NIGERIA 2015 - We Are Still Waiting (by George Ashiru)

Look around you, very few politicians care about God or righteousness, yet some citizens are screaming religion in campaign mode. Very few political gladiators have done anything consistently in and for their communities, yet, their bigotted ethnic clones are clamouring into high heavens for votes biased with ethnic tones.

Where are the issues, the values, the programmes, the character, as the substance of our debates?

Alas! Even the reformers have gone with ethnic or religious winds...neither of which have taken us out of this developmental cul de sac for 53 years.

We are still waiting for a transformational generation which rises above primordial instincts that even good education finds hard to rub off. God bless the true Nigerians.

Written by:
George H. Ashiru
Blog: Man of Contrasts
Twitter: @ManOfContrasts and @masgee1

THE MEETING POINT with Niyi Adesanya

You are invited to attend the avant-garde interactive forum "THE MEETING POINT" with Niyi Adesanya. This platform is aimed at bridging the information gap between Luminaries (leading personalities who are reference points in their respective industries) and Visionaries (upwardly mobile folks aspiring to make their mark in their chosen fields)

This trailblazing event was envisioned to run through different cities in Nigeria, and in pursuit of that vision, the epoch making interactive meet has been hosted in three major cities in Nigeria just within one month of its start-up.

Following the significant success and noted feedbacks of participants of the previous event held in Lagos on the 17th of August, in Benin on the 14th of September and Ibadan on the 21st September, 2013, we have refined our strategies to ensure that the 2013 round-off edition slated to be held in Abuja on the 7th of December 2013 feature discussions which would be centred around but not limited to:

• Career Advancement: Office Politics, Promotion and Career Change – The Way Forward

• Business Advancement: The Nigerian Environment, Loan and Business Growth

• Political Advancement: Policy or Polity - How Do I Get Involved?

LUMINARIES AT THE MEETING POINT ABUJA

Keynote Speaker - Dr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, Chairman Leadership Group.

Politics
• Mr. Azubuike Ishiekwene,
Group Managing Director, Leadership Group
• Col. Kefas Agbu (Rtd)
Chairman, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)
• Engr. Umar B. Bindir,
Director General, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP)

Career
• Mr. Femi Mokikan, Executive Director, Human Resources, Seven-up Bottling Company • Ms. Pai Gamde, Head, Human Resources, Nigerian Stock Exchange
• Mr. Azubuike Ishiekwene,
Group Managing Director, Leadership Group

Business
• Mr. Gabriel Ogbechie,
Managing Director, Rainoil Limited • Mr. Ibrahim Maigari Ahmadu,
Managing Partner Cyberia
• Dr. Ahmed Datti (PhD),
Pro-Chancellor, Baze University, Abuja

DATE: Saturday 7th December 2013
VENUE: Merit House, 22 J. T. Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, FCT Abuja
TIME: 9am (prompt)

ADMISSION IS FREE but by registration

To register, send your "Full Name, Email, and Phone Number" to +2348094709985 or  event@themeetingpoint.com.ng

More details available via www.themeetingpoint.com.ng

LEAP Africa: Summer 2013 Youth Leadership Programme

Become Today’s Change Agent
Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability and Professionalism (LEAP) Africa is a nonprofit organization, which is committed to developing dynamic, innovative and principled African leaders.

Given our conviction that young people can and should serve as change agents in their communities, LEAP offers its Summer Youth Leadership Programme for young people across Nigeria to increase their capacity to transform their communities.

About the Summer Youth Programme

LEAP’s Youth Leadership Programme is modeled after international best practices and emerging lessons from Ford Foundation’s youth leadership efforts across the globe.

The objectives of the leadership programme are to:
* Support youth through the process of “looking within” to take stock of their current skills, talents and inclinations as well as their dreams and visions for the future.

* Expose youth to the concept of leadership, and offer them some tools and skills for effective leadership.

* Encourage youth to commence change projects in their communities in order to test and apply what they have learnt through the training programmes, as well as to improve the lives of others.

Programme cost: N25,000 for five days
(This cost covers programme materials, light refreshment and lunch. Participants get a certificate of participation upon programme completion).
Date: July 22 – July 26, 2013
Venue: LEAP Africa’s Office Lekki Lagos (full address stated below)

Topics Description
Programme topics include: The Act and Art of Leadership, Developing your Life’s Mission and Vision, Goal Setting, the Tower Game, the Trust Walk, Leadership for Change,  Building Self Confidence, Creativity, Patriotism/Social Responsibility, Time Management, Networking, Negotiations, Communications and Moral Ethics.

LEAP utilizes case studies, games, interactive exercises and multimedia to enhance the life and leadership skills of its youth.

Target Participants
Youth between the ages of 15 and 25 who are passionate about community service and have a strong commitment to developing their leadership skills.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact
Ukwori via email at uejibe@leapafrica.org or call
234-1-270-6541/2.

You could also call by LEAP Africa’s office at - 13 Omorinre Johnson Street, Off
Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.