Welcome to The Future

This month's TARUWA special is themed ' tHe FuTuRe'. It promises to be a lovely event you wouldn't want to miss. Future greats will be very much in the house; musicians, writers, poets, spoken word artists, moguls et all.

All write ups and spoken word presentations should be centered around the future of Nigeria as compared to what it is today.
Anyone interested in performing should send their names as soon as they can to 08036621897, and performance confirmation shall be given to chosen artists.
Please remember we are KAATing (Kicking Against African Time), plus limited seats are available for y'all.
See you soon!

The organisers and selected winners of The Future Awards recently met with all the key government officials in charge of youth matters in the country when they paid a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Vice President, Dr. 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.
The delegation was led by Dr. Reuben Abati, chairman of The Guardian Editorial Board as well as chairman of The Future Awards Independent Audit Committee. Dr. Abati, after expressing the regrets of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Prof. Pat Utomi, who was initially billed to be at the meeting, introduced the project and its organisers. He mentioned that the organisers started this project when they were all under the age of 20 – the youngest of them was even 17 – and they have grown from strength to strength. You would be proud of them.”
The 5th edition of The Future Awards is presented by HiTV and RedSTRAT, with support from the Federal Ministry of Youth and the International Finance Corporation. It is the flagship platform under The Future Project, Nigeria, which is an umbrella of projects and programmes that seeks to inspire hope in young Nigerians, direct them to work for change and to add practical value to society.
After an introduction of the idea by its Creative Director, Chude Jideonwo; the PR Director for the Awards, Emilia Asim-Ita, briefed Dr. Jonathan on the plans for this year. She spoke about the town hall meetings in 8 states, as well as the UK and Ghana in October and November, the awards’ relationships with international organisations and other countries, and its other outreach projects like The Future Enterprise Support Scheme (TF-ESS), The Future Mentorship Programme, The “Do Something” Conferences and The Future TakeAction, amongst others.
The Vice President, who has shown something of a soft spot for The Future Awards having sent a representative for its 2008 edition, as well as helping the awards open a relationship with the Ministry of Youth, noted his admiration for the work that it is doing to present a new face for Nigeria. “This is the true way to re-brand the country,” he said. “Because you cannot say you are re-branding and not have the youth in the forefront. We need to show the world that all those negative news that goes around is not representative of Nigerians. I promise you the support of my office through the Ministry of Youth."
After the visit, the town hall meetings began in earnest that evening – where young people in Abuja were told about the award categories, the nomination process, and this year’s judges, amongst others. Amidst performances by some of Abuja’s hottest singers and comedians, including Lindsey, Yoye, El Nathan and The Governor, the campaign theme for this year’s season “I represent Naija” was also presented, with its TV/radio promos, and the merchandise.
Last year’s Business Owner of the Year (Mosunmola Umoru), Style Entrepreneur of the Year (Uche Nnaji), Magazine of the Year (Ace, whose publisher is Bukunyi Olateru-Olagbegi) and Screen producer of the year (Onye Ubanatu) winners also spoke about all the work they have been doing with the awards over the past year, especially the School Seminars, amongst others. “The opportunity to share my story with other young people and to see their earnest reaction made my heart glow,” Ms. Umoru told the guests. The event held at JB’s Place, Maitama Amusement Park.
“This is first phase of the town hall meeting in Abuja; for young people that control processes and wield a measure of influence in their sectors,” said Chude Jideonwo. “What we are working towards is a ripple effect. When we interact with these youth leaders, they become ambassadors and spread the word to the young people they employ or work with. The second phase is in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Youth – and will involve a mass of more young people, especially students.”
Guests included broadcasters Tyeng Gang, Chioma Chuka, Alu Azege, Bennie Arc; advocacy professionals Linus Okorie, Ohimai Amaize, Alkassim Abdulkadir; convener of the Sardauna Awards, Hassan Rilwan, PR consultant, Ijeoma Okeagu, amongst others. It was held in conjunction with Chocolate City and naijaborn.com.
The organisers and winners also went on a blitz of media interviews in the nation’s capital, and then went on to the town hall meetings in Zaria, Kaduna, courtesy of HiTV. The organisers also visited youth events - altogether speaking to about 1000 young people.
The town hall meetings now move to Yola in Adamawa State and Enugu in Enugu State. Nominations are still ongoing at www.thefuturenigeria.com – with categories including Best Use of Science, Best Use of Technology and Excellence in Public Service. The awards hold on the 7th of February 2010.

Apart from talking about Nigeria when we go on our town hall meetings across 8 states, and getting quality nominations from different parts of the country, we also want to uncover and promote new talent that should take Naija by storm!

SO, as we go from state to state, we will looking for 6 talented artists from each geo-political zone of the country who will be part of a Nigeria @ 50 commemorative CD titled “I Represent Naija”.
The CD will feature 6 popular artistes and then the 6 selected upcoming artistes from all over the country. They also get a chance to perform at the awards in February.
Competitions for this august event will be held at our town hall meetings in Abuja , Kaduna , Adamawa, Enugu , Osun, Portharcourt, Calabar, Asaba and Benin .
If you are an upcoming artiste or you know an upcoming artiste whose talent is just FANTASTIC, send the name, location and phone number to info@thefuturenigeria.com and title the mail “I Represent Naija competition”
When we get to your state, you will show us what you’ve got. Send your details NOW, as the town hall meetings are starting in a matter of days!

 

Every once in a while, some people step up to us – we call them professional cynics – and say: how can The Future Awards be celebrating Nigeria? What is there to celebrate? We should be protesting, we should be mourning; there’s nothing to be happy about! And we tell them: you obviously haven’t been paying attention.
How can you say there is nothing to celebrate when you look around Nigeria?
True, many times, our nation can confound us. Our politics is essentially warped, which is putting it mildly, and our economy is, to put it simply, a disgrace. We do not have a coherent sense of identity, and outside the country, we are not invited to meetings where nations that matter sit. If the point wasn’t clear enough, not only did President Obama ignore the country months ago, his secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, came over here and drove the point home.
Talking about young people, as we speak, schools across Lagos are on strike. Lagos state primary and secondary school teachers have accused the government of insensitivity. In Edo State, the governor, a former labour leader himself ,is yet to resolve a strike with lecturers, and across the nation university students have been at home for more than 13 weeks.

And, for heaven’s sake, why do we still have no light?
So, yes, things have fallen apart. Yes, there is plenty to mourn.
But listen, out of all this rot, last year we found young people like Mosunmola Umoru, a young farmer who, when we checked her books, has gone through some frustrating challenges, enough to make anybody give up, but has continued to build a viable agricultural business that made her a Goldman Sachs scholar – she won for Business Owner of the Year. We found an Emmanuel Etim, who, from a small office in Surulere sponsoring the education of one or two young people, has now begun to consult for the United Nations and the Africa Union – he won for Best Use of Advocacy. And then, from a small shop on the Lagos Island, Uche Nnaji is opening up two new fashion OUCHlets – he won for Style Entrepreneur of the Year. These are only a few examples. All of these done without stealing a kobo, without government contracts, without a family fortune to dip into. And you say we should not celebrate them?

We cannot be fixated on government. Many societies have been regenerated outside of government, and in spite of destructive politics. Nigerians have to focus on the pockets of change going on everywhere else; to acknowledge them, to sustain them and to form a network of positive, change-oriented activity.

Because the more you acknowledge and celebrate those small, steady steps, the more you are able to sustain them. And the more you sustain them, the more you are able to build an army of young Nigerians who create enough value to have the confidence to do what is right. A confidence that can only come from socio-economic security.
But you see, instead of understanding and keying into this positive, unstoppable movement – many choose to belittle it, even to attack it.
The young Nigeria is unfairly, and sometimes deliberately, misunderstood. When he says he is Naija for instance, some people say it is frivolous. They would rather call the generation unserious – even mis-directed. Even though, like musician Banky W eloquently said early in the year, we are a generation that had to learn even when there was no one to teach us. Like roses among thorns, we grew even when there was no one to support us.
When Banky W sings about the indomitable spirit of the Nigerian, they say he is only screaming ‘Ebute Metta’. When the Rooftop MCs sing of achievement and humility, they only hear ‘e la gi mo’ (break his head). When DJ Zeez says 4kasibe, they don’t see that, like TV presenter Funmi Iyanda says, the young man is asking that you apply your energy into a pursuit until you break through, and when 9ice begins to ‘spit’ – they don’t understand the swagger and the confidence he speaks of; The sefl-affirmation that tells the young Nigerians that he (or she) can do just about anything he sets his heart on.
It is the same way they see Wande Coal and only hear his song ‘Lepa too bad’. But Wande also spoke about the Nigeria of his dreams.
In the very second track on his first album, he spoke of a time when you were proud to be Nigerian. Of a time when there was education, when there was employment, when there was healthcare. But now, ‘everything don dabaru’.
How can we get back to that time? A time when there was hope, when there was faith, when we had confidence in our nation? When you could go outside the country and not be gripped with trepidation whenever you get to immigration even though you did nothing wrong? When we didn’t have to queue at the embassies until we are about to faint. How can we proud of Nigeria once again?
Well, we are here to tell you that that time is almost here.
Every other week, the likes of D’banj and Psquare and Basketmouth are creating jobs for Nigerians across the world, performing at sold out concerts and generating income that comes back home. Across the continent, actresses like Omotola and Rita Dominic and others are being celebrated as African heroes. The likes of Temidayo Israel and Emmanuel Etim are criss-crossing the world, engaging institutions and world leaders. Our last Model of the Year, Olubunmi Ademokoya, just got signed in New York, and our models are the in thing in Jo’burg. Asa performs from Japan to Cambodia, Qudus Onikeku dances from Paris to Ethiopia. They can see world leaders and stand up to them – because there is no shallowness and corruption to make them ashamed. They enter embassies and speak with the confidence that Nigerians once used to have. These young people are conquering the world and re-branding the country.
Ladies and gentlemen, THEY are presenting a new face of Nigeria.
They are presenting that newness, that freshness, that brightness that we young people now call Naija. And we represent that Naija.
So if you say there is nothing to celebrate, we say to you that you don’t know what’s up. And that is what The Future Awards has set out to do – to show you what’s up.
You either go with the flow, or we will leave you behind. Nobody can stop my generation. Ladies and gentlemen, dem no reach!

Thank you. And God bless Naija.

*This speech was given by Chude Jideonwo at the launch of The Future Awards Season 5 on the eve of Nigeria’s 49th Independent Anniversary, in Lagos. www.thefuturenigeria.com

Finally, the season 4 of The Future Awards came to an end on September 30 and the new season was launched. The event slated to start at 5pm at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island started with a red carpet/cocktail interview. The media was all around to interview guests. Celebrities like Tosyn Bucknor of Top FM Radio, Funke Bucknor-Obruthe of Zapphaire Events, Iyanya of MTN Project Fame, Kola Osinowo, Julius Agwu, Lami Opere among others were all on the Red Carpet.
The event proper kicked off with the DJ taking guests back in the days with old Naija beats. Ibiyemi,the new sensational singer on the block started the programme with a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.
The MCs' of the event, Shade Ladipo and Andre Blaze of Nigezie welcomed guests and took time out to appreciate the sponsors and supporters of The Future Awards.
An experimenting and scattering performance was given by the RoofTop MCs. It was indeed a wonderful experience.
The Marketing and PR Director of RedSTRAT Communications (organisers of The Future Awards) came up to deliver a speech on the journey of TFA '09 so far. She talked about the road shows which was done in different states in Nigeria and also Ghana and UK. She said the Season 4 of TFA was the best they have had so far and they expect it to be even bigger this coming Season 5.
A post humour award was awarded to Gani Fawehinmi and a minute of silence was given in respect of His Soul.
Eugene W. Taylor, one of the speakers at The Platform a program put together by The Covenant Christian Centre came on stage to give an inspirational talk. He came all the way from Mississippi and this happens to be his first time in Nigeria. He gave a short but deep speech stating that he never went to college and yet he had 3.4million dollars and happened to be the youngest African American to enter the stock market at 27.
The Creative Director, Chude Jideonwo gave a speech on the theme of TFA 2010 'I represent Naija'. In his speech, he said 'Young Nigerians are misunderstood; there are actually many reasons to celebrate the Youth'. He stated the damages that have been made to Nigeria and gave measures that should be made to make The Future of Nigeria a better one.
Iyanya, MTN Project Fame Winner also took the stage and gave a wonderful performance of his hit song-Truly Love you.
Mosunmola Umoru(TFA 09 Business Owner of the year) and Uche Nnaji(TFA 09 Style Entrepeneur of the year) both spoke on the TFA experience, the impact it had made on their lives n business and the amount of exposure it brought their way. For Mosunmola, the award was a thing of glory for she and her staff, it helped them see that their efforts were not in vain. For Uche Nnaji (Ouch!), it was also a well deserved glory and he even plans on opening his third Ouchlet in some few days.
The LightUp Nigeria Crew was also on ground and a representative spoke on the purpose of The LightUp Nigeria campaign. She said the group was formed by Young Nigerians tired of the PHCN situation, tired of spending money on fuel and diesel. In their words, All we need is light, give us some light, LightUp Nigeria! Lighters were raised as the guests agreed to this campaign.
The final sign out note on the event was done by Mr. Capable himself, alongside WhizKid the new n coolest kid in the industry. He got the whole hall on fire with his performance; he really ended the event with a banging performance.
The event came to an end at this point, The Future Awards Season 5 was declared open and guests were asked to start nominating by visiting http://www.thefuturenigeria.com/!
#thefutureawards #irepresentnaija'