The Future Nigeria

David Beckham’s World Cup dream may be over, but the former England captain believes he can make a “swift and full recovery” from a torn Achilles.

The seriousness of the injury, combined with Beckham’s age, led to fears that England’s most capped outfield player may never play again. But Beckham, in a brief statement on his official website, said: “I am on my way to Finland to see a specialist and have a scan on the injury. I am upset but want to thank everyone for their messages of support. I hope to make a swift and full recovery.”

It is a setback for England coach Fabio Capello, who contacted Beckham late last night.

“We have to wait for the results of the scan, but it looks like he is out of the World Cup,” said the England coach. “I spoke with him after the game on Sunday night to offer my support, as did Franco Baldini.

David is a great professional and has worked very hard to be ready for the World Cup, so missing it will be a big blow.”

A tearful Beckham limped to the touchline last night, appearing to says ‘It’s broken, it’s broken,’ after sustaining the injury without physical contact from an opponent.

It is expected to be three months at the very earliest before he can run, and double that before he has a chance of playing again.

More likely he will be out for the remainder of 2010 which, as he will celebrate his 35th birthday in May, raises inevitable questions about his long term future. Capello added: “I am very sad for David that he has suffered this injury.”

Beckham will have an operation in Finland later under the supervision of specialist Sakari Orava. A spokesman for Beckham said: “He’s devastated by the injury. Victoria is flying out to him immediately because of the injury. She’s naturally worried about him.”

Beckham was only in Italy to give himself the best possible chance of becoming the first England player to feature in four World Cups.

Capello must now look for alternatives, his fear of major injury coming to chilling fruition three months away from his biggest test as a coach.

Milan coach Leonardo said: “Beckham’s injury makes us feel terrible. David understood immediately that he had torn his Achilles tendon.

“He felt the muscle begin to come up, which is a typical symptom when you break an Achilles’ tendon. This is a real blow. He is an extraordinary guy and today’s game proves it yet again.

What’s up!
www.thefuturenigeria.com is the place to go!
The Future Awards 2010 is wrapped up, but on our website, the party has just started! Get all the latest news, updates, information that should concern a young Nigerian and all of that to change your life on www.thefuturenigeria.com.

We also have the hottest entertainment gist, polls, witty bloggers, pictures, conversations and everything else you want. And you can leave comments!
We also have weekly competitions to make it worth your while! Just go to the website, go to the ‘Fun Stuff’ link, answer the SIMPLE questions, and then you win a t-shirt or sticker every week, tickets and invitations to the hottest events around the country, and more! It’s all happening www.thefuturenigeria.com!

News. Inspiration. Networking. That’s www.thefuturenigeria.com!

Enough is Enough Nigeria!

Did you know that, in Nigeria, young people are in the majority? Did you know that young people below 35 make up more than 70 per cent of the population? You know what that means? It means we have the power to actually make things happen! So, how come we are doing nothing about the many problems that have hit our nation in the past few months?

Is it enough to make noise on Facebook, Twitter, websites, BBMs, blogs and others where no one is listening? How come it’s the Wole Soyinkas, the Femi Falanas and the Tunde Bakares that are fighting for us? Why do we allow ourselves to be branded as the do-nothing generation?

It is time for our voices to be heard!!! Therefore, join the protest rally of YOUNG NIGERIANS saying enough is enough!

Tuesday, March 16. 11am. We are marching to the National Assembly in Abuja. Get all the info on www.whereisyaradua.com!

Tell us how The Future Awards has changed your life!

Every day we get stories of young people who have been motivated or inspired by The Future Project/The Future Awards. Those stories encourage us, and we want to hear more! So if The Future Awards or any of our projects or winners have renewed your faith in Nigeria, inspired you to finish or start a project or business or idea, helped you practically in any way etc, we want to get your story, and if you want we put it on the website! But mostly we want to know those whose lives have changed! Send us a mail right away at thefuturenigeria@yahoo.com or info@thefuturenigeria.com or call us on 08022226712. It doesn’t have to be well written or long – just tell it the way you feel it!

What’s next?

In the next couple of months, the winners will be taken on a tour of secondary schools in Lagos and across the country to contribute to practically supporting the education system. The First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, is partnering with the initiative through her pet project which focuses on career seminars for students.

We would also embark on courtesy visits to media houses, government officials and other public institutions. After Lagos, based on the responses from governments across the country, we will be visiting other states, including Abuja, making our winners engage and connect with young people.

Catch the winners like… everywhere!

Our winners have been hot property since we unveiled them, and over the next few weeks you can catch them on TV, radio, and in the papers and magazines. We have created new stars and re-charged old ones! This is a new line-up of the brightest and the best!

Get a load on their inspiring stories; connect with their tales of success, engage with ideas that will power a New Nigeria.

We will also try to have the interviews on the website www.thefuturenigeria.com.

Get branded “I represent Naija” tshirts and blazers!

The coolest The Future tee-shirts, polos and stickers have sold widely across Nigeria – and we aren’t about to stop now! They are branded ‘I represent Naija’ and ‘I am the future’ and we still have them streaming in on demand from Clemas and Ouch! You can also get the customized blazers that are beeeeaaauuuutiful. All these can be delivered to you at home or work for a small extra cost. Just call our Communications Coordinator on 08022226712 NOW or send a mail to info@thefuturenigeria.com!

The Future Awards denies The Future Nigeria Group

The Future Project Nigeria , organisers of The Future Awards, finds it necessary to make a public statement clarifying that it is no way associated with a group called The Future Nigeria group (FNG), which has recently expressed support for aides of the president whose actions have essentially subverted the constitution.

Amongst other things, this organisation, which claims to be speaking for young people, has said that ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua did not commit any offence or breach the constitution by not appearing in public five days after his return from Saudi Arabia . The group also says that there is no crisis in the country and commended the wife to the president, Turai Yar’Adua, for her conduct in the past few months.

“Whilst we agree with their constitutional rights in making these statements, we make bold to disagree sharply with their comments, as we strongly believe that there is a cabal around the Presidency that has been working against the interests of Nigerians,” said the project’s creative director, Chude Jideonwo. “We find it necessary to make this bold dissociation after we received very concerned mails from young people, our partners and other stakeholders who wondered if our values have changed.”

The Future Project expressed its surprise at the actions and the formation of this group as The Future Nigeria is a registered trademark of The Future Project. TheFutureNigeria.com is also their registered website. They therefore characterised this appropriation by FNG, which is headed by a former adviser to President Obasanjo, as a deliberate ploy to employ the goodwill and the relationship of trust they have built with the Nigerian public to serve narrow interests.

We want to partner with you!!!!!
If you are a youth organization, or you target young people and you would like to work with The Future Project/The Future Awards in ANY way, please contact us immediately.
We are beginning our post-awards national tour and already working towards Season 6 and would be delighted to see how we can support you and how you can work with us.
Call us on 08022226712 or send a mail to kenneth@thefuturenigeria.com.

We can’t wait to hear from you!
Join our database – give us feedback!

In our quest to build a network of young Nigerians who have a burning desire to bring about change to our great nation, we would love you to continually send us comments/advice on how to push this cause a step further. We would definitely get back to you. Join our database, give us your feedback!
What went down!

The review!
Three weeks after the awards, on the 27th of February, we gathered the brightest young people from across spectrums and had them share with us their observations, suggestions, critiques, modifications and others from The Future weekend. With kudos for the out of the box content through the highest profile guests, it was a weekend of nods and well dones.
But of course the suggestions came gushing out, and it’s onwards to implement them for Season 6! However, the review process continues: go to the website and fill our feedback form and help us get even better! We want to hear what YOU think.
The conference that stood out

Pat Utomi, Abike Dabiri, Ben Bruce, Dele Olojede, Toyin Subair, Tonye Cole, Obi Asika, Detoun Ogwo, Emeka Mba (representing Prof. Dora Akunyili), Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Fela Durotoye, MI Abaga, Gbenga Sesan, Hassan Rilwan, Tolu Ogunlesi, Mosunmola Umoru, Omawumi Megbele and others under one roof speaking to young people? It was at The Future Pre-Awards Conference!
Held on Day One of what is now known as The Future Weekend, the packed hall of more than 3000 got more than it bargained for with splendid interaction with some of Nigeria’s finest. We are proud of what we were able to deliver – giving young people a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Pictures and rundown on www.thefuturenigeria.com.

Nigeria’s biggest, no doubt!
It was a brilliant night of glitz and inspiration as some of Nigeria’s most prominent citizens gathered to celebrate youth who are making the nation proud in sections including science, technology, business, the media and others at the 2010 edition of the nation’s premier youth event, The Future Awards.
Everyone that mattered in all sectors of Nigeria’s socio-political system were at the event to witness this great event – filled with an energetic keynote address, wonderful performances and the spectacles were nothing like what you’d seen at any event in the country.

You’ve heard it everywhere again and again so we won’t push it. If for some reason you missed it, visit our website for the complete lo’down and pictures from the awards. Get the list of the inspiring winners and their profiles as well!
You would think you were there live!

If you weren’t at the venue of the awards, we assured you that we would still give you a front row seat at the event, and we did! Working with MTN for our Multimedia Centre, we were able to use social networking to give those who weren’t at the event, live updates from the venue.

Our team, including Team Leader Shade Ladipo and volunteers like Omolara Okusanya, Akinlolu Osinbajo and Ada Amogu, ensured that those who were not amongst the hundreds of guests at the venue were able to interact at the event live. Like one of the followers said, “You guys make it feel like I am on stage!”

To be able to see those live yupdates: you can check on Facebook on the Red Strat profile, or through Twitter on #TFA, #TFA2010, #TFA10, #futureawards and #thefutureawards.

And don’t forget that very soon, you will be able to watch the entire event on HiTV and Nigezie. For now though, you can see snippets of it being showed on every station and show from STV to NTA. Stay tuned here and we will keep you posted. The Future Project/The Future Awards remain committed to reaching – and inspiring – as many Nigerians as is possible!
The Future Volunteers Party
Right from the inception of The Future Awards, we have been advocates of volunteerism and many people say we have put volunteers and the volunteer spirit back in the spotlight and we are proud to have perhaps the largest volunteer force in the country.

It would be difficult to talk about the successes of the awards without mentioning work put in by volunteers, proving those who say we can not have genuine volunteerism in Nigeria wrong. As with the usual, we organised a party to celebrate our volunteers after The Future Awards. Details and pictures on www.thefuturenigeria.com/volunteers-party
Still about the ‘I Represent Naija Creed’

To have seen the Managing Director of the World Bank, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, hold up the creed at The Future Awards 2010 while she gave her speech and read them out one after the other, imploring guests to stand by the creed, it showed the power of what is in reality an everyday manual for the young Nigerian. Guests at the event also excitedly received their own copies.
So we reproduce it below again.
THE ‘I REPRESENT NAIJA’ CREED:
I will not steal government money!
I will not collect a bribe!
I will not cover up fraud!
I am not corrupt!
I love my country!
I truly believe Nigeria can work!
I will do my bit to make change happen!
I will vote in election!
I am the future!
I represent Nigeria!

You can find it on the website and download it from the RedSTRAT profile as a screen saver or anything else, but even better, all of those at the conference and the awards get a physical copy free! You’ll love it!

Thank you very much for connecting with this vision to inspire and empower a new generation of Nigerian leaders. You can get any information on any of the above, including plenty of pictures, on www.thefuturenigeria.com.

For any enquiry, information or anything else, send us a mail on info@thefuturenigeria.com or thefuturenigeria@yahoo.com and we’ll get right back at ya!
Compliments of:

The Future Project, Nigeria

Aspire. Strive. Achieve

www.thefuturenigeria.com

It has been confirmed that D’Banj is presently in talks with the producers of Broadway musical as regards re-enacting the life of Fela Kuti.

The aftermath of the talks might be that D’Banj will be the one playing the Nigerian afro-beat legend in the stage production.

This definitely will be another feather to the Koko-master’s cap as he only recently got another chieftaincy title.

Akin Omotoso is one of a new breed of young talented actors and directors who are carving a niche into the small, selective film industry. He won the Fleur Du Cap Most Promising Student in 1995 and he won the Standard Bank Artist of the year award 2007. Akin made his acting debut on stage at the University of Cape Town’s Drama School. He has appeared in productions such as Isidingo on SABC 3, Big Oakes and most famously on Generations where he became a household name in South Africa playing the character KHAYA MOTENE. He has also starred alongside Nicolas Cage in ‘LORD OF WAR’ and played Paul Kagame in the award winning film ‘SHAKE HANDS WITH THE DEVIL’. He is currently to be seen on SABC 2 in “JACOB’S CROSS” where he plays FEMI.
Nigerian Born Akin Omotosho has become the latest talent to confirm his participation in the forthcoming Nigeria Series.
“I’m so excited to join Obi’s team at Storm 360 and Serengeti Network on this project and I want to thank my good friend Hakeem Kae-Kazim who brought this project to my attention, I am so excited to be part of this project and to see how I can contribute to make it happen in the best possible way.
“Akin is a multi-faceted talent, being an excellent writer and director as well as an actor; we are looking forward to working with him and for him to bring his many skills to the table as part of our production.” Obi Asika Executive Producer

STEPHANIE OKEREKE SET TO SHARE THE STAGE WITH MERYL STREEP, HILLARY CLINTON AND FIVE OTHER EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN AT THE WOMEN IN THE WORLD: STORIES & SOLUTIONS CHARITY EVENT HOSTED BY DAILYBEAST IN NEW YORK CITY ON MARCH 12

MIAMI, FL — Stephanie Okereke will feature in the March 12th opening night play of Seven in New York. The three-day summit titled Women in the World: Stories and Solutions, co-hosted by The Daily Beast, Vital Voices Global Partnership, Diane von Furstenberg, and the UN Foundation will be attended by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton among others. Stephanie is one of the seven acclaimed actors that will dramatize the issues highlighted in the play: Meryl Streep heads the line-up, which includes Marcia Gay Harden, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Archie Panjabi, Julyana Soelistyo and Lauren Vélez. The reading is directed by celebrated Broadway director Julie Taymor in an evening made possible by HP.

Secretary Clinton will introduce an exclusive one-night reading at the Hudson Theatre of SEVEN, the documentary play created for Vital Voices Global Partnership to honor the courage of brave female activists from Afghanistan, Cambodia, Guatemala, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Pakistan, and Russia. SEVEN is a collaboration by playwrights Paula Cizmar, Catherine Filloux, Gail Kriegel, Carol K. Mack, Ruth Margraff, Anna Deavere Smith, and Susan Yankowitz.

“The play powerfully portrays the transformative way that seven courageous women have changed their societies for the better – from peace-building, to fighting corruption to combating violence against women.”- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

“The most powerful thing about SEVEN is that it gets to the heart of some of the most critical issues facing our world today. It reminds us of the power of the human spirit to rise up when faced with adversity and as we rise…it reminds us that we have a responsibility to bring others along with us.”- Alyse Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vital Voices Global Partnership

The three-day Women in the World summit will bring together an extraordinary group of 300 global leaders from government, media, social activism, business, and the arts. Topics will include human trafficking and modern slavery, the rise of rape as a tool of war, the ways new technologies can help empower women financially, and how traditions can be toppled in cultures that devalue women.

Summit participants include Valerie Jarrett, Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, Fatima Bhutto, Cherie Blair, Luis CdeBaca, Thomas L. Friedman, Edna Adan Ismail, Christine Lagarde, Molly Melching, Somaly Mam, Frances Townsend, and Zainab Salbi. Moderators include Christiane Amanpour, Mika Brzezinski, Katie Couric and Barbara Walters.

In addition to Technology Innovation Partner HP, Women in the World: Stories & Solutions is supported by ExxonMobil, Bank of America, and Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Women

Stephanie’s participation is this event is a true representation of her passion for philanthropic works and her country. For more information on Stephanie Okereke please visit www.stephanieokereke.net

-###-

For more information contact:

ICY Public Relations

Yetunde O. Taiwo
Creative Director
ICY PUBLIC RELATIONS | MIAMI, FL
P: 305.549.3676 | E: yetunde@icypr.com | W: www.icypr.com
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fashion | arts | entertainment …. B E E X C L U S I V E L Y G L O B A L ™

Ofunneka Amanda Molokwu, Nigeria’s representative and first runner-up of Big Brother Africa 2007 has fully turned her attention to social causes. The next step was a Book Party in VGC Lagos, on Sunday, February 28 where the renowned motivational speaker, Fela Durotoye and award winning Kaine Agary were on ground to party with participants at the charitable event.
The Book Party Ofunneka said, “is also a networking event which is part of the activities of the Ofunneka Youth Empowerment Fund (OYEF) to reach a milestone of 6,000 books in two months. So, we asked participants come with (at least) a book for pupils within the ages of 11 and 18 Years. Books donated at the event will be used to stock-up libraries of Public Schools in Lagos ,” she assured.

Kaine Agary, the author of Yellow Yellow and winner NLNG Prize for Literature was invited to do the book reading, while Fela Durotoye motivated participants and urged them to read extra, especially because his Project Read which has a mission to get One Million students to pass their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations every year.

OYEF was launched last year with a mission to help combat socio economic disparity, and empower less privileged youth allowing them to reach their full potential. The Book Party is a group effort of OYEF and Women Sharing Network.

By Amara Nwakpa

A very wise man once said: “The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force”. Given that this was the same guy who proposed that we turn the other cheek, I’d love to think he didn’t mean it literally. This was most likely his dramatic way of making a point that we are familiar with but so often choose to ignore:

Nothing good comes easy.

Like that wise man, I hope no one takes me literally.

The entirety of human history is replete with accounts of generations, whose desires for a better and more fulfilling life, have been put to the ultimate test. In fact, it would seem that circumstances, no matter the age or era, seem to ensure that the path leading to that which we desire is guarded by the forces we fear the most.
From time to time, certain generations, faced with this test have risen to the occasion, paying their passage with precious blood, sweat and tears. And those who overcame were given the key to success, peace and economic dominance.

Prepare for war.

For 5 decades, the Federal Republic of Nigeria has struggled with one of the world’s most mind boggling paradoxes. Having been blessed with human and natural resources beyond measure, its inhabitants have somehow contrived to be poor, helpless and destitute. Producing some of the world’s brightest minds, yet unable to run a sustainable education system. Supplying the biggest economies in the world with energy but unable to power itself.

Nigeria is a sad case of “water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink”.

Today we have a true human tragedy. Millions with their hopes dashed – generations whose greatest ambitions cannot even match where the dreams of others begin. We can tell a million tales that will reduce even the heartless to tears. The masters have become slaves and the princes now eat from the refuse heap.

But yet, we are captives of our own cowardice. Held in the prison of the unfounded expectation that others will do for us what we have failed to do for ourselves. We have refused to take our own destiny in our own hands, hence circumstances have cast lots for our destiny, and we have drawn the short end of the stick.

But just as the universe is ruthless in the application of its principles of cause and effect, somehow, it also contrives to give each generation a chance to redeem itself. Redemption is never a free ticket. Rather it is an advantageous opportunity, presented to each generation, to confront the greatest obstacles to their collective ambitions.

Today, this opportunity has been presented to a new generation of Nigerians.

As I watch all the new young Nigerians flying the flag of “Naija”, engaging in democratic discourse, pushing the envelope of creativity, channeling their energies into altruistic causes: I begin to see a trend – A new voice that says that we want to work together to ensure a better life for us and our children.
I also see an expressed desire to depart from the old norms of ethnicity and depravity. I see openness and a desire to change our destiny.
I see our numbers beginning to swell. I hear our voices saying the same things. I see our people taking up significant positions. Our opportunity is here!

BUT we cannot stop there. We must seize the opportunity!

For all our desires, hopes and dreams will be stillborn if we do not unite and engage the principalities and powers, rulers of darkness and those outposts of residual knowledge and cultures that seek to exalt themselves above the ideals of our hope.
For, if we do not unite and overwhelm these obstacles, we will be overwhelmed by them, and we will be no different from the generation of our fathers – forever remembered in history as under-achievers.

Prepare for war.

Prepare for war – WE MUST CHOOSE OUR OWN LEADERS:
We all must register to vote! ALL! Sing it loud… scream it on top of the mountain! No one between the ages of 18-35 should be left out! LET THE 2011 ELECTIONS BE DOMINATED BY THIS GENERATION.
WE ALL MUST VOTE! We must start planning for it now! We must follow all the news about the elections. Date, regulations, polling locations etc. 2011 WE MUST VOTE OR DIE!
…and after all is said and done… ALL OUR VOTES MUST COUNT!

Prepare for war against tribalism:
WE ARE NOT JUST IGBOS, HAUSAS, YORUBA, FULANI, TIV, etc. WE ARE NIGERIANS.
Make that clear! Put it on your TSHIRT. Make movies about it. Put it on your FB status. Tweet it. Argue it. Knock it into people’s heads. NIGERIA IS FOR ALL OF US.

Prepare for war against corruption:
We must learn to hold public servants accountable. Prepare to support justice against corrupt politicians. Speak up against them. Never stop demanding for justice.

Prepare for war against DARKNESS:
Don’t need to say much about this: #LIGHTUPNIGERIA!

[And here comes the disclaimer:]
Above all, remember that the weapons of our warfare are not necessarily physical – however, given our resolve, effort and unity – they are mighty and capable of pulling down any strongholds or arguments that might present themselves contrary to our ambitions.

GOD BLESS NIGERIA
#lightupnigeria #enoughisenough #weneedfuel #irepresentnigeria

by Seye Kuyinu

Twitter, in my opinion, started as some sort of experiment by some ruby/python developers. Written in a couple of programming languages including Scala( programmers find out about that language), the then ‘twittr’ became unexpectedly successful. It also opened doors to other ’social online cultures’, including the concept change of Facebook as we know it.

Twitter has opened doors for other web applications like bit.ly, twitpic, twitvid. It has also generated its own vocabulary. Don’t be surprised when you hear terms like tweeps, tweminars etc.

People who are not on twitter or who have not spent at least 30minutes on twitter have wondered why those on twitter are addicted to the ‘boring’ concept. I must say, Facebook sucks after you get used to twitter. My tweeps will testify to that. Though two different communities with their different capacities, I must say that Twitter is a more knitted community.

Well, the purpose of this post is actually to talk about why #lightupnigeria didn’t trend. This is a quick post because I have to …run soon so I can’t explain hash tags and the twitter lingo. I am afraid, this post is not for the twignorant people. If you are not on twitter, you may not…err…understand this post. So get on there!

#lightupnigeria as I wrote in the twibbon I designed for the cause( yeah that green bulb that displays on some tweeple’s twitter avatars http://twibbon.com/Join/lightupnigeria-2) , is a campaign that launched on twitter to sensitize people and the Nigerian government on the need to provide better power generation in Nigeria.

Almost every naija person on twitter knows about #lightupnigeria and probably have tweeted it. But that is where the question generates. Why hasn’t it ever trended on twitter?

.Reason 1
When the campaign started, there were a little over 4,000 Nigerian tweeters(that’s different from twitters, by the way). The greatest number of specific hashtags per hour/per day gets to be the trending topic. How possible is it for 4,000 Nigerians to beat the whole world, especially the US with about 1,000,000 users who are also hashing out things like #avatar, #obama, #followfriday, #nowplaying.

As more and more naija users started getting accustomed to twitter, they started identifying with the culture and #lightupnigeria became part of it. But then the number of tweets with #lightupnigeria became less agressive. You will testify with me that unlike before when you tweeted #lightupnigeria an average of 20 times a day, right now you tweet it about 5 times a day and expect it to trend.

.Reason 2
Because of the #lightupnigeria trending failure, a lot of people have put it aside and have embraced other trends. #LightupNigeria became less fun for Nigerians who are fun loving people and other topics took over and became more fun and #abaversion and #nigeriangrammar become world wide trending topics. Even our guy @FunnyJoker helped to trend #abaversion.

.Reason 3
Tweeps are getting tired of #lightupnigeria and that’s the truth! The Nigeria topics that will trend are just going to be topics that bring Nigerians outside the country and within the country together. #lightupnigeria in my own predictions won’t. Oh, @bubusn, just my opinion.

In my own opinion, #lightupnigeria is only going to remain as a concept that brought a lot of nigerians together on twitter.
The ultimate question still remains: If #lightupnigeria finally trends, what next?

“@esepeters: All we are doing on twitter is telling ourselves to #lightupnigeria when even our govt can’t cc@seyekuyinu (cont) http://tl.gd/9qct6 “

You know my answer? N.O.T.H.I.N.G!

BUT I BELIEVE WE SHOULD COME OUT OF THIS VIRTUAL WORLD. LET US COME OUT!!! LET’S NOT SIT BESIDE THOSE SCREENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let me know what you feel! And…follow me @seyekuyinu

Lagos, Nigeria, 2 March 2010

The Future Project Nigeria , organisers of The Future Awards, finds it necessary to make a public statement clarifying that it is no way associated with a group called The Future Nigeria group (FNG), which has recently expressed support for aides of the president whose actions have essentially subverted the constitution.

Amongst other thing, this organisation, which claims to be speaking for young people, has said that ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua did not commit any offence or breach the constitution by not appearing in public five days after his return from Saudi Arabia . The group also says that there is no crisis in the country and commended the wife to the president, Turai Yar’Adua, for her conduct in the past few months.

“Whilst we agree with their constitutional rights in making these statements, we make bold to disagree sharply with their comments, as we strongly believe that there is a cabal around the Presidency that has been working against the interests of Nigerians,” said the project’s creative director, Chude Jideonwo. “We find it necessary to make this bold dissociation after we received very concerned mails from young people, our partners and other stakeholders who wondered if our values have changed.”

The Future Project expressed its surprise at the actions and the formation of this group as The Future Nigeria is a registered trademark of The Future Project. TheFutureNigeria.com is also their registered website. They therefore characterised this appropriation by FNG, which is headed by a former adviser to President Obasanjo, as a deliberate ploy to employ the goodwill and the relationship of trust they have built with the Nigerian public to serve narrow interests.

“For the avoidance of doubt, The Future Project joins the overwhelming majority of young people in expressing outrage at the events of the past few months,” Jideonwo said. “It appears that the president is incapable of discharging the functions of his office, and in that case, the executive council of the federation should urgently so declare, so that we can go beyond this constitutional crisis. We cannot understand why, instead of concentrating on the fuel crisis, electoral reform and electricity, our leaders are instead focused only on feathering their nests. Enough is enough!”

According to them, they have initiated moves with relevant government agencies to clarify how this conflict in names could arise in the first place, and assured followers and other well meaning Nigerians that they remain resolutely committed to the Nigerian enterprise and have no intentions of aligning ourselves with corrupted values or any process not founded on integrity, good conscience and the development of the youth.

“This has in fact also challenged us to mobilise young Nigerians to send a clear message to the government and politicians that enough is indeed, enough,” Jideonwo added.

The Future Project, which has strong presence in at least 8 states of the federation and 3 countries outside Nigeria , is the organiser of the yearly The Future Awards, which has distinguished itself as Nigeria ’s most respected youth event. The last edition held in February in Lagos . The Keynote Speaker was the World Bank managing director, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Other guests included the first lady of Lagos State , Abumbola Fashola, the deputy governor, Sarah Bisi Sosan, Prof. Pat Utomi, Prof. Dora Akunyili, amongst others.

RUBBIN’ MINDS SUMMARY

TOPIC: ‘I REPRESENT NAIJA 3’

28^TH FEB. 2010.

GUESTS:

• MATSE UWATSE

The Future Awards’ On Air Personality (Radio)

• JUDE ABAGA (MI)

The Future Awards’ Musician of the Year

• JESSE JAGS

The Future Awards’ Producer of the Year.

• TOX DAVID (EDITOR, SOUNDCITY BLAST)

The Future Awards’ Magazine of the Year.

We continued our series profiling the 2010 winners of Nigeria’s biggest youth event. The show started, as usual, with a discussion on the past week’s news items:

ON YAR’ ADUA

The president is reported to be back and still no one has seen him. Talk about the strength of a woman; Yar’adua’s wife holds the whole country.

ON PETROLEUM

The queues have refused to end. There seems to be no solution and what borders the most is Labor’s (NLC) silence to all that is happening in the country.

Intro of Topic & Guest

The day’s show had entertainment people, who have stood out in the past one year. Speaking on their career and life are, MI, Jesse Jags, Matse and Tox (Soundcity Blast).

LET’S start with you Tox, how was it for you guys at Soundcity Blast when you won the award?

TOX: We were nominated last year and didn’t win. We took it as a challenge and went back to the drawing board to work on our game. We were indeed happy that we won.

How do you pull it off Matse, people watching you now might doubt if it’s really the Matse they here on radio?

MATSE: On radio, I am a totally different person, may be because I speak Pidgin. I studied linguistics in school and so I’m trained to adapt easily to languages I speak. For instance, I speak English, French, German and Pigeon – as a result of the fact that I am a proper Waffi Girl. I grew up in Warri.

How did the opportunity come, Have you always had it easy?

MATSE: Easy? No! Nothing in life comes easy. You have to work hard to survive and I’d say I’m a very hard working girl. The opportunity to work in Wazobia came from a friend who called me and asked if I’d like to work in a radio that spoke Pigeon. I thought she was joking but she sounded serious and, here I am (Laughter)!

Did you ever envisage being this big?

M.I: (Laughter) Me? No way! It’s rare to see a dude in the country who raps more in English in Nigeria and still makes it. A lot of the big names do more of pigeon and other local languages. I decided to be different. I never envisaged being this big and am indeed grateful to God. I believe it all boils down to hard work,

Which were you first – an artist or a producer?

JESSE: I was an Artist before I became a producer. Singing as always been my first love. But interestingly, if you are an artist and you can play an instrument, then being a producer shouldn’t be a big deal.

What’s the difference between life in Lagos as opposed to life in Jos for you guys (Jesse and M.I)?

JESSE: It takes a lot of strength and what I’d call some ginger to want to remain in Lagos .

M.I: Life in Jos was quite simple, with as low as 30k salary you were comfortable and could enjoy a cool life not like Lagos that you have to struggle through a lot of things. Settling down in Lagos wasn’t easy at all for me.

Are you guys really brothers?

MI: (Laughs) this question has been controversial in the media for some time now. Well, yes! Jesse is my brother and I’m his cousin.

(General laughter)That doesn’t answer the question?

JESSE: That’s why we say we are brothers

Publishing in Nigeria isn’t an easy task, how do you keep up with sustainability?

TOX: It’s a tough task and the challenges are enormous but, one thing that stands out is your content. Once the market identifies you to having good stuff, then sustainability should not be an issue.

Last Words?

JESSE: Watch out for my album, it will be officially out on the 15^th of March. You’d definitely love it.

MATSE: Never give in life. Even when you make a mistake, don’t loose faith, press harder and move forward. You’ll make it.

MI: Learning is a continuous process. There is always room for more knowledge, Never stop learning.

TOX: Risks are inevitable; don’t be scared of taking risks.

Don’t forget to join us next week.

Rubbin’Minds. 3pm. Channels TV.

You’ve never seen young people talk like this!