Reflections 2.10

Now that we have raised our voices in Abuja and in Lagos – whether or not they are listening, one thing is certain they can hear us and they can not ignore us, not any more, our voices are too loud to go unheard – we need to press hard our demands not just provide a list of to dos, but state clearly the whats, whys and whens and even our intended roles for a better NIgeria.

Long live Nigerian youth!

Long LIVE Nigeria

I have been a fan of TED for close to two years, since my days at the Paradigm Inintiative Nigeria (PIN) where I cut my teeth as a social entrpenur under an Ashoka Fellow: ‘Gbenga Sesan.
Going through the TED archieve, I found this presentation by Ngozi OkonjoIweala in 2007. Ngozi (FYI) is the current Managing Director of the World Bank and a former Minister (of Finance) in General Olusegun Obasanjo’s (RTD) cabinet in Nigeria.

In her presentation, Ngozi OkonjoIweala, takes on corruption in Africa and declares what we are doing at home to curb the scourge. She also goes on to highlight the roles of the developed nations in perpetuating Africa’s corruption.

She stated that Africa’s development lies in our own hands as Africans far before President Barak Obama said so a few months ago, so I guess that is a reality we have to live with andbear in my mind as we work to salvage our continent.

Please enjoy her presentation here.

The answer is of course, no.
In truth she has been ravaged by war, famine and other disasters that could have been avoided or were in some cases delibrate machinations against her progress and development.
Is africa a land of beauty?
Yes, and that is what the Ogbwuegbu sisters have set out to bring tell the world in their travels. Emanuel Jal has also resolved to with music draw attention to the beauty of the Continent and bring to her the needed attention and cooperation to rid her of her challenges.
Should you love africa? Yes, it is ours to own and to build. So what are you doing to build it? Me? This!

Are you young? Determined to make a difference in your life and those of others? Interested in helping birth a new Africa? Will like to contribute your skills, time and other resources in actualising the dream for a better Africa!

Then you will be interested in the Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development of Africa (YALDA). YALDA was established in 2004 by a group of students at the Harvard College, Cambridge USA. The group has since spread to over twenty (20) campuses all over the world and that list is growing. Read the rest of this entry »

Official public presentation is billed for Wednesday Septer 9, 2009 at the BooksNG offices in Gbagada, Lagos, Nigeria. For those who already know, it is the 09.09.09 event. Having just completed a priviledged reading of an advance copy if the book, I can not but say the following of ‘Gbenga Sesan:

‘Gbenga has again provided proof that Nigeria will get better and that the ‘project’ requires not only our hope and trust but our committment to make it work. His has been a journey in exemplyfing this and his committment as demystified In His Own Words has always been ‘infective’ and will only be more contagious now and encouraging to the numerous young people I hope will read this book.

‘Gbenga, Thanks for doing what you do and for taking time out to explain the Whys, Whens, Whats, Hows and wheres In Your Own Words.