APPLY: Code4Impact Program

As a means of empowering and encouraging the involvement of more female folks in the male dominated field of engineering profession, the HACEY initiative in partnership with Tech4Dev has opened application for CODE4IMPACT PROGRAM.

The application is opened to female students aged 18-24 in tertiary institutions (Lagos only). Code4Impact Program is an experiential learning program that builds digital literacy, especially coding and analytical skills in female students.

With funds provided by the US Mission in Nigeria, the HACEY Initiative is set to create community impact solutions around the new Global Goals.

Interested candidates can apply via Code4Impact Program

FROM PRISON TO PHOTOGRAPHY (Chapter 2)

Glancing through the paper in his hand, he proceeded to ask if I knew 6 other names. At this point, my heart had gotten to my mouth.

It wasn't that I had completely forgotten the names in question; the names were just no longer in my conscious memory.

The date was October 20, 2000. The auction listing I placed on eBay had come to an end. I listed for sale 12 PALM V handhelds at $250 apiece. The retails price for the gadget was $300 so potential buyers knew they were getting a great deal. PALM V was like the release of a new model of iPhone in those days and most gadget-crazed individuals were itching to get one in their hands.

My main reason for selling at a discounted rate was that I needed funds to pay for my school fees. I wanted to desperately relieve my dad of the fees he had paid for me for over 3 years. I would eventually sell the dozen gadgets within 2 days. Within moments, the buyers, including one Christopher Smith, transferred a total of almost $3000 to my Bank of Edwardsville account. I was happy. I was overjoyed.

The truth was that I did not have in my possession any PALM V gadget to mail to any of the 12 buyers. Still, I was confident they'll get the gadget they paid for.

A few days earlier (October 16, 2000), I had met one Michael Jackson on Yahoo Auctions. He claimed to be a distributor of the PALM V gadget, with warehouses in Japan and Canada. He was auctioning them for $150 apiece and I realized I could make some money buying from him at that price and selling to others at a higher price. I realized I could easily make $100 apiece on this breakthrough gadget.

Thinking of those transactions now I've become an ardent believer of that old saying: if it sounds too good to be true, it's probably too good to be true. I would later discover that I was dealing with someone whose name will forever be engraved in my membrane the same way MICHAEL JACKSON (the pop star) was a fan of millions. My life will not be the same.

I ordered a dozen of the gadgets from Michael Jackson and decided to auction them on another website that my company was listed on: eBay. I would later transfer electronically $1800 (from the $3000 I got from the eBay buyers) to my new distributor. I would forward him the addresses of the 12 buyers so he would be responsible for mailing out the gadgets to their respective owners.

I would never forget that moment I clicked the button on my mouse to finalize the transfer. He was happy, I was happy. And I was about to become seriously sad.

5 seconds after I transferred the funds to MICHAEL JACKSON, I got a mail from a Yahoo Auctions seller: "I noticed you were bidding for the PALM V being sold by user michaelj.....I hope you have not paid for them because the guy is a FRAUD."

If I had gotten the mail from that anonymous Samaritan 7 seconds earlier, there's a good chance that things wouldn't have turned out the way it is for me now. If I had gotten that mail earlier, I might not have turned out to be a PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER today.

To be continued ....
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Written by:
Oluwaseun Akisanmi
Photographer |Writer |Poet |Host, NiPHEC

Facebook - Seun Akisami
Twitter - @seunakisanmi
WhatsApp - +2348120129149
Email - seunakisanmi@elophotos.com

NB: This is a non-fictional account of 'Seun Akisanmi's journey from PRISON to PHOTOGRAPHY.

Overcoming Challenges

You have to face it. Challenges are a part of life. The earlier one prepares for them, the better he or she becomes. They sometimes arise outside of your span of control. There are economic, cultural, communication, relationship and financial challenges. In dealing with them, you must be careful not to react but to strategically respond. That response first comes in the mind. Getting troubled by challenges is an additional challenge that brings more trouble.

When you face a challenge, you can ask "what is really the challenge here?"."Is it really a challenge and what kind of challenge is it?". Getting to the root cause is useful in getting an effective solution. Classifying challenges in areas of priority is also crucial to making effective decisions. When the major challenge is solved, a major trouble is averted. You can ask "what can I do to eliminate, reduce or avoid this challenge?". In some other cases, solving small challenges puts one in the frame to solve bigger challenges. Also, challenges have their peculiar nature. Some challenges cannot be eliminated, they can only be reduced. However, appropriate planning and proactive action can help prevent challenges. Sometimes, when some challenges spring up, the best response is to ignore them as addressing them can frustrate the most important tasks that you have outlined.

A master of ceremony scheduled for a wedding reception received a phone call that one of his business equipment had just been stolen. Focusing on the challenge would impair his stage performance and he just prayed to his Creator and went ahead to the event as if nothing had happened. Miraculously, the machine was found far away a day later! Sometimes challenges are present distractions that can impair future outcomes. There is no need making permanent decisions based on temporary circumstances. When challenges get to you, you don't get through where you are meant to go to. Also, it is not all challenges that you must address yourself. You can delegate or hire someone to deal with them and focus on what is most important to you. In some cases, challenges are opportunities; opportunities for growth and creative thinking.

Some people thrive on challenges. Eagles fly on stormy wind. The cheetah's speed is seen in the forest of fast antelopes. Solving challenges is an opportunity for elevation. It is a criteria for recruitment. Fashola is known for turning the challenge of rowdy Lagos to a state with mega city status. Messi's dribbling skills can be shown when defenders are making things difficult. Dangote great by solving Nigeria's dependence on imports. What challenge have you identified? What challenges have you solved? What challenges have you managed to become a better you? You may have just crossed the path of something concrete that can take you somewhere. Your current challenge can well be someone's opportunity. Rather than complaining, get it fixed, controlled or managed. When a challenges begins to weigh you down, you have just discovered a new challenge, you keep moving on and up.

The future is not too far away from those who see themselves there. For those who truly see and desire it, nothing can come between them. See you there!

Written by:
Akintobi Kehinde

Overcoming Challenges

You have to face it. Challenges are a part of life. The earlier one prepares for them, the better he or she becomes. They sometimes arise outside of your span of control. There are economic, cultural, communication, relationship and financial challenges. In dealing with them, you must be careful not to react but to strategically respond. That response first comes in the mind. Getting troubled by challenges is an additional challenge that brings more trouble.

When you face a challenge, you can ask "what is really the challenge here?"."Is it really a challenge and what kind of challenge is it?". Getting to the root cause is useful in getting an effective solution. Classifying challenges in areas of priority is also crucial to making effective decisions. When the major challenge is solved, a major trouble is averted. You can ask "what can I do to eliminate, reduce or avoid this challenge?". In some other cases, solving small challenges puts one in the frame to solve bigger challenges. Also, challenges have their peculiar nature. Some challenges cannot be eliminated, they can only be reduced. However, appropriate planning and proactive action can help prevent challenges. Sometimes, when some challenges spring up, the best response is to ignore them as addressing them can frustrate the most important tasks that you have outlined.

A master of ceremony scheduled for a wedding reception received a phone call that one of his business equipment had just been stolen. Focusing on the challenge would impair his stage performance and he just prayed to his Creator and went ahead to the event as if nothing had happened. Miraculously, the machine was found far away a day later! Sometimes challenges are present distractions that can impair future outcomes. There is no need making permanent decisions based on temporary circumstances. When challenges get to you, you don't get through where you are meant to go to. Also, it is not all challenges that you must address yourself. You can delegate or hire someone to deal with them and focus on what is most important to you. In some cases, challenges are opportunities; opportunities for growth and creative thinking.

Some people thrive on challenges. Eagles fly on stormy wind. The cheetah's speed is seen in the forest of fast antelopes. Solving challenges is an opportunity for elevation. It is a criteria for recruitment. Fashola is known for turning the challenge of rowdy Lagos to a state with mega city status. Messi's dribbling skills can be shown when defenders are making things difficult. Dangote great by solving Nigeria's dependence on imports. What challenge have you identified? What challenges have you solved? What challenges have you managed to become a better you? You may have just crossed the path of something concrete that can take you somewhere. Your current challenge can well be someone's opportunity. Rather than complaining, get it fixed, controlled or managed. When a challenges begins to weigh you down, you have just discovered a new challenge, you keep moving on and up.

The future is not too far away from those who see themselves there. For those who truly see and desire it, nothing can come between them. See you there!

Written by:
Akintobi Kehinde

FROM PRISON TO PHOTOGRAPHY (Non-fiction)

"Can you please follow us to the station to answer a few questions?" The Caucasian campus policeman asked me. A rhetoric question, he wasn't expecting me to refuse his request. Besides, nothing is wrong in answering a few questions at the station especially if you're sure you've not committed any crime.

It was a sunny Tuesday afternoon on June 12, 2001 and I wasn't about to remember it for the special holiday it was known for in Nigeria. I was busy with my daily work routine at my office at 50 Devon Court, Edwardsville Illinois, USA. My internet company, textbooks4less.com was just 9 months old when I heard the sound of the office bell. The policeman coincidentally happened to be one of my friends on campus.

Somewhere in my heart, I sensed this day would come; I just didn't know it was going to be that soon. Without being given an opportunity to shut down my Dell desktop and finish my work in the office, I escorted the courteous policemen to their station downtown Edwardsville.

Sitting nervously in the station, different scenes in "LAW & ORDER" played in my head. It was as if I was about to act out different scripts I had watched in different episodes on tv. I was nervous. I was scared. And little did I know that I was about to end my legal residency in the United States of America.

Within hours I would discover that June 12 wasn't just the birthday of a special lady called LB..... It wasn't just a day to be associated with MKO Abiola..... It was about to go down as the day I would begin my 164 days in 4 prisons in the United States of America. It would go down as a Tuesday afternoon I would never forget for the rest of my life.

I nervously eavesdropped as the 2 policemen that brought me in glanced through a couple of papers while simultaneously whispering to one another before approaching my table. I was nervous. I was scared. No one on earth knew at that moment that I was about to be placed in the custody of the United States government.

"Do you know anyone by the name Christopher Smith?" The courteous policeman asked me. With a heavy heart, I muttered that the name didn't ring a bell.

Glancing through the paper in his hand, he proceeded to ask if I knew 6 other names. At this point, my heart had gotten to my mouth......
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.to be continued
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Written by:
Seun Akisanmi
(Photographer | Writer | Host, NIPHEC)
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NB: This is Oluwaseun Akisanmi's non-fictional account of a journey from PRISON to PHOTOGRAPHY. It promises to enlighten you and challenge you to live a life of purpose, integrity and vision.

Feel free to rebroadcast!

YOUTH: A Message To The Hustlers - by EldaDavid Samuel

In the spirit of keeping it REAL! I have a message for the HUSTLERS!

In the history of MANKIND, Hustlers never really make a significant impact in their Generation. Hustlers are not motivated to live for people, hustlers are only concerned about short-term pecuniary gains. Hustlers don’t think of the future. They want immediate gratification. An Hustler is not vision oriented. They are not driven by a purpose.

An Hustler will never really reach the peak of anything or be known for anything in particular because their attention span, focus and commitment to a cause is short-lived. Hustlers are not guided by VALUES, PRINCIPLES OR ETHICS in the conduct of their actions or attitudes, so long at they get that immediate benefit. Hustlers are mostly lone rangers, they don’t have the ability to develop relationships that can be leveraged upon in future. They are mostly predators. I can give you the endless qualities of an HUSTLER!

The word ‘I AM HUSTLING’ is self-derogatory. We don’t hustle, we work HARD and SMART. In working hard and smart, we clearly know what we want, our goals both short and long term are clearly defined and we are able to articulate same to people around us. As an hard and smart worker, you channel all your energies and passion into a particular cause, you are majorly concerned about making a significant impact and building a LEGACY that can and will outlive you. You are people and service conscious and will do all in your best to help others GROW.

In the game of LIFE, Never HUSTLE and NEVER even use the word to describe what you are currently engaged in. You can’t go to a place where you hope to get a million Naira contract and tell them you hustled to get here rather you use LOFTY words like I WAS DETERMINED, I WORKED HARD, I WAS SMART, I KNEW WHAT I WANTED etc...

Once your goals are clearly spelt out and you put in all your energies and resources into achieving them – Then you are not HUSTLING but working hard and smart.

One Love to all Former Hustlers who are now MAKING AN IMPACT WORKING HARD AND SMART.

Written by:
EldaDavid Samuel

NIGERIAN YOUTH, WHY? - Prof. Wole Soyinka

Where did we go wrong? WAKE UP Nigerian youth!

Awolowo was 37 years, Akintola 36, Ahmadu Bello 36, Balewa 34, Okotie-Eboh 27, and Enahoro 27 and they led the struggle for Nigeria Independence after the death of Macaulay. Only Zik was 42 at the time.

In 1966, the first coup was led by: K. Nzeogwu who was 29 years and countered by M. Mohammed 28, T. Danjuma 28, Babangida 25, Garba 23, Sani Abacha 23, and Yaradua 23, and brought into power Gowon 32, Ojukwu 33, Obasanjo 29, and Buhari 24. Most of the military governors who governed the states under the successive military regimes were under 30 years. The brief democratic.dispensation which interjected the military interregnums also saw some Senators, and the House of Representatives, in particular, populated by members under 30. Under 30's were also not in short supply with.appointments - we have examples of M.T. Mbu who became foreign affairs minister at 23 and Pat Utomi who became a federal adviser at 27 and so on and so forth.

NOW: Why is it that this age bracket is today still sleeping in 3 seater chairs in their parents’ homes? Why is it that this age bracket is today still collecting pocket money from their parents? Why is it that this age bracket is today still writing JAMB? Why is it that this age bracket today still sagg their trousers? Why is it that this age bracket is today still searching for jobs, and not yet married? Why is it that this age bracket is today no longer qualified to even be leaders of youth wings of political parties?

Why is it that this age bracket is today so docile? Why is this age bracket today incapable of feeding itself? Why is it that this age bracket is today barred from even aspiring to certain political offices? Why is it that this age bracket is today incapacitated, unwilling, unable and incapable of asking questions? Why is it that this age bracket is not even conscious of their predicament?

GOD BLESS NIGERIA!

Article source attributed to:
Prof. Wole Soyinka (Nobel Laureate)

Security: Uniformed Men Takes Over Ikorodu

Lagos State Government on Saturday explained the heavy presence of security operatives in Ikorodu and its environs, saying the onslaught is part of efforts to liberate residents from hoodlums, pipeline vandals and other undesirable elements that have continued to make the ancient town the base of their nefarious activities.

Briefing journalists after an emergency Security Council meeting, State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, said government is committed to ensure that the hoodlums terrorising Ikorodu, disturbing the peace in the town and making life unbearable for residents, do not have a field day any longer.

He said that security surveillance will be carried out 24 hours throughout the week, adding that the activities of the hoodlums and the criminal elements in the area had become unacceptable and uncontrollable, hence government cannot fold its arms, but take necessary actions by deploying security operatives to the area.

“Government will not allow criminal elements in the state and we want to say that the immunity for the vandals is over, the arbitrarily and uncontrollable rape, vandalism and harassment is over”, he said.

Owoseni appealed to residents not to panic as they may witness or hear sporadic gun shots, urging them to go on with their normal activities.
He however cautioned them to restrict their movements to areas where the operations are not intensive.

Assuring residents that innocent citizens will not be harassed or molested during the operations, the Police boss said it has become necessary to restrict the operations of tricycles and motorcycles throughout the period of the onslaught so as to prevent the fleeing hoodlums from using them as get-away transport.

He said the restrictions on both okada and tricycle operations in the area will be total, thereby urging residents to consider the inconveniences witnessed as a result of the restrictions as a necessary sacrifice.

“Residents are advised to restrict their movement and be informed also that we are going to restrict the use of both motorcycle (okada) and tricycles (Keke Marwa) in the area to ensure optimal and maximum performance for the operation”.

“As government, we are concerned about the security situation in the state especially the activities of hoodlums and vandals in the area. We are assuring residents that the end of such activities is near and it won’t be business as usual in the area, they should not panic as we have directed security operatives in the area not to harm innocent civilians but make security of lives of the people their utmost concern” he said.
Among those present at the briefing include the Director, State Security Service, Mr. Kunle Ajanaku, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, the Chief of Staff, Mr Samuel Olukunle Ojo, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, among others.

10 Most Essential Twitter Etiquette You Must Know

Good manners will take you a long way, especially on the Twitterverse. And as a community, Twitter has many unwritten laws when it comes to good etiquette. Here are the most important ones, in 140 characters or less.

=> Don’t overuse Twitter hashtags. Instead, optimize for engagement with up to 2 hashtags per tweet.

=> Give people credit when sharing their content on Twitter, with a mention.

=> Tweet often but do not spam. Instead, spread your tweets evenly throughout the day.

=> Tweet by the 80/20 rule and spend more time talking about others than yourself.

=> Always reply to people who reach out to you on Twitter, unless they are trolls.

=> Avoid sending automatic DMs to new followers, as it can be a major turn off.

=> Tweet in a human, personal tone, but keep it civil.

=> Keep it positive and avoid negative comments that stir controversy.

=> Return the favor and interact with the people that engage with you the most.

=> Choose to tweet content that is relevant and adds value to your audience.

Written by:
Katerina Petropoulou
Follow & Tweet @kat_petropoulou

Source:
Tweetable Twitter Tips