‘Gbenga Sesan is a social entrepreneur and Information Society researcher, and he was Nigeria's first Information Technology Youth Ambassador. He is quick to express passionate belief in the potentials that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) hold for developing economies, and has expressed this at various local, national, regional and international fora – through his speaking opportunities with over 400 audiences in nineteen countries. His consulting experience includes assignments completed for numerous institutions, including United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Ethiopia), Res Publica (USA), International Telecommunications Union (Switzerland) and Computer Aid International (UK).
‘Gbenga was the Vice Chair of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s African Technical Advisory Committee, voluntary adviser to numerous youth-led nonprofit projects and pioneer Program Manager of the Lagos Digital Village (a Lagos State/Microsoft/Junior Achievement of Nigeria project). He was appointed (in 2006) as the youngest member of the Nigerian Presidential Task Force on the Restructuring of the Nigerian Information Technology and Telecommunications sectors. He is presently promoting and supporting pan-African youth-led social entrepreneurship as Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, Partner at Generis Solutions and Volunteer with the African Youth ICT4D Network. ‘Gbenga is an author, guest columnist, regular feature on two of Nigeria’s most popular television shows and Vice President of the Alliance of Change Empowerment Speakers (ACES).
In recognition of his dynamic efforts, ‘Gbenga was a recipient of the 2007 The Future Youth Advocacy award, 2006 International Telecommunications Union YES Scholarship award, 2006 The Future Best Use of Technology award, 2005 Stockholm Challenge Champion honor, 2004 NiPRO Excellence in Information Technology award, 2003 JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) in Nigeria award, 2002 JCI Ten Outstanding Great Ife Alumni (TOGA) award, 2002 Journalists’ Frontier of Technology in Nigeria award, and the 2001 International Telecommunication Union African Youth Fellowship award. He has also been profiled as one of the 35 Icons of ICT in Nigeria.
‘Gbenga Sesan, who has just been announced as a 2007 Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellowship award winner, maintains his personal website at www.gbengasesan.org.ng, keeps a blog (www.gbengasesan.com/blog) and will resume his PhD program (focusing on ICTs for Economic Transformation) in September 2007.
A world-class and
result-laden career in the application of Information and Communication
Technologies for Development (ICT4D) – for individuals, institutions,
nation-states, regional entities and the international community.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
§Member, Presidential
Task Force on the restructuring of the Nigerian Information Technology,
Telecommunications and Broadcasting sectors (2006 - )
§Chairman, Youth
Development Committee, Nigeria Internet Group (2006 - )
§Nigerian representative, World
Summit Awards Expert Panel (2005 - )
§Vice Chair, African
Technical Advisory Committee, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (2004 – 2006)
§Member, Group of 22
Experts on the Resolution of Nigeria’s Top Level Domain Issues, G22 (2004
– 2005)
§Team Leader, Nigerian
Youth Network on ICTs, including role as Nigeria’s IT Youth Ambassador
(2001 – 2005)
SHORT PROFILE
‘Gbenga Sesan is a social entrepreneur and Information Society researcher, and he was Nigeria'sfirst Information Technology Youth Ambassador. He is quick to express passionate belief in the potentials that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) hold for developing economies, and has expressed this at various local, national, regional and international fora – through his speaking opportunities with over 400 audiences in nineteen countries. His consulting experience includes assignments completed for numerous institutions, including United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Ethiopia), Res Publica (USA), International Telecommunications Union (Switzerland) and Computer Aid International (UK).‘Gbenga was the Vice Chair of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s African Technical Advisory Committee, voluntary adviser to numerous youth-led non-profit projects and pioneer Program Manager of the Lagos Digital Village (a Lagos State/Microsoft/Junior Achievement of Nigeria project). He was appointed (in 2006) as the youngest member of the Nigerian Presidential Task Force on the Restructuring of the Nigerian Information Technology and Telecommunications sectors. He is presently promoting and supporting pan-African youth-led social entrepreneurship as Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, Partner at Generis Solutions and Volunteer with the African Youth ICT4D Network. ‘Gbenga is an author, guest columnist, regular feature on two of Nigeria’s most popular television shows and Vice President of the Alliance of Change Empowerment Speakers (ACES).
In
recognition of his dynamic efforts, ‘Gbenga was a recipient of the 2007 The
Future Youth Advocacy award, 2006 International Telecommunications
Union YES Scholarship award, 2006 The Future Best Use of
Technology award, 2005 Stockholm Challenge Champion honor, 2004 NiPRO
Excellence in Information Technology award, 2003 JCI Ten
Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) in Nigeria award, 2002 JCI Ten
Outstanding Great Ife Alumni (TOGA) award, 2002 Journalists’ Frontier
of Technology in Nigeria award, and the 2001 International
Telecommunication Union African Youth Fellowship award. He has also been
profiled as one of the 35 Icons of ICT in Nigeria. ‘Gbenga Sesan, who
has just been announced as a 2007 Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership
Fellowshipaward winner, maintains his personal website at www.gbengasesan.org.ng,
keeps a blog (www.gbengasesan.com/blog) and will resume his PhD
program (focusing on ICTs for Economic Transformation) in September
2007.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
§2002: Baseline studyon the Establishment
of a Science and Technology Park in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
§2002 – 2005: Research/Analysis on Nigerian Civil
Society Involvement in the World Summit on the Information Society
§2005 – 2006: Research on PEACE and ICTs, supported
by the TODA Institute, Hawaii
§2006: Research on Youth and Internet Governance
§2006: Research on Youth Involvement in the
African Information Society Space
§2006: Research on eAdvocacy and Technology Use
by Civil Society in Nigeria
§2005 - 2007: World Summit Awards Expert for Research
Towards the Celebration of Nigeria’s Best eContent Projects
§2006 – 2007: Research on Youth, ICTs and Human
Development, supported by the TODA Institute, Hawaii
PUBLICATIONS (PARTIAL LISTING)
§Author, Social
Enterprise in Africa: An Emerging Concept in an Emerging Economy,
Educational Research and Reviews, International NGO journal. Vol 1 (1), pp.
004-008, October 2006
§Columnist, Bridges
with ‘Gbenga Sesan, Technology Times Newspaper
§Blogger, Oro:‘Gbenga
Sesan Lets Out the Words, www.gbengasesan.com/blog
§Co-author, ICTs for
Development: The Challenges of Meeting the Millennium Development Goals in Africa. Nigerian Communications Commission/Growing Businesses Foundation/Club of Rome, September 2006
§Editor, Global Process,
Local Reality: Nigerian Youth Lead Action in the Information Society.
Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (ISBN 978-068-094-2), November 2005
§Co-author, Africa Networking: Development Information, ICTs and Governance. United
Nations Economic Commission for Africa, May 2004
§Co-author, What’s
Next? The Future of the Information Society – A Youth Perspective. YOIS/TakingITGlobal,
July 2003
§Author of several
articles published in national and international publications, archived at www.gbengasesan.com/papers.htm
WORK EXPERIENCE
03 2007 - date Paradigm
Initiative Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria
§Executive
Director: Leading the establishment of a youth-led social enterprise that will
focus on consulting, research, telecentre support, youth-led social technopreneurship
and capacity building
03 2007 - date Generis
Solutions Lagos, Nigeria
§Partner: Teaming up with an
outstanding young entrepreneur to grow the company as a model enterprise in Africa. Corporate focus is on ICT Application, Human Resource Development and People
Development
§Program
Assistant, June 2001 – June 2002: Maintaining website (www.janigeria.org),
assisting with logistics, volunteer training and program monitoring;
§Program
Officer, July 2002 – June 2004: Planning and coordinating the take-off of the Lagos Digital Village project – in partnership with Lagos State Government and Microsoft;
§Program
Manager, July 2004 – September 2006: Management of the Lagos Digital Village project and coordinating
technology support for Junior Achievement;
§Development
Manager, October 2006 – February 2007: Planning the replication of
telecentre projects and development support for Junior Achievement of Nigeria
If you would like to invite 'Gbenga Sesan to speak at your Seminar, School, Organization or to discuss ideas with your Group, you may express such interests via email through talk@gbengasesan.com. And remember, "The whole world will stand aside for a man who knows where he's going. Decide what path you want to trace in life (regardless of your background, colour or present opportunities and based on your interest, passion and desires), be a master at it ... and you will discover that there is no limit to your fulfilling experiences".
"We want to sincerely thank God for 'Gbenga because the achievement is God-given, and is to crown his hard work and adventure. He is a boy who has always taken risks. Right from his birth, 'Gbenga had shown the sign of a serious boy."
Mr. & Mrs. Sesan (Who should know better? Thanks Dad and Mum, I love you!)
"... those of us in the Diaspora appreciate your contributions as Nigeria's Information Technology Youth Ambassador. Please continue your good work."
"You have my full support for your activities out there and don´t be discouraged at any time for any reason. The economic environment in Nigeria might look unstable and unfriendly, but we have to plan ahead to help our nation ... You will leave a better legacy behind and that is very important. Keep up the good work."
