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How eradication of poverty can be achieved

Replied Feb 10

Afolabi's Page

Gifts Received (1)

Microphone From Unyime

Latest Activity

lucy left a comment for Afolabi

November 27

Afolabi received a gift from Unyime

Microphone

From the Gift Store

November 14

Afolabi and Danika Perry are now friends

November 12

samuel aniyerinwan nwani left a comment for Afolabi

August 7

Afolabi commented on Peter D's blog post 'Poverty and African Leaders!!!!!!!!!!!!'

I think we youths should stop blaming leaders rather we should start educating each other on what good governance entails(equity, fairness, delivering to the people and shunning of corruption). This i believe will shapen our future because if we con…

July 27

Gbenga Uriel Ogunjimi commented on Afolabi's blog post '12 Reasons Why Entrepreneurs Don't Attract Investors'

Good work!

July 26

Afolabi added a blog post

12 Reasons Why Entrepreneurs Don't Attract Investors

July 23

Afolabi added a blog post

(UNAIDS) PRESS RELEASE

May 22

Profile Information

Name:

Afolabi Salaam

About Me:

i am a youth advocate for change and development and i am IT inclined. I like to see the youths achieve and be the person they want to be. I am a sociable person who love to meet people and interact with them and welcoming person

Name of Organisation:

Junior Achievement Nigeria

Location:

lagos

Why did you join this network?

to know about what other youths are doing learn from the, contribute to their work develop myself and imppact in a youth's life

What projects are you currently working on?

none for now but will be willing to partner with anybody working on any project

Afolabi's Blog

12 Reasons Why Entrepreneurs Don't Attract Investors

You've written a convincing business plan. Your financial projections outline a reasonable investment opportunity for investors. You have letters of intent, letters of endorsement and some high-powered personal references. Your powerpoint presentation is professional. You're getting in front of people who have lots of money, but no one is ready to give out a dime.

If this sounds like your situation, you're definitely not alone! Raising capital is not an easy task. It often takes more than just… Continue

Posted on July 23, 2009 at 11:33am — 1 Comment

(UNAIDS) PRESS RELEASE

UNAIDS’ executive director meets Ministers of Health and the UN Secretary General during the World Health Assembly in a bid to accelerate progress towards universal access
GENEVA, 21 May 2009 – During the week of the World Health Assembly, UNAIDS’ executive director met with more than 80 Health Ministers to underscore UNAIDS’ commitment in supporting countries to achieve their universal access goals.
UNAIDS outlined key priority areas in which joint action by the United Nations will make a signi… Continue

Posted on May 22, 2009 at 12:15pm —

Nigeria go better

There are certain assumptions that worry me about the Nigerian ruling
elite. What sickens me the most is the sheer arrogance of thinking
that Nigeria will never witness positive change. As the irresponsible
theory goes, Nigeria is totally insulated from the rest of the world.
That whatever happened elsewhere will never occur in our land. The
Nigerian Mafia believes it has the capacity to keep us in perpetual
darkness. All the incredible changes that occurred elsewhere would
never be witnessed he… Continue

Posted on April 16, 2009 at 12:26pm — 2 Comments

Graduate Students' Exchange Program (GSEP)

Graduate Students' Exchange Program (GSEP) *Awards available to international students from eligible countries to conduct graduate research under an exchange program in Canada*

The Government of Canada offers scholarships as part of the *Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program (CCSP)* and *Government of Canada Awards (GCA)*. These scholarships are tenable at recognized Canadian publicly funded universities that meet the requirements below.

The goal of the *Graduate Students' Exchange Program… Continue

Posted on April 3, 2009 at 12:10pm —

The World Bank Essay Competition 2009

The World Bank Essay Competition 2009

WANTED: The Next Generation of 'Green' Entrepreneurs

Climate change has been identified as one of the biggest global threats of our time. Scientists agree that global warming and extreme climate phenomena can be increasingly attributed to human activity - in particular, heavy emission of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, resulting from industrial processes.

Solutions to those pressing problems could lie in the rapidly growing 'green economy': env… Continue

Posted on February 19, 2009 at 8:28am — 2 Comments

Comment Wall (8 comments)

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At 3:36pm on November 14, 2009, Unyime gave Afolabi a gift…: Microphone
Dear Afolabi, You deserve the better part of life anywhere, anytime. Good luck!
From the Gift Store

At 7:47pm on August 7, 2009, samuel aniyerinwan nwani said…: okay here's your prototype, i am an inventor and i have been touring arround the world in my head cause i am financially limited. but the situation of the nation will limit me no more. instead of complain of the darkness why not light a candle, people complain of the government but i will suprise nigeria with my incredible gift of thinking-up any thing especially for the greater good.

i am your ward, try me and give me a chance pls!!

At 4:38pm on February 13, 2009, Agwuna Samuel Sopuluchukwu said…: am 26 and i live a HIV/AIDS patients that is 10yrs old. can i apply?

At 4:55pm on February 4, 2009, samson itodo said…: COMMUNIQUE FROM THE BREAKFAST DIALOGUE ON HOW NIGERIA’S DEMOCRACY FARED IN 2008

Below is the fallout of the Breakfast Dialogue on How Nigeria’s Democracy fared in 2008. Read on and make your comment, contribution and suggestions. An initiative of Youth Action Initiative Africa with support from University of Jos American Corner.

I write with great pleasure to present a summary report and communiqué from the Breakfast Dialogue on How Nigeria’s Democracy fared in 2008. The Breakfast Dialogue organized by Youth Action Initiative Africa at the American Corner on 29th January 2009 was aimed at giving participants the opportunity to evaluate Nigeria’s democracy in 2008 with a view of strategizing for 2009. The Dialogue addressed important issues as they relate to democracy in Nigeria including youth participation, electoral reforms, anti-corruption, religious tolerance, human rights, media and press freedom.

The Dialogue had in attendance 25 youths, an academician & a vibrant constitutional lawyer of high repute Prof. Nnamdi Aduba of the Faculty of Law, University of Jos, Uncle Chuks a staff of the American Corner and Staff of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). The youths came together to exchange views and ideas on how Nigeria’s democracy fared in 2008. The youths also examined how the government mainstreamed youth issues in their program in 2008 vis-à-vis what young people peoples should expect from them in 2009. It also provided an open forum for young people to unite and articulate what they considered as major issues/challenges to national youth development.

The meeting also gave birth to questions on how the proficiency and capacity of young people would be built to understand government policies, how young people can become more involved in governance processes; and how young people can also become more involved in sectoral performance review at the end of each year; to see how the different government ministries and agencies perform especially the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth Development. For us in Youth Action Initiative Africa, bearing some of these outcomes, we consider the Breakfast Dialogue a huge success and the beginning of a very strategic platform to make the voices of young people heard with a view of assisting in resolving Nigeria’s political, economic and social problems because young people need to play active roles in shaping the future of Nigeria and its political process.

OBSERVATIONS:
1. Nigeria’s Democracy in 2008 witnessed some creditable exploits especially in the Judiciary with very applauding pronouncements. In terms of general performance, the Nigerian judiciary has often been described as the most credible branch of government in the current democratic dispensation. This is because with some of its landmark decisions in recent times, this third arm of government has not only upheld the rule of law; it has also largely redirected the executive and even the legislature from certain precipice. But unfortunately, in 2008, public celebration or excitement over the seemingly independent judiciary has not given majority of Nigerians cause to cheer. The year 2008 witnessed a lot of contradictions in the judgments of the courts that has affected the confidence of voters in moral capacity to restore their mandate. This is evidenced in the decision of the court in the cases involving the governors of Kebbi and Sokoto states delivered by the Court of Appeal in Kaduna, and that of governors of Enugu and Cross River states delivered in Enugu and Calabar respectively.

2. The anti corruption campaign in 2008 was flawed in so many areas especially in the way and manner some cases were handled. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had a lot of cases to prosecute but did not live up to expectation. Even though anti-corruption agencies like EFCC and ICPC demonstrated commitment to sustain the fight against corruption they did not show interest in the idea of character development, values, ethics and leadership as a core area of focus for nation building.

3. Government recognized the importance of youths in nation building and successor generation plan. However, she did not articulate any strategic youth agenda or plan for achieving youth development in Nigeria, nor did they articulate how they intend to include young people in decision and policy making processes thereby making such policies anti - youth.
4. Most government policies reiterated the importance education plays in nation building and pledged improvement in the education sector, including restructuring the NYSC. However, government did not articulate clear vision and objectives for this sector, i.e, curriculum review, clear plans for technical/vocational education among others, how to double the number of admission opportunities into universities annually, plans for students who do not secure admission etc.

5. The government though committed to attaining the Millennium Development Goals did not articulate how they intend to pursue the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and NEEDS especially in relation to young people’s issues and their involvement in the process.

6. Human rights observance in 2008 was very poor and the system of attaining social justice needs urgent attention. There were so many extra- judicial killings, the ouster of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu from EFCC & the Police, the closure of Channels Television for some days were among some of the issues that heated the polity in 2008 and are clear indications of the ill-fated way on how the government treated human rights issues in 2008.

7. The inclusion of women into the mainstream of governance was very low especially in the recent appointment of ministers.

In general, participants are of the view that there is willingness on the part of government to practice true democracy but failed in its implementation process. Participants also posit that though some successes were recorded and we made very little headway in our polity, Nigeria’s democracy didn’t fare too well in 2008.

In view of the above, the participants made far reaching recommendations which also includes what youths feel are key issues the government needs to give priority in addressing youth development in Nigeria; thus, the recommendations are as follows:

1. EDUCATION: Youths recommend the implementation of a Free and Compulsory Education for every child within school age up to Secondary Education. This needs to be backed with legislation to make it illegal for children of school age to be denied education.

Youths also recommend as a matter of national urgency, a review of our current educational curriculum to be more interactive/inventive; so that our institutions can graduate more of job creators, technical persons and inventors to move the country forward. The tertiary institutions need to be adequately funded.

Teacher’s welfare, training and provision of adequate infrastructure should be improved on as a matter of urgency.

2. ACCELERATING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNANCE: To accelerate youth development and to better harness the dynamic potentials of young people for nation building involves more than education and football (sports), youths recommend that: A National Youth Forum be convened with the view of harnessing the inputs of young people in formulating a broad based and youth owned national youth agenda.
That the Federal Ministry of Youth Development must be maintained by the government and be adequately funded to carry out strategic youth development programs for Nigerian youths.
If necessary, there should be a national legislation mandating all the 36 states including the FCT to create a separate ministry of Youth Development not attached to sports or women, to operate solely for the purpose of youth programs at the state levels.

The Minister for the Federal Ministry of Youth Development should be below the ages of 35years, and the position should be through application. Adverts should be placed on national newspapers and youth based online networks for suitably qualified youths who must have been involved in youth work for a minimum of 5 years to apply. The recruitment / selection board should comprise of representatives from the federal youth ministry, development partners, private sectors, young people and respected leaders in society.

The National Youth Policy Document which is overdue should be reviewed with broad based participation of young people at all levels of the review. More so, the document should be widely circulated in every school, youth organization / associations, and libraries among others.

That all umbrella bodies of youth organizations like National Youth Council of Nigeria, National Association of Nigeria Students, National Youth Parliament, Student Union Government should be restructured and made more democratic, non – partisan, accountable and representational of their youth constituencies.

That in the Review of the 1999 Constitution, the voices of young people cannot be neglected. We demand more space to actively participate in the constitutional review process. For instance, in the area of who is legible to contest for an elective position. Youths demand that the qualification for elective posts should be such that all persons who can vote automatically qualify to be voted for.

3. Job Creation: youths commends the efforts of the current administration in job creation and recommends that in 2009 the government must deliberately pursue industrialization and local content as a way of creating more jobs.
More so, the process of diversifying the economy has had tremendous benefits and much more jobs could be created if areas like agriculture, tourism, solid minerals among others are fully supported to grow.

The Small and Medium Scale Enterprise and NAPEP among others should be further encouraged to focus more on programs and offers that shall identify, empower and grow many more young entrepreneurs into big time entrepreneurs, industrialists and large employers of labour.

4. Information Communication Technology: bearing in mind that we are in an information technology driven age, youths recommend that Youth ICT Villages or Academies be set up in every state of Nigeria to harness the potentials of young people, to also financially empower them financially and earn the nation foreign exchange in the nearest future.
5. FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION /CAMPAIGN ON CHARACTER AND ETHICS: That the fight against corruption must be sustained and that all agencies involved in the fight against corruption like ICPC, EFCC and all other related agencies should be sustained and further strengthened to be autonomous to perform effectively.

That a national campaign on character, values, ethics and leadership should be initiated and agencies such as the National Orientation Agency be further strengthened and funded to be the at the forefront of this campaign for ethics and moral values in all aspect of our national live.

IN CONCLUSION
There is no doubt that this is a very important period in the history of our nation because on May 29 2009 our democracy will be 10 years at a stretch. The question would be whether the dividends of democracy has been delivered to the people. Perhaps we may also ask what legacies our present day leaders are going to leave behind for us to learn and espouse. Hence our appeal for all and sundry is to get involved to make this nation the true giant of Africa that she really is. We implore the government to justify the confidence reposed in them by Nigerian youths by formulating policies that would better the lives of young people in Nigeria and give us hope for the future.

And to the youths, we must shun political thuggery and violence. Let’s renew our hopes in our dear country. I tell you NIGERIA CAN WORK. Our power is in our numbers, We have energy, We have ideas. Now we have a voice!

……let’s all step out and shun every form of corruption and violence and let Nigeria be great!

We believe in Nigeria and in democratic governance.
Long live the federal republic of Nigeria!
Long live responsible Nigerian youths!
Long live African union!

At 3:13pm on June 3, 2008, Timothy Ogene said…: Hello Afolabi,

Good to know you are interested in the event.
The contact info below will help you get details.

Phone: 017398003
Email: info@gotning.org, gotning@gmail.com