Friday, 23 August 2013

Nigerian Blog shortlisted for prestigious UN Youth Award

I congratulate my brother and friend, Biodun Awosusi and his team at MDGs in Africa as the blog is shortlisted for the World Summit Youth Awards.

Hundreds of digital projects compete for the annual World Summit Youth Award. MDGs in Africa founded by Nigerian medical doctor, Biodun Awosusi, is one of 60 that are still in the race for the three-days Winners’ Event in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Abuja/Salzburg, August 22, 2013

MDG in Africa met the high demands of the online jury and enters the next round of the World Summit Youth Award (WSYA) 2013 in the category Pursue Truth. This global contest is dedicated to young developers who employ digital technologies to turn the United Nations Millennium Development Goals into action. Now MDGs in Africa competes against 59 websites, apps and other innovative youth projects. If it withstands critical inspection by a jury of internationally renowned ICT-experts, an invitation to Colombo, Sri Lanka, awaits the producer.


According to Biodun Awosusi, creator of MDGs in Africa, “MDGs in Africa is a powerful advocacy tool that provides quality information and success stories of the millennium development goals in Africa. It is a very useful database with summary reports on the progress being made by African countries and development partners (including our partner- Gates Foundation) towards eradication of poverty and hunger, improving access to quality education, female empowerment and reducing the burden of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.”
He added, “Winning the WSYA award will contribute immensely to the realization of our vision of creating the number one information hub on development for Africa even after the millennium development goals expire in 2015. This will be useful for young advocates and other stakeholders to monitor progress and demand implementation of sustainable projects from their governments. We are glad the journey has begun already”

If the project succeeds, its creator will win a trip to Colombo for the WSYA Winners’ Event 2013, October 24-26. This price offers more than just an opportunity to explore the biggest city of the tropical island with its aquamarine waters and pristine shores. At one of the globally most important events for young ICT-developers, the next generation of IT-pioneers will have the chance to present their project in front of a high-level audience, including business leaders from the multimedia sector and creative industry, representatives of politics and NGOs and many more.
"For me the WSYA was like a bridge between young, creative people on one side and experienced people that have worked a long time in these fields on the other", says Darko Bozhinoski from Macedonia, who won the WSYA 2012 in the category Go Green! for his project 'Climate for Children'. Besides unique network opportunities, the event-agenda features workshops, seminars and keynote sessions dealing with the most important topics of the future. The absolute highlight of the event is the Award Ceremony and Gala at which the WSYA winners will be honored.

The six categories of the World Summit Youth Award:
Fight Poverty, Hunger and Disease!
Education for All!
Power 2 Women!
Create your Culture!
Go Green!
Pursue Truth!
MDGs in Africa is nominated in Pursue Truth.

About the World Summit Youth Award (WSYA)
The WSYA is an annual award and a network for young people, under 30 years of age, using the Internet, mobile phones or other digital media to put the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) into action. The MDGs were set in 2000 by the UN to prompt member states and civil society to fight poverty, hunger and disease, inequalities, lack of education and environmental degradation.

Find more information:


Media Contact MDGs in Africa:
Biodun Awosusi
Founder, MDGs in Africa
+2348061140561

Media Contact World Summit Youth Award:
Angel Chacon
Project Assistant, World Summit Youth Award
0043-660-630408-6

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