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Nigerians, and indeed the world, are collectively holding their breath in anticipation of the 2011 presidential election. Indeed this election’s importance to the citizens of Nigeria and the good functioning of the government cannot be overstated. And no longer is there doubt as to the tremendous promise – and associated risks – of using information and communication technologies to enhance the effectiveness of both electoral activities and new approaches to reform, monitoring, and civic participation in the democratic process.

This upcoming symposium and workshop emerged from a July 2009 conference in which diverse non-governmental organizations (NGOs) made plain the requirements of robust state accountability and transparency for civil society to succeed with its missions – and the concomitant potential of ICTs to support these goals of participatory, inclusive and deliberative processes of decision-making. What became eminently clear from these NGO participants was that Nigeria now sits at a critical juncture with respect to this civic engagement, with all eyes focused upon the upcoming election.

The symposium is co-organized by the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the College of Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology (USA) and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University (USA), the National Democratic Institute (USA), and the Digital Bridge Institute (Nigeria), and sponsored by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

The daylong public symposium will be held at the Yar’ Adua Centre in Abuja on July 19, 2010. Facilitators are leading researchers, activists and organizations in the field and will come from Nigeria, across Africa and around the world. Participants will be drawn from across sectors, including NGOs, donors, academics, activists, policymakers, technologists, and entrepreneurs.

The public symposium will introduce the big picture making the issues widely accessible and compelling to a diverse public audience. It will include a small number of plenary talks from eminent personalities designed to give framing overviews to the topics. However, most of the day will consist of panel discussions that will combine case studies and critical analysis with policy engagements including next-step provocations.

Date: Monday, July 19, 2010
Time: 9:00am – 5:30pm
Location: Yar’Adua Center, Abuja, Nigeria

Event URL: http://www.e-nigeria.org
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=127970443911228&ref=mf
Twitter: @enigeria
Official event hashtag: #enigeria

Paradigm Initiative Nigeria is pleased to announce this year’s second call for Change Agents in Ajegunle.

On completing a 6-week compulsory training program, Ajegunle.org graduates will be offered available opportunities to undergo internships with one of our partner organizations, listed at www.pinigeria.org/partners.php.

Twenty-eight (28) interns have so far completed 6-week to 6-month internships at Afrinvest West Africa, DHL Nigeria, London Metropolitan University (Nigeria Office), Lornamead Africa, Nigerian Bottling Company, Standard Chartered Bank, Honey Suckles Limited, First City Monument Bank, UK Trade & Investment (Lagos) and the UK High Commission (Abuja).

Our graduates have not only transitioned from High School graduates to interns and entrepreneurs, but some of them have been taken up as permanent staff at various A-list organizations including Afrinvest West Africa, UK High Commission (Abuja), UK Deputy High Commission (Lagos), Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited and First City Monument Bank.

Our graduates also enjoy national and international exposure, with guests from over twenty (20) countries visiting the project since 2007 and the project becoming a Case Study at many international conferences each year. Ajegunle.org graduates, Funke and Debbie, also shared their stories of transformation at the eInclusion session of eLearning Africa 2010 which had 1,776 participants from 78 countries.

The monthly reports we receive from our graduates are enlightening, ranging from those who threaten to withdraw from work after the first week of their internships (but have since learnt that the world of work is demanding for those who must climb the ladder of success) to those who have shown consistent growth in the income earned from their small businesses. Our chin-chin lady started reporting a profit of N70 but the story has changed with a great difference.

The training program takes place at no initial cost to the participants but they must be ready to abide by the conditions stated on the application form.

Applicants must:

* Reside in Ajegunle
* Be available from September to October 2010
* Hold a Senior Secondary School Leaving Certificate.

All interested applicants should obtain entry forms from Uncommon Man Network secretariat or call Yinka on 08062690359. We will accept applications until Friday, August 20, 2010.

The Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC) is now accepting nominations for the 3rd edition of its W.TEC Girls Technology Camp.

The technology camp will take place in Lagos in August 2010 and is a W.TEC initiative aimed at helping girls develop an early interest in computers and other information technology, as well as enabling them develop positive images of technology-related careers. The long-term goal is increased numbers of women working with and using information technology productively for professional and leadership activities.

This is a 1-week residential program targeted at girls in JSS 2 to SS2, during which the young women will participate in technology workshops which include introduction to the computer, overview of computer hardware, learning to use some software; with games and activities intended to foster team and leadership qualities. Camp participants will also discuss social issues, especially those that affect young women. The camp will end with an exhibition of the girls’ work.
(View photographs from last year’s camp)

Fee:
The fee for the camp is N50,000.00 for the successful candidates. This covers the registration fee, tuition, boarding and feeding costs.

A limited number of scholarships and discounts are available for girls whose applications are successful and whose parents or guardians are unable to afford the camp fees, so we highly encourage all qualified girls to apply.

Objectives:
The primary aims of this camp are to:

1. Introduce Nigerian girls to computers and other ICTs, which they can use productively for school, work and leisure
2. Encourage the young women to consider a technology career, by giving a realistic and positive idea of computing-related careers through career talks and career-themed films
3. Help the young women plan their future careers with the assistance of mentors and women currently working in these fields

Criteria for Eligibility:
The programme is targeted at female students who are:

• Currently in JSS 2 to SSS 2 and no younger than 11 years of age
• Must have an excellent academic record
• Interested in learning about computers and other information technology
• Must be available in August 2010
• Must have the consent of either parent or guardian to stay in the camp with other girls for 1 week

Duration:
1 Week

Application:
To apply, nominate a girl who meets the above criteria to be invited for a pre-selection written test and oral interview.

Include the following information for the nominee:

• First and Last Names
• Class
• Age
• School
• Contact Address
• Phone Number
• Email Address

Your nominations can be sent in one of the following ways:

1. Hand Delivery to Our Office:
   W.TEC
   Suite 88, Block A-4
   Sura Shopping Complex
   Simpson Street, Lagos Island
   Lagos
2. Online Application: Complete and submit the online application form.
3. Email Application: Email the nominations to us at info@w-teconline.org.

For further information, contact Ms. Omokemi Akinbodunse at info@w-teconline.org, +234.819.115.0387, +234.802.328.7137 or +234.1.850.9782.

Where can investors outside of Africa find on-the-ground intelligence about African business opportunities and the African business climate?

AfricaLaunch.com – the meeting place for Africa-focused investors and African entrepreneurs and thought leaders. Where insightful, reputable bloggers from diverse industries and countries tell the inside story on emerging African business opportunities….and high-potential start-ups announce their availability.

Site features:
• Discussion categories such as energy, health, commodities, entrepreneurship, infrastructure and technology
• Business listings for African start-ups (brief profile free, in-depth profile paid)

AfricaLaunch.com will be marketed to the U.S. investment and press communities.

The founders:
Deborah Nason, MA, is a business journalist who has covered emerging African markets for many years for sites such as InvestmentNews.com and InternetEvolution.com. Through AfricaLaunch.com, she wants to help change the public’s perceptions of the continent, and spread the word about the vitality and sophistication of Africa’s entrepreneurs and start-up companies.

Tim Anyasi is a Nigerian-born accountant and a serial entrepreneur, with special interest in the development of Africa. He believes strongly in the ability of the free market to move the continent out of it’s present predicament. Having spent the past decade in the West, Tim has gained a special insight into best practices and is committed to assisting African investors and entrepreneurs in moving to the next step.

Greetings from the Board of the International Young Professionals Foundation.

We’ve been silent for a while, but now we are back. Expect to hear from us more – and get ready to get involved!

WHERE WE HAVE BEEN
For the IYPF, and for many in the world as a whole, the last year and a half has been rough. We were hit badly by the financial down turn. The last International Young Professionals Summit was held right at the start of the economic crash (August 2008) which made things very challenging for us. It had a dramatic effect on our finances. But in spite of these hard times, we are glad to have had the opportunity to add value and continue to contribute in small ways to creating a better world even in the face of global crisis.

WHERE WE ARE GOING
Emerging from the last Young Professionals Summit (IYPS) and our reflections during these hard times, we are now looking at a new direction for IYPF.

We want to work with your – our members, stakeholders and network – to carve out a niche and do things that only we do, and we do them well.

Specifically, we see IYPF engaged in 3 activities:

(1) An annual International Young Professional of the Year award. It’s a big idea, challenging too, but the mechanics of an award are relatively easy to facilitate given our network and expertise. It’s something no one else is doing – and something we are well positioned to catalyse and run. As an initiative, it can focus our organisation and efforts, and highlight what YPs are doing around the world to create sustainable change and a better world

(2) Convening a regular International Young Professionals Summit to bring YPs together globally, perhaps every 3-4 years, with regional events convened in between times in partnership with other YP organisations.

(3) Educating and engaging YPs around the world on the Millennium Development Goals as the world pushes on the home stretch to 2015.

For more background to our thinking, see the Declaration from the last IYPS here.

NEW LEADERSHIP
As we strike out in defining our new direction and moving forward as an organisation and global network, we are looking for fresh leadership to be injected into IYPF.

Very soon we will be providing notice of our Annual General Meeting (AGM).

At the AGM, we will be electing a new Board of Directors. We will receive nominations from those interested in serving on the Board and leading the organisation in to the future – start thinking about it nominating yourself now, or someone else you know who you think would do a great job.

A new Board is essential to IYPF’s future. New directors will bring fresh enthusiasm, ideas, and energy to develop and implement the new course for the organisation. The Board will be similar to an operational committee, with directors responsible for key areas of activity, as well as standard governance, strategy and compliance activities. We expect serving on the Board to require at a minimum 5 hours a week.

The call for nominations to the Board of Directors will come out to you all in the next month along with notice of the AGM.

Following the AGM and the new Board being formed, we will also be looking for new volunteer staff to help achieve the goals of the organisation and network. Stay tuned!

Yours in partnership for a better, more just and sustainable world for all,

The IYPF Board of Directors
Greg Nelson, Connie Walyaro, ‘Gbenga Sesan, Cameron Neil

Ten talented Nigerian youth living in Ajegunle, a high density, low income neighbourhood in the sprawling Lagos metropolis, learned important life skills at a three day workshop organised by Communicating for Change (CFC), in partnership with LEAP Africa and Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN).

CFC initiated the workshop as part of the process of filming three exceptional young women in a soon to be released documentary on the struggles of urban youth vis-a-vis achieving the millennium development goals.

The workshop focused on leadership skills taught by life coaches from LEAP Africa’s Youth Leadership Program, and computer and new media skills taught by trainers from Paradigm Initiative’s ajegunle.com, an award winning grass roots project committed to teaching inner-city kids information technology skills.

The training was complemented by a mentoring session on how to run a small scale fashion enterprise by Bayo Adegbe, the CEO of Modela, one of Nigeria’s leading fashion houses, and a talk on business basics, by Chief Operating Officer Eniola Agbesoyin, of the Olive Micro-Finance Bank.

“Over the years we have seen the positive impact of training youth to connect to their inner selves, build self- confidence, set goals, take necessary risks, identify dream stoppers,  and manage their funds and resources,” said Mosun Layode, Executive Director of LEAP AFRICA, one of Nigeria’s exceptional youth empowerment organisations teaching young people to be change agents in their communities.

“Supporting CFC’s film production work by training under-served youths in Ajegunle is an important way of addressing our development challenges,” added ‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria,  a youth led technopreneurship organisation which started ICT training in Ajegunle two years ago by equipping young people to solve their problems through the creative use of technology.

“The workshop was very cool and motivating”, commented twenty-four-year-old Thompson Ojeme who participated in the workshop. “We have really learnt a lot. It has greatly helped us with our computer and leadership skills,” added nineteen-year-old Donatella Raymond, who said she enjoyed the session on goal setting.

CFC’s partnership with LEAP and PIN is a positive example of development communications, in which documenting African stories from a home-grown perspective, is coupled with capacity building and creating a platform for youth to be empowered through life skills training.

Besides focusing on film making, CFC regularly organises workshops on script writing and video story-telling, in an effort to teach media skills, reflect Nigerian youths amazing creativity, and give them a voice. “We are delighted to join forces with PIN and LEAP in ensuring that our dynamic youth have better chances at leadership, entrepreneurship, technology and creativity,” concluded Sandra Obiago, CFC’s Founding Executive Director.

The workshop was held from June 16-18, 2010 at CFC’s training centre, in Ikeja, Lagos.

STOP PRESS: Please download press statement from here.

EnoughisEnough Nigeria (EiE) is a global coalition of Nigerian youth and youth-led organisations, is to host the first of its Diasporan events in London, England. The London Town Hall Meeting will take place at Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, 50 Hoxton Square, London, N1 6PB on Monday, June 28 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. The EnoughisEnough Nigeria (EiE) coalition is a non-partisan movement working to mobilise ten million young Nigerians to participate in the 2011 General Elections. The growing network currently consists of over fifty organisations, with a collective individual membership of three hundred thousand young people. Membership is open to all young Nigerians worldwide.

The two-hour event titled “EiE London Town Hall Meeting: Dial-A-Vote” is part of EiE’s Voter Education campaign which consists of Town Hall Meetings across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones and Diasporan communities to generate interest in the electoral process and equip attendees to serve as impartial advocates within their local communities. During the London THM, we will be asking attendees to bring out their phones and international calling cards and call at least five contacts back home to share the importance of voting. There’s a surprise in store for 2 people who call the highest number of contacts to register.

According to a member of the coalition in the UK, Dayo Israel: “Although Nigerians abroad are unable to vote themselves, the purpose of the Diasporan Town Hall Meetings is to discuss how young Nigerians abroad can employ Technology and New Media in sensitising friends and family back home towards participating.” On the question of impartiality, the group’s interim Executive Secretary, Yemi Ademolekun said: “The coalition is independent. It does not and will not represent the interests of any political party or candidate. The coalition seeks to educate young Nigerians on the importance of voting and we will strive to stay true to that. We will not cross the line by suggesting who they should vote for.”

We will also formally unveil the beta version of our 2011 General Election portal, which will serve as a platform to provide unbiased voter information, encourage participation and collate verified election day data in real time based on location mapping.

Event details are as follows:
Date: Monday, 28 June 2010
Time: 6.30 p.m. – 8.30 p.m.
Venue: Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, 50 Hoxton Square, London N1 6PB
Map:http://gulbenkian.org.uk/media/item/1767/416CalousteGulbenkianFoundation-map.pdf

Kindly RSVP to confirm attendance as seats are limited.

FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134275346584302
eMail: info@enoughisenoughnigeria.com
Mobile: 07897 892954 or 07529 657098

#RSVP: Register | Scrutinise | Vote | Protect

This event is supported by ChitChatAfrica.com.

EnoughisEnough Nigeria (EiE), founded in March 2010, is the largest coalition of Nigerian youth and youth-led organizations. Our goal is civic participation and, for the next one year, we are focused on mobilizing young Nigerians to influence the 2011 general elections by voting for credible candidates and protecting those votes.

We are a non-partisan movement, which means we are not aligned to any political party and not aligned to any political candidate.

We belong to every young Nigerian, and so every young Nigerian or Nigerian group is free to join this organization, with very few exceptions.

The organization functions as a loose coalition which executes its programmes through its member organizations spread across the country. This means that rather than impose programmes on the members of the coalitions, we work with them to to advise, support and empower them in the implementation of our programmes in their communities.

At the moment, we officially have at least 50 member organizations with a combined followership of over 300, 000 young Nigerians spread across the country. Our ambitious goal is to mobilize 10 million young people, cutting across religious, ethnic and socio-economic divides in the country to vote in the 2011 elections.

We are calling on youth organizations to formally register to be a part of this coalition to expand the impact, especially as we start Voter Education and Voter Mobilisation in rural and urban communities across the country. If you have participated in our rallies and other projects but have not been officially registered with us, we are also calling on you.

Guidelines for Organisations:
- Being a member means that you continue to work on your organisation’s projects and programmes but are part of this coalition to support its general goal of mobilizing and educating voters.
- You will be expected to help broadcast all EiE messages through your networks and to your members and get them involved in the projects as required.
- You must have a recognized office – organizations from outside Lagos or Abuja are especially encouraged to register.
- Diaspora organizations are also encouraged to join.
- You will be required to provide your organisation’s logo to identify you as a partner on our site and credit your organisation as a member of the coalition in our public communication.
- The coalition tries to concentrate on its central goal of mobilizing the youth vote, but if component organizations request specific support with projects that the Executive Board agrees upon, they will be considered.
- Organisations are permitted to be aligned with particular candidates; however they should note that under no circumstance will this coalition support individual parties or candidates. The coalition will not hesitate to call out and sanction any member organisation that attempts to mislead the public in this regard.
- If you know an organization that works at the grassroots level and does not have access to the internet, you can also nominate that organization and we shall contact you, or the organization, immediately.
- If you want to register with us, please send a one-page brief on your organisation and projects to info[at]enoughisenoughnigeria.com and the Executive Board will review and get back to you with a decision within one week.
To ensure coordinating ahead of our Voter Education campaign, the deadline for the first round of registration of this particular campaign is June 30.

Please note that certain exceptions can be made for membership based on the Board’s discretion.

Individual Membership Guidelines
- If you are an individual and want to be registered with us so that you are part of the projects and can receive all the updates, please register on our website www.enoughisenoughnigeria.com.

Whatever you do, RSVP:
R – Register
S – Scrutinise
V – Vote
P – Protect

www.enoughisenoughnigeria.com

“EiE asks you to #RSVP in 2011: REGISTER! We can’t select for you, but you must SCRUTINIZE candidates. VOTE. PROTECT your vote. #EnoughisEnough“

The Alternative 2.0

Paradigm Initiative Nigeria and Microsoft Nigeria are proud to announce The Alternative 2.0, the event that highlights the need for young Nigerians to redirect their energy – from cybercrime – towards positive online opportunities. The event is free and open to all, but you must RSVP through FaceBook or by eMail to info[at]pinigeria.org.

The event holds on Saturday, June 12, 2010 at 10am (Green Carpet reception at 9am) at the Main Auditorium, University of Lagos. Featuring Cobhams Asuquo (producer, ‘Maga No Need Pay’), MI, Rooftop MCs, Modele, Bez, Wordsmith, Kemi Adetiba (director, ‘Maga No Need Pay’ video), Deolu Akinyemi (discussing Alternatives to Cybercrime) and Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani (award-winning author, I Do Not Come To You By Chance)!

We will provide updates on MISSPIN activities to date, announce new activities and thank the outgoing MISSPIN Ambassadors, the new Call for MISSPIN Ambassadors will be announced at the event. For more information, see flyers and watch out for the radio and TV adverts or visit www.pinigeria.org.

Date: Saturday, June 12, 2010
Time: 9:00am – 1:00pm
Location: Main Auditorium, University of Lagos

EnoughisEnough Nigeria, the coalition of Nigerian youth and youth-led organizations, is compelled to publicly highlight what it has observed as the total lack of preparedness on the part of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deliver free and fair polls for the 2011 General Elections.

Hence, the coalition is calling on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic, Goodluck Jonathan, to show quick and tangible results on his promise to deliver free and fair elections in 2011 by ensuring that INEC starts new voter registration nationwide as quickly as possible.

“We have made repeated visits to the INEC offices in Lagos and Abuja,” said Cheta Nwanze, one of the coalition’s spokesperson. “And at each level, we have been shocked by the level of complete abandon that is the lot of our electoral system at the moment.”

The coalition is disappointed to note that the registration of new voters, an exercise that should be continuous by law, and should at least have become a national drive a month ago, is yet to commence. There is, hence, a real danger that millions of new voters will be systematically disenfranchised.

“This is unacceptable,” said Hadiza Mohammed. “If we are not registering yet less than eight months to such important elections, what kind of fairness do we expect from the process?”

With these concerns in view, the coalition therefore calls on President Goodluck Jonathan to show some real commitment and sincerity, beyond words and promises, to the electoral process by working with INEC to facilitate the immediate commencement of the New Voters Registration Exercise. More importantly, let the exercise be open and transparent so that Nigerians know exactly what is going on rather than the present situation of rumours and suspicions. We are requesting that this process starts as soon as possible to give adequate time to register new voters; clean up the Voters Register and execute a comprehensive communication campaign to educate Voters on the process and their rights. This is to ensure that all eligible Nigerians are able to participate in the process.

The coalition is also calling on the President to expedite action and appoint the Chairman and other National Commissioners at INEC.

“Let them be put on notice that if this kind of tardiness, which is dangerous for our much-talked-about electoral reforms continue,” Nwanze said, “young people across Nigeria might have no choice but to take stern measures to pressure the government to take the right steps.”

The EnoughisEnough Nigeria coalition is a civic participation group for young Nigerians that has organised protest rallies against ineffective governance, in Abuja and Lagos. The coalition is committed to ensuring that the youth vote – from the grassroots to the Ivory Towers – counts in the 2011 elections,  working closely with grassroots mobilisers, and national and international election observers. To this end, the coalition is beginning Voter Education workshops across the country for Nigerian youth.

Member organizations include The Future Project, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, Omotola Youth Empowerment Project, Light Up Nigeria, Rise Networks, BLING Corp, Chocolate City, Brand It Nigeria, and the Abira Foundation.