria where corruption and violence will be the thing of the past
This is the Nigeria we will live in.We are not prisoners of the past,but piooners of the FUTURE.

If not You, Then Who? If not Now, Then When?
God Bless Nigeria!

The Help Africa needs

Listening to news in recent times, G-8 Summits,economic forums, and helps offerred from the international community it is very clear that Africa needs help. but, what kind of help do we really need? i do not think we need anything physical,if you pay our debts today and we do not know how to mangae the resources we will get into debt tomoorow. if you supply us drugs for healthcare and we do not know how anything about hygiene we will fall sick again.
The help the international community needs to offer to africa are in the areas of LEADERSHIP, HUMAN & RESOUCE MANAGEMNET, CAPACITY BUILDING, PROJECT MANAGEMNET AND SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT.
The mind of the average African needs to be changed and a new paradigm will bring about great development
do you agree?

2007 Dare 2 Dream Summo\it


DARE 2 DREAM YOUTH SUMMIT.
Motivation, Leadership, National development and ICT

In the midst of major world challenges, something profound is being reborn—a recognition that ordinary people with concern, vision and commitment can make significant contributions to transforming the planet. That is what D2DYI is all about, a coming together of youths that believe in self motivation, value based leadership, the New Nigeria Dream and the on going digital revolution.(ICT4D)

We agree with Margaret Mead that you “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has”.
Some men see things as they are and say, ‘why?” I dream of the things that never were and say, ‘why not?”. George Bernard Shaw. We see a New Nigeria and we are committed to seeing it come to pass.
We are steeping above the limitations of our environment, we are daring to dream, knowing that in the dream of a better tomorrow lies the very future we hope for.

The meeting objective is to

1. Inspire and motivate youths towards self-realization and actualization

2. To make youths see that we could have a new Nigeria, having a dream that could create the future (A new paradigm
3. The place of ICT and the youths in National development

4. The role and duties of the youths in National development
5. Help youths to take their rightful place as contributors to a new enlightened world.

6.Engage and empower beach other to be truly motivated to work in the coming years in respect to Nigeria and the world at large via Information technology (ICT4D) what we refer to in D2DYI as the Digital revolution.


VENUE: PEGGY HOTEL HALL
Opp Delta Careers College
Along Airport Rd

DATE: Saturday, 11th August,2007


TOPICS

IN YOUR HANDS: Deciding the next few years of your life
Today & Tomorrow: My Life, My choice and my nation’s future…
ICT and youth development
Our Dream For A Greater Nigeria: Challenges, Issues and Imperatives
The power of Self Discovery



Faculty:
Gbenga Sessan
Social entrepreneur & Information Society researcher
Nigeria's first Information Technology Youth Ambassador

Dr Brown Ogbeifun
Former PENGASSAN President

Ogaga David
Advisor, D2DYI
International Conference Speaker

ICT and Youth Development



COURTESY
OGAGA E. MAXWELL
Team Leader,
DARE 2 DREAM YOUTH INITIATIVE
Greater Self, Greater Nation, Greater Future
D2dyi@yahoo.com

The New Nigeria Dream


THE NEW NIGERIA DREAM
(Ethics, Values and Morals)

I write this not from a professional sense, but from the point of a passion, but as someone driven by passion to see Nigeria amongst the top twenty countries in the world. This might seem a tall order against the back drop of the dipping of our socio-cultural ethics, virtues and values but I believe that together we can work hard to make Nigeria great. It is a clarion call to the youths of this nation to rise up so that together we can make Nigeria the country of our dream. I share the New Nigerian dream of great and committed minds like Fela Durotoye, Gbenga Sesan, Niyi Adesanya, Sam Adeyemi, David Babale, timothy ogene,Washington Dic, Emmanuel Gabari and host of others.

The hosting of the Delta Youth Summit in the state capital provided us the opportunity to come together for developmental networking, but most importantly the coming together of youths gives us a premonition that this is a significant time. unlike what you know as significant time, I would want to use the definitions of Dr Iyayi of significant times during his address at the Benin National Merit Award held at the National Museun Kings Square Benin, Dr Iyayi says “Significant times are when man tales a leap forward, when history is made because a world standing on its head is overturned so it is now standing on its feet. It is that moment when we wake up from that is darkened by sleep are startled by the brightness of the clouds outside. it is the time in our lives when we have hope because there is honor, justice, truth and integrity in our lives” while he has this to say about insignificant times ‘Insignificant times, however, are when the word and world are standing on their heads and history is being unmade. It is when the lie is painted as black and dressed as the truth. It is when those who seek justice, honor, integrity and truth are perceived s mad men and women who are destined for asylum” (emphasis added mine).This was published in the Vanguard Newspaper, Monday 7, 2008 page 31.
In line with what Dr Iyayi said we the youths of this great nation having been living in insignificant times but NOW is the time of significance, THIS is the place where significance begins.

What is the New Nigeria?
The New Nigeria from my perspective is:

A Nigeria where Peace, Justice and Equity will reign
A Nigeria where you are not judged by your tribe but by your
character and values
A Nigeria where her citizenry are committed to the nation and
productive individually
A Nigeria that will produce role model servant leaders for the
world to emulate
A Nigeria where the labours of our heroes past shall not be in
vain
A Nigeria that will be safe and be a peaceful habitation for all.
A Nigeria where corruption and violence will be the thing of the
past

For the avoidance of doubt, the above is a reflection of our ideal. The
description and coloration of what constitutes a great nation may be put
differently, the concept and meaning remain basically the same. Permit me
therefore, to put some of those reflections on the marble.

A GREAT NATION IS MADE NOT BORN
I would want to point out that no nation is born great but every great
nation is made great, even the Holy Scriptures rightly noted “is a nation
born in a day”. The nation is not the land mass but her citizens.
Corruption, injustice, tribalism, is not present in the Nigerian landmass
but in he people. And this is as a result of our negative value system.
Very few African nations are on their journey to the top. An example of
this great stride is Ghana. It is instructive to note that what has kept us
in this valley is not because of the colour of our skin but because
of our character, attitude and orientation. So, if we must make the
greatness we anticipate come true then the youths must shift their paradigm
because it cannot be business as usual. Dr Festus iyayi said this “the quality of our lives is determined not only by what happens to us but more so by what we make happen. The more the content of our lives has honour, justice, intergrity , truth and meaning by the interaction of what we make happen and what happens to us, then the more significant our lives”

THE BALLON STORY…what is inside Nigerians?
The story have been said of a man who was selling balloons in the beach
and when sales are running dry he would release a coloured balloon, a negro
boy was standing very close by. After a while, the boy asked the sales man
if a black balloon could also fly, the sales man told him it was not the
colour of the balloon that made it to fly but what was inside. Which means
a black balloon can also fly...
The moral lesson to learn from this story is that we can be great if we
care to have the air “virtue and character” in us. We might not be able to
change the entire Nigerian populace at once but we can incrementally do
this by being responsive to the New Nigeria dream as individuals wherever
we find ourselves in service.
I want to briefly highlight few of the virtues that we must all imbibe,
which will be the compass that will direct our movement towards our New
Nigeria dream and change our direction for good. This is not the time to
tag along but to move up stream away from the current of injustice,
corruption, bribery, tribalism. Violence e.t.c

WE MUST VALUE MERIT
We must all come to the place where all appointments will be based on
merit and not tribalism,e.tc. This will motivate everyone to work hard for
the upliftment of our country. We must move away from the era of getting to
a particular level because of who one knows instead of one's worth.
Cultivating and encouraging the "who you know" attitude to progress breeds
laziness and disregard to due process. But putting square pegs in square
holes releases the inate energy and innovation in people to continue to
work for the greatness of a particular group.

ENVIRONMENT
one of marked differences between the developed nations and the third
world nations is the environment. The New Nigeria must of necessity value
the need for CLEANINESS. It is a common to see people litter their
environments. We must begin to discourage the thrashing of dirts on path,
roads and hall ways. We should stop the habit of throwing papers, water
sachets, cigarette butts from buses and cars. We must all begin to take
care of our environment. We must all start maintaining a clean environment
starting from our homes and offices. The goal should be cleaning the nation
from the inside.

TRIBAL DIFFERENCES
This is going to be a major issue, but if we must advance on the road to
the New Nigeria then we must jettison tribalism and begin to see ourselves
as NIGERIANS. Our tribal differences were not to create division but to
create the needed variety to make Nigeria a habitable place. Although we
are from different tribes, our tribes should not come before our nation;
our allegiance should be foremost to NIGERIA. This is the path of honour
that other great nations have taken to greatness.

WEALTH BY HARDWORK
It is a known fact that Nigerians celebrate wealth in no small measure.
We must change our attitude of eulogizing richness without knowing the
sources of such riches. We should put more efforts of tracing the sources
of our wealthy citizens. You can hardly hear of the Millionaires and
Billionaires in other parts of the globe being involved advanced fee fraud.
even at that, they are not worshipped the way we do hear.

INFORMATION
The growth of any nation is dependent on the information base of her
citizens. We must develop the attitude of getting the right information and
sincere reading culture. Our libraries must not become museums and
monuments. Every one of us must seek the right information in our various
fields in other to increase our personal effectiveness. We must all move
towards the areas of digitalizing our libraries and move from the manual
catalogue system. Government and private companies as part of their social
responsibilities should establish ICT resource centers.

ATTITUDE TO PUBLIC PROPERTY
In primary school we were taught to take care of “government” property.
Instead of calling them government properties, we are to should “public
property” because they are our properties. While would a Nigeria steal PHCN
cables, street lights e.t.c and put other people in darkness, it is not
because of poverty but rather because he assumes that the property is not
his or ours but that of the government and so to pay government back for so
called neglect he has to take what belongs to the government since he
cannot readily access government treasury. Our attitude must change towards
these properties they are ours and we must protect them.

BELIEF IN THE NATION
A lot has happened since our independence which has made us to lose our
belief in the nation. But if we are to develop we have to start believing
in the nation again. This belief must be rooted in the understanding that
if we all do what is right Nigeria will definitely be great. “No president,
no leader, no king, no emperor...nobody can change a country, except the
people!”
That is what Lenny Kravitz said "we the people of Nigeria have to stand
up and begin to push for a change which must start from a mental note first
of all" this is the paradigm shift I referred to earlier.

Three emerging words in the New Nigeria
In the Nigeria of our dream these three words will matter to all and sundry, from those in leadership positions to those been served (lead).these words are virtue, ethics and morals.
Ethics: moral principles that control or influence a person’s behaviour.
Morals: concerned with the principles of right and wrong behaviour.
Values: belief about what is right or wrong and what is most important in life.



“I was born a Nigerian, I will live a Nigerian and I will Die a Nigeria” Ogaga Maxwell


By December 31, 2025 Nigeria will become, undoubtedly,
the world’s most desirable nation to live in. Fela Durotoye

OGAGA E. Maxwel is a dynamic young man committed to youth and national development. An award recipient at the Delta Youth Summit in recognition as “an agent of change and sustainable development in the community”. He is currently on part time basis with Poverty Alleviation for the Poor Initiative (PAFPI) as a project officer in Youth capacity building and development, seeing to the alleviation of poverty in rural communities in Delta state through agro-income generating initiatives, infrastructural development and capacity building workshops. He is deeply committed to God and works full time as a specialized minister in Divine Encounter Ministries where he is in charge of Training, Development and Administration. He is the Team Leader Dare 2 Dream Youth Initiative (The New Nigeria Dream Project) which holds the annual Nigerian Dream summit in warri, Delta State. He is currently working on the renovation of a school building in Egbo-uhurie community in Ughelli.
He can be reached @ 08034810869, 08050637252, d2dyi@yahoo.com
© 2007, All rights reserved