Join the African Youth Panel (Southern African Youths) #Opportunity

The African Youth Panel is currently recruiting members to join the panel from the Southern African Region. Eligible countries for this round include the following countries; Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho.

Selected members will attend the orientation session during the Southern African Regional Meeting in Zambia scheduled for the 24th-26th October, 2012. The Application deadline has been extended until Monday, 24th Sept, 2012.

For more information concerning the African Youth Panel, Regional Meeting and application procedure, kindly visit:http://africanyouthpanel.org/southernafrica/.

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Do you have an innovation for Africa? Apply for 2013 Innovation Prize for Africa

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Innovation Foundation (AIF) are delighted to announce the call for the 2013 Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA).

Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) is a joint initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Innovation Foundation (AIF) started in 2011. IPA honours and encourages innovative achievements that contribute toward developing new products, increasing efficiency or saving cost in Africa. The prize also promotes among young African men and women the pursuit of science, technology and engineering careers and business applications. Specifically, the award targets technological breakthroughs in such main concern areas as manufacturing and service industry, health and well-being, agriculture and agribusiness, environment, energy and water and ICTs.

IPA aims to:

• mobilize leaders from all sectors to fuel African innovation
• promote innovation across Africa in key sectors of interest through the competition
• promote science, technology and engineering as rewarding, exciting and noble career options among the youth in Africa by profiling successful applicants
• encourage entrepreneurs, innovators, funding bodies and business development service providers to exchange ideas and explore innovative business opportunities.

IPA anticipates contributing to the following outcomes:

• increased commercialization of research and development (R&D) outputs in Africa
• increased funding of start-ups, adoption of new and emerging technologies and accelerated growth of an innovative and dynamic private sector; and
• increased economic activity and African led development that results in lasting impact.

The 2013 IPA will consist of three Prizes below:

• USD100’000 for the best innovator based on marketability, originality, scalability, social impact, utility/technical aspect and clear business potentials
• USD 25000 for the runner-up with the best commercial/business potential and
• USD25’000 for the runner-up with the highest social impact in the community/country.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible are innovations by Africans for Africa.  Africans in the Diaspora can also apply if their innovations are of significance for Africa.

Applicants are required to submit a full description of their innovation for the competition. In addition, a duly completed application form should accompany the entry.  The innovation description should clearly illustrate the social and/or economic outcome and impact with regard to African development and the priority area chosen, and should be in line with the  IPA assessment and selection criteria.

Application forms and description of the innovation should be in English or French. While the innovations can be conducted in any language including local languages, the submissions should be translated into English or French .

Applicants are required to attach a letter of support/endorsement from an institution or an authority with knowledge of their innovation. This will serve as a testimony of how important the innovation is in addressing development challenges faced by Africans.

Are you interested in this prize? Fill the online application form here. 

Deadline is 30th October, 2012. Goodluck!

Source: MDGs In Africa

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Participate in ‘Promoting Youth-centred activities in raising awareness and mobilising public support for Food Security and Livelihoods Protection’

Do you know that small holder farmers produce about 70% of food consumed in Nigeria and their average age is 60 years?

According to a report by the National Economic Summit Group (NESG), the average age of small scale women and men farmers that grow 70% of the food consumed in Nigeria is 60 years. Going by the statistics, it therefore becomes pertinent that there is an urgent need to continually assist these farmers in their operations for their optimum production; and also encourage the younger generation to embrace agriculture and its allied services as a viable source of livelihood. This remains the only and sustainable means of reducing the country’s susceptibility to food crisis

Considering the 2011 population pyramid by the National Population Commission and World Bank Growth, 47% of Nigeria’s population is between the ages of 20 and 40. This presents a huge potential resource for the nation which if properly harnessed, portends a solution to developmental issues such as food security and job creation in the country.

In light of this, HEDA Resource Centre through the Voices for Food Security (VFS) campaign (with support fromOXFAM GB) and the Osun State Government through her Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme are implementing a week-long programme titled ‘Promoting Youth-centred activities in raising awareness and mobilising public support for Food Security and Livelihoods Protection’ in Osogbo, Osun State in September. The objectives are to:

1. Increase young people’s voices in campaign for Food Security and protection of small scale farmers (SSFs) livelihoods
2. Increase young people’s access agricultural information and awareness on empowerment opportunities available in the agric sector
3. Influence positive perception of agriculture among young people

This programme will include among other knowledge impacting activities, a seminar to sensitize young people on Climate Change and threats to food production; a tour to agricultural institutes and farm projects in Lagos, Oyo and Osun States to expose participants to the agricultural value-chain and an advocacy visit and interaction with parliamentarians to seek support for small scale farmers. The advocacy component will be complemented with the participation of some of Africa’s young musical icons.

Criteria for applications:

Interested applicants must be:

1)       An internet savvy young person (male and female)

2)       Residents of Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos States.

3)       Passion for agriculture/ food production matters

4)       Willing to learn about agriculture value chain and/or how to earn a decent living from it.

5)       Willing to help improve the earnings and welfare of millions of small holder Women and Men farmers across Nigeria.

In addition to all these, prospective participants should also be team players, committed to the project, disciplined, motivated, dedicated and active in one or more social networking media platforms.

Also, the trip holds second week of October (7th-13th); when applying, your availability during that week is paramount.

To be a part of this programme, an online application form is available for completion and submission at this link:

http://tinyurl.com/czsob93

NOTE: Spaces are limited and the deadline for application is 18:00hrs on Tuesday, September 25, 2012. Successful applicants will be duly notified and further details on participation provided by Friday, September 30, 2012.

For further inquiries and information, please contact:

Adeola Abodunrin

Project Officer,

Tel: 08034190027, 08050923259

Email: adeolatinuke@gmail.com, hedanigeria@gmail.com

Source:http://www.hedang.org/?p=450

You may also click here

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Governance: Youth, Ethics and Globalization by Dipo Mohammed

In determining the success of any society, ethical conduct is of utmost importance. In a universal thought, these ethical conducts must be of good nature after all, human beings are most times expectant that in their own different definitions, only the positive should happen to them and the law of nature as is mostly believed connotes that if one does a good deed, the same fate will come back to him or her. Thus, the onus is on us all to have good character. However, it is ironic to note that while hoping for the positive, some individuals would only portray actions that may have a positive impact on themselves but negative impact on others. For keen observers of the Nigerian society vis -a -vis leadership, it may seem quite easy to come to conclusion that some of our politicians are corrupt.

As true as this may sound, there are unanswered questions pertaining to followership. These questions are even more important for those of us who hope to occupy political seats one day. Apparently, I am referring to the youth. I am also a Nigerian youth in the category of those who believe they are leaders but from my observations and interaction with others, I have discovered that for many of these complainants to become saints, they need to do a lot of repair work on themselves.

According to its dictionary meaning, “Character” is all the qualities and features that make a person, groups of people and places different from others”. In every aspect of our life, family, religion or business, people see character as being very important. Character is most times the very first factor that people get related with when they are thought of. “Good” is an extensive concept that has to do with what we get from life and has to deal with joy, happiness as well as love while “bad” has to do with a deliberate effort of inflicting negativity on people’s emotions. In view of this, a “good character” is one that the end result affects not only the doer in a positive way but people that surround him or her.

In every aspect of human existence, there is the necessity for the creation of social structure. This structure, when created should provide a direction towards how our lives can be organised otherwise, a repulsive effect that may lead to misunderstanding would occur thus our social institutions must be worked on to become even more effective than what they are today. In our present day globalized world, the individual gets acquainted to the globalized mechanism of communication coming from the internet, television, Radio and magazines. This communication could come to an individual for different end results such as in entertainment or business. Here, the focus of the business owners is profit thus little care is given towards the influence the content of programmes may have on the character of the receiver or consumer. But there need to be laid down mechanisms to ensure the survival of character because actions that used to be seen as vices now seem as  virtue and well accepted by the society. Young people today take negative actions finding it difficult to blame themselves but easy to put it all on their leaders when they do the same. One can wonder what will become of them should they find themselves in leadership positions later in life.

Humans are attracted to things that have value thus the question should be asked, “Do humans still value good character? The answer is “yes”, humans still value good character in the globalization age and they understand that without it, not much can be achieved. When good character is talked about, people most times refer to elements like honesty, truthfulness and obedience. The fore mentioned are part of the few that helps to move the world forward whenever they are displayed for the good of the individual and others. People are concerned about having good character because it would help their reputation. The different thoughts of today’s youth have been the result of the different orientations they have gotten from various spheres. One would compare the ethical conduct of the 21^st century youth and that of the 20^th century and may not be amazed by the huge difference and where one’s preference will fall. No amazement because the effect of globalization on character hasn’t taken this much toll at the time. Of course, globalization has its own positive effects, my concern is how much on our ethical conduct and how societies are dealing with the issue.   In view of this, we must understand certain notions in our bid to analyzing the possibility that character has to surviving in our society in relation to globalization.

The laid down mechanisms earlier pointed out would be looked at one after the other. The first is the “role of the family” in the globalized age. Compared to what we used to have, the essence of the family in the society is almost fading out thus the role of the family in shaping individual’s character needs to be improved upon. The media seem to be doing more of the family’s work and question of whether it is done right or wrong is entirely a different issue. This could pose as challenging because more than the family, media mechanisms are doing the job of teaching people what is right or wrong however, these teachings are in the context of what the media wants people to believe and this most times is not necessarily the truth. Secondly, institutions also need to improve on their lot in orientating young people on character and not as it is often seen on success. They need to be made to understand that  a preamble to being a success is good character. 

Dipo Mohammed is a philosophy undergraduate of the University of Lagos

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Commonwealth Scholarships And Fellowship Plan (CSFP) 2013-2014; Apply

The Honourable Minister of Education, Prof. (Mrs) Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i hereby invites application from qualified Nigerian University graduates to participate in the 2013 selection interview of the postgraduate Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) awards tenable in the United Kingdom. These awards may be in any of the following categories:

(i) One year taught masters courses or equivalent degrees
(ii) Six months of enhancing clinical skills in medicine or dentistry.
(iii) Doctoral degrees, & up to three years duration. (You may be nominated to undertake extensive periods of fieldwork in Nigeria).
(iv) One year research on a split-site basis, towards a PhD registered at a university in Nigeria.

2 Important Notes:
a) Entry Qualification is Minimum of First Degree, Second Class Upper Division (2:i)

b) Completion of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) by November, 2012.

c) For enhancing clinical skills in the fields of medicine and dentistry, must have qualified, as a doctor or dentist between 1st October, 2003 and 30th September, 2008. Please see http://bit.ly/cscuk-apply

d) Please do not be ‘in a hurry to complete the EAS form until you are satisfied with the following information on:

i) http://bit.ly/cscuk-apply for prospectus and a link to the Electronic Application System (EAS). Complete and submit the EAS form online on or before 20 November, 2012. Print four (4) copies of the EAS to be submitted during the interview

(ii) http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/./apply for details of programmes.

(iii) www.csfp-online.org for information on commonwealth Scholarships offered .by other Commonwealth Countries.

(e) It is advisable to secure admission in the U.K in minimum of two (2) and maximum of three (3) institutions from the list of institutions having agreement with Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC).

(f) Candidates selected by the Commission may be required to provide evidence of a particular level of English training.

g) You are encouraged to address the general priorities of DFID in your proposal and demonstrate a link of these to the development priorities of Nigeria, viz:
Education
Health
Economic Growth and the Private Sector
Governance and Conflict
Climate and Environment
Water and Sanitation
Food and Nutrition
Humanitarian Disasters and Emergencies


h) Get double assurances from your required three (3) Referees that they would, not disappoint you in terms of prompt response before the interview. Obtain their e-mail addresses.


i) Candidates for Doctoral studies must have a supporting statement from at least one (1) UK Supervisor.


j) Candidates for split-site Doctoral studies must have a supporting statement from Home supervisor as well as from the UK supervisor.

3. Candidates are required to upload a scanned passport- size photograph, transcript, birth certificate, and any offer letter received from a UK institution they listed, in their application forms.

4. Applications will be graded on the following criteria:

the academic merit
the likely development impact that a candidate will have after the award
the quality of study plan

5. Ability to adhere strictly to the important notes above, and complete successfully the EAS form is a major requirement to make the Pre-selection list for interview, and the final nomination.

CLOSING DATE
Please note that the interview is tentatively scheduled to take place in Abuja between 3rd -7th December, 2012. Approved Interview Schedule will be published in October, 2012

Method of Application
All further enquiries on this exercise should be made to the Director/Secretary of the Federal Scholarship Board via: fsbfsb2011@gmail.com

H.U. Abdullahi (Mrs.)
Director, Federal Scholarship Board
Announcer.

Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Scholarship Board
Plot 245, Samuel Ademulegun Street, (Opposite Arewa Suites),
Central Business District, Abuja – Nigeria

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