Obinna Chukwuezie's Page

Location

Jos, Nigeria

Name:

Obinna Chukwuezie

About Me:

My name is Obinna Chukwuezie and i am presently completing a Masters in International Law and Diplomacy at the University of Jos, Nigeria.

By nature, I am an open-minded person but very analytical; simple, cute and a great team player. I guard my integrity jealously and I have a deep abiding concept of the sort of person I am. I am out-spoken and can communicate effectively. I know what I like and not afraid to speak my mind on any issue. I love challenges and adventures, but hates failure, that is why I always strive for excellence. I believe in the value of hardwork, self-reliance and unqualified belief in liberty and democracy.

From childhood, I didn’t used to be this involved in Social Development work, but then one day during my undergraduate days, it dawned on me that virtually every facet of my society wears a mournful look, like a tired garment in need of change. Equally, I realized that such change is not going to happen unless people make it happen-people like me, because I have something which my society is in dire need of. So I decided to get up my ass and began to do something about the things I see needing change. And there are quite a lot of them. Yes! Making a difference is what matters. I want to make a positive difference before I die. Perharps, that’s my purpose for living. If i can make a difference now, it will be great nonetheless. Overtime, I have developed a die-hard interest in working for and with youths in the past 8 eight years.

Name of Organisation:

Mashiah foundation.

Location:

Jos, Nigeria.

Why did you join this network?

To further provide me with ample opportunity to network so as to contribute in making democracy, good governance and development work in my community. To give my innovation fresh impetus and perspective in a changing global arena.

What projects are you currently working on?

Career Exclusive Magazine: This is a monthly non-profit magazine registered with National Copyrights Commission (NCC); whose pupose is to help the nation’s most disadvantaged young people find jobs as well as develop unique skills, strengthen attitudes and behaviours so they can keep their jobs.

Unemployment situation in Nigeria is at a critical stage. It has gone so bad that it no longer has statistics, yet our institutions of higher learning churn out thousands each year, thereby saturating the already over-populated labour market. Wearing mournful looks, young graduates are daily sights these days, roaming the streets, from one office or shop to another in search of any kind of job just to survive- yet jobs appears to be elusive. The story is the same when you visit internet cafes, as applicants surf the net for opportunities to post their CV at the end, they leave in frustration. Even where the job exists, graduates are told they do not posses employable skills and requisite experience in relation to the opening, thereby compounding their sorrow. Its really a pathetic situation, as many young people now indulge in nefarious activities in order to live. Crime rate and militancy can only go higher in a country like ours filled with idle youths. Succesive governments pay lip service to employment creation, as their efforts barely scratch the surface. Worst still, nepotism has replaced merit.

On the other hand, many job seekers lack the faintiest idea of how to package themselves when in search of job, and this further compounds their problem. Do we fold our arms akimbo and watch our God-given youths live in perpetual anguish, and crime rate to continually rise? If we do little, we can do alot. We can restore the dashed hopes our today’s young people and make their dreams come true, only with kind and and honest efforts. Indeed, millions of young people face huge challenges as they seek to find employment or start their own businesses or keep their jobs. As such, this initiative offers comprehensive approach that is needed to ensure these unemployed youths live a happy, dignified and fulfilled lives.

This magazine which skillfully showcases profiles of skillful but unemployed youths is sent out FREE to the human resource departments and doorsteps of major organisations, and executive desks of relevant agencies especially where these youths have limited access to. Through this massive exposure, they come in contact with employers with a view to accessing their dream jobs and other opportunities with relative ease nationwide. Hence, Career exclusive magazine serves as bridge as well as meeting point between the unemployed youths and employers,

Interestingly, we have developed strategies to follow up these organisations and individuals to see that they consider these unemployed young people in our magazine.

In addition, Career exclusive magazine features and gives visibility to young and upcoming social and economic enterpreneurs with exceptional qualities who are addressing key development issues and making community impact, and whose stories inspires. Furthermore, it features vacancies, research, internship, grants and scholarship opportunities, as well as commentaries and analysis on various issues and happenings around the corporate world, amongst others in simple-styled, standard and contemporary youth-friendly format.

The maiden edition will be out first week of September, 2009.