Welcome to The Future

(Newsletter, November 2009)

Something’s about to happen!

We have prizes for you on our website!!!

We want you to visit our website, and get new updates, find out what’s hot for young people in Nigeria , read our blogs (our bloggers include TV presenter Ebuka Obi Uchendu, Abuja City Crawler Ijeoma Okeagu and the sensational Nki’ru. Njoku), take part in our hot, hot polls, and do the other fun stuff! So we have designed a competition 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! www.thefuturenigeria.com!

Has The Future Awards affected your life in any way?

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 has renewed your faith in Nigeria, inspired you to start or finish 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 our Communications Coordinator on 08022226712. It doesn’t have to be well written or long – just tell it the
way you feel it!

Coming to a city near you!

The national tour for the awards started in October, and we have visited about 5 cities (details are below,), but still to come in November are the town hall meetings in London in the United Kingdom (at the University of East London) on the 18th, Johannesburg (in partnership with naijaborn.com) on the 28th, South Africa, and three more states left in Nigeria to visit: so you’ll see us in Ile-Ife, Benin and Calabar. Check The Future Awards group for more info!

We are looking for talented singers outside Lagos !

We are still looking for talented singers in the states we are yet to visit, so if you are in any of these states and you want to be part of our commemorative CD for Nigeria at 50 titled ‘I represent Naija’, then send us a mail at info@thefuturenigeria.com! The 6 selected artistes will feature alongside 6 of Nigeria ’s top talents. The CDs will be distributed across the country, and the video will be banging

We need your help!

We need you to help us spread the word! So help us plug the nominations info on your Facebook and Twitter updates for at least a week. Don’t forget to also add #irepresentnaija. You could have a general message like: “I am Eyitayo Aiyejumoh, and ‘I represent Naija’, visit www.thefuturenigeria.com to make your nominations today”. And please get your friends to join the group The Future Project! Just add 5 friends to the group and we’ll be fine! Spread the word also through your blogs, websites, and forums. Let’s power this movement for change!

You can still join the enterprise trainings!

If you want to join The Future Enterprise Support Scheme (TF-ESS) and get practical useful tips that can help your creativity and business, as well as intern in wave-making outfits and companies in your field, we still have openings, but they close at the end of November so register NOW!!! Lecturers include Tara Fela-Durotoye (CEO, House of Tara), Bukola Adubi (Executive Director, Miccom Gold Resorts), Bamidele Odufuye (Best Use of Technology 2009) Uche Nnaji (CEO, Ouch!), the Fate Foundation, the After School Development Consult (AGDC), amongst others. Registration costs N5000 ONLY for the 6 month programme! Please call our Communications Coordinator on 08022226712 if you are want to be part of this priceless opportunity. Note that you cannot apply after November.

Of science and service!

The Future Awards is still looking for nominations for the category of Best Use of science. This year, for the first time ever in its five-year history we introduced the category for Best Use of Science and Excellence in Public Service categories. So if you know any young people who are doing very well in government service – teachers, politicians etc – and young people in physics, chemistry and biology fields who are doing fantastic work, nominate them before the 30th of November on www.thefuturenigeria.com! Nominations end on the 30th of November.

You can still volunteer!

Volunteers are still welcome to join us. You can also be a campus representatives or state coordinator. After December, there will be no more entry for volunteers. Note again that, from January, we will not accept any more volunteers. So volunteer BEFORE November 30! Remember that if you volunteer, you can be part of the TF-ESS programme for free. Send a mail to volunteer@thefuturenigeria.com or call our Communications Coordinator on 08022226712.

Get branded “I represent Naija” tshirts and blazers!

Have you seen the coolest young people ROCKING them??! Our ‘I represent Naija’ tees and stickers have sold widely across Nigeria . The first batch t-shirts are SOLD OUT! And now a new batch of the t-shirts from our partner Clemas are out! They are branded with messages like ‘I represent Naija’, ‘I represent Nigeria ’ and ‘I am the future’. 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 Cobhams promo hits the airwaves!

We’ve been hitting you hard with the delightful #irepresentnaija promos that feature Jenifa star, Funke Akindele who was Actor of the Year 2009 and the Business Owner of the Year 2009 winner, Mosunmola Umoru. On the 1st of November, we launched a new one! Cobhams Asuquo, LIVE, telling you how he conquered the natural and manmade challenges in his way. It’s beautiful. You can see it on our blog thefuturenigeria.blogspot.com.

Catch us on radio and TV!

Also, the promos and more can be seen on television on STV, HiSoccer, HiNolly, Nigezie, Channels TV, Moments with Mo (NTA Network), Views & Tunes and Excite TV. The radio promos are on Rhythm Fm, Inspiration FM, Cool FM, Wazobia FM, Beat FM, and Hot FM. Other media partners include NEXT, Encomium, Genevieve, TW, Bellanaija.com, Ladybrille.com, Notjuskok.com, Exquisite, Acada and The Applause!

Become a project partner!

If you belong to any fellowship, club, association, youth church or youth religious group, campus group or any other gathering of young people and you want us to come talk about The Future Awards or you want to partner with us in any way, please send a mail tagged ‘Partner’ to thefuturenigeria@yahoo.com or info@thefuturenigeria.com or just call our Communications Coordinator on 08022226712. We want to work with you.

Plugging one for Yvent Kouture

One of our proud partners, Yvent Couture (its founder, Debola Lewis was finalist for Business Owner of the Year last year) is staging an entrepreneurship event tagged ‘Facing the Giants’, an intensive training seminar organised to equip young Nigerians with key skills that will ensure success in the practice of the business of events management - with the major focus on events decoration. It is a 2 day interactive, skill acquisition and practical seminar. It is scheduled to hold on Sat Nov. 21; 8am - 4pm and Sunday Nov. 22nd; 1pm - 5pm. To register, go to Facebook and search for ‘Facing the Giants’. It’ll be massive, trust us!

What went down in the past month!

The glitzy launch

The Future Awards Season 5 was launched on Sep 30, 2009 at Terra Kulture, Lagos . It was a fine mix of the best entertainment (Banky W, Rooftop MCs, the works) and brilliance (The ‘who says there is nothing to celebrate’ speech by Chude Jideonwo, which you should check out on the website, and the talk by US motivational speaker, Eugene Taylor). Guests were briefed on the accomplishments of the last season, the new categories, the new website, the judging process and all other details were declared open. It was a star-studded, fun night!

Meeting Mr. Vice President

The organisers and selected winners of The Future Awards met with all the key government officials in charge of youth matters in the country when they invited to the presidential villa, Aso Rock, in October, to meet with Vice President Goodluck Jonathan! Also present at the meeting were the Minister for Youth Development, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi and the Senior Special Adviser to the Vice President on Youth, Mrs. Morenike Soyinka-Onijala. Dr. Reuben Abati, who is chairman of The Guardian Editorial Board as well as chairman of The Future Awards Independent Audit Committee, led the delegation that went for the visit. The Vice President, who was very impressed, pledged his full support for the project.

Breezing through Abuja , Kaduna , Yola and Enugu

The Abuja town hall meeting happened that same evening at JB’s Place, Maitama Amusement Park . In attendance were some of the brightest, prominent young people in Abuja . Some of Abuja ’s hottest singers and comedians also performed and then 4 past winners of the awards shared their experiences. There were intense discussions about Nigeria , and then the award categories, the nomination process, and this year’s judges, amongst others, were unveiled. The campaign theme for this year’s season “I represent Naija” was also presented, with its TV/radio promos, and the merchandise. From there, the team moved the national tour to Yola in Adamawa State , Kaduna and Port Harcourt . Apart from our own events, we also visited other youth events, clubs, organisations and others in these states as part of the town hall idea.

Taking it outside Nigeria

The Future Awards last year visited the United Kingdom for its town meeting, this year it is stretching to three countries, and the first one happened in Accra , Ghana . It was held in conjunction with the Nigerian High Commissioner, with the High Commissioner, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, sending a representative. The event held at the Shangrila Hotel, with an overflowing hall of young Nigerians living, working and schooling in Ghana , as well as a mix of Ghanaian youth. Also present was Screen Producer of the Year winner, Onye Ubanatu. Ghana rocked!

Empowering the youth - practically!

After three years in the works, the first session of The Future Enterprise Support Scheme (TFESS), a training and mentorship series, kicked off on 17 October, 2009. TFESS’s objective is to give young people intensive trainings that will cover entrepreneurship and creativity every six months. Also included will be two-month internship/mentorship program with selected winners and associates of The Future Awards. The trainings kicked off on Oct 17th 2009 and trainers include Mosunmola Umoru (Business Owner of the year 2009), the FATE Foundation, Bamidele Odufuye, Tara Fela-Durotoye (Young Person of the Year 2008), Uche Nnaji (Style Entrepreneur of the Year 2009), Detoun Ogwo (MD, AGDC), amongst others. This year, the training is focused primarily on our volunteers, for whom it’s free, but 20% of the space is available for non- volunteers for a fee. Call our Communications Coordinator on 08022226712 if you want to be part of this priceless opportunity!

We thank you very much for reading this and 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

For the first time in its five-year history, The Future Awards, called Nigeria’s biggest youth event, has introduced a Best Use of Science Category in addition to its Best Use of Technology category that has over the years produced technology innovators, advocates and entrepreneurs like United Nations IT Ambassador ‘Gbenga Sesan.

Announcing the category, its Creative Director, Chude Jideonwo, said “For many years, what we have done is try to mirror the breakthroughs that young people have made in different fields and to sustain them. However, this year we decided we have gotten to a level where we can take this further and stimulate activity in the field of science as well as draw attention, and ultimately support, to that small random army of young Nigerians across the country who are working in spite of the debilitating lack of structure in science - with innovation or invention.”

Nominations for the awards kicked off on the 1st of October and will continue till the 30th of November. Nominees must be Nigerian citizens and must be aged 18 – 31. If you want to nominate anyone, all you need to do is go to the website www.thefuturenigeria.com, click the ‘Nominate’ link and fill in information about the nominees’ work and why you think he/she should win.

According to the website, explaining the broad criteria for this category, “Word out there is that there are not a long people interested in science, and with our academic environment seemingly wired against development in science, it is difficult to find young people with solid achievement in this area. But we don’t agree: under the broad categories of physics, chemistry and biology, we know there are a critical number of young Nigerians who are advancing impressive, practical innovations that can compare with the best around the world. This might also involve innovation or entrepreneurship in science.”

Other categories for the Awards this year include Best Use of Advocacy, Actor of the Year, Best Use of Technology, Business Owner of the Year, Comedian of the Year, Creative Artist of the Year, Journalist of the Year, Magazine of the Year, Model of the Year, Musician of the Year, Music Producer of the Year, On-air Personality of the Year (Radio), On-air Personality of the Year (TV), Professional of the Year, Screen Producer of the Year, Sportsperson of the Year, Team of the Year, the biggest for Young Person of the Year, and a new category fort Excellence in Public Service.

“We are also beaming the search light on public service,” Jideonwo said in explaining the Excellence in Public Service category. “Again, for the same purpose as the Best Use of Science. Our awards seek to encourage young people to think of ideas outside of government, outside of convention and to add value that way. However, we acknowledge that it is counter-productive to ignore government, and it will be helpful if we have people in public service who have integrity, believe in productivity and apply new modern thinking to problem solving. Those are the kind of young people we want under the Excellence in Public Service category. Please go to www.thefuturenigeria.com.”