The Future Project 2018 Highlights.

The Future Project 2018 highlights. You made it happen! INSPIRING LEADERSHIP. BUILDING ENTERPRISE. ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP. Dear Partner, We are delighted with the impact we collectively achieved this year, and we appreciate your support in our efforts to build a network of empowered citizens through jobs, entrepreneurship, and active citizenship. As 2018 draws to a close, on behalf of the board, management and staff of The Future Project, we want to say a big thank you and wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in advance. Here's a look at our remarkable year together: ENTERPRISE & JOBS This thematic area is focused on entrepreneurship and creating jobs via internship whilst finding effective ways to ensure youth are gainfully engaged -- as employees or employers -- as well as strengthening the capacity of young people towards contributing positively to the economic and social growth of Nigeria. Small Medium Enterprise Clinic #SMECLINIC Currently in its 5th year, SME Support Clinic has helped owners of Small & Medium Scale Enterprises get practical tips and information required to scale their businesses. Featuring practical one-on-one meet with experts, these solutions-oriented clinics are tailored to meet the needs of registered participants. Managing Director, Jumia foods, Olamide Bada; CEO, Africa Business & Investment Group, Emmanuel Etim, and Wisdom Fiji of Lagos State Employment Trust Funds (LSETF) were facilitators at the 1st and 3rd quarter of the #SMEClinic. The Future Enterprise Support Scheme (TFESS) TFESS is a series of workshopswithspecific focus on using entrepreneurship, technology and creative (ETC) training as a catalyst for skill acquisition and capacity building for young people who want to start an enterprise or get jobs. At the end of each session, outstanding participants are linked to internships. In total, three (3)trainings and 6 sessions were offered: - Graphics Design workshop with Victor Fatanmi, Uche Ugo, Mary Fisayo and more - Digital Marketing Masterclass with John Obidi and Olorisupergal - Photography with Yagazie Eguare, Emmanuel Oyeleke, Kola Oshalusi, Jide Odukoya, Tope Horpload, Bayo Omoboriowo, Tolani Alli, Praise that Photographer, Queen B and more Accelerate Labs The overall goal of this Microsoft Nigeria-powered project is to equip the youth (across the 6 geo-political zones in Nigeria) by building socially inclined, high profit, and highly competitive enterprise capable of impacting the nation’s GDP. Accelerate Labs successfully trained 2,212 participants with our top participants receiving support (in mentorship and funding) at the demo day from institutions seeking to partner on some of their business ideas. Partnerships forged in implementing this project includes Goldman Sachs, World Bank, Abuja Enterprise Agency, Ministry of Trade and Investment, Bauchi, Edo, Lagos and Kaduna States Governments. GOVERNANCE & ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP This thematic area is focused on ensuring young people are adequately informed and equipped with the right information on governance, policies and citizenship. To this end, the following programs were implemented during the period under review. The Nigeria Symposium for Young and Emerging Leaders The annual Nigeria Symposium for Young and Emerging Leaders is aimed at strengthening government–public relations by qualitatively assessing mass participation in matters of policy as well as government actions on critical developmental issues. This year, the event took place on Thursday,31May, 2018 at Agip Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. Themed ‘Shaping New Narratives’, the symposium hosted a rainbow coalition of guests that included social and human right activists, government officials, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and political analysts from across the country addressing talks of young people take the bull by the horn by getting involved even if the government is not inclusive, and this only comes through the ballot paper. [Aisha Yesufu, Yemisi Adegoke, Ayisha Osori and Bukonla Adebakin ] [Participants at the symposium] [L-R: Asuquo Ekpenyong, Yemi Adamolekun, Gbenga Sesan and Mohammed Dattijo] [Cross-section of participants at the symposium ] YMONITOR YMonitor.org is an online accountability platform created to track projects of the government at all levels with the objective delivering information that ensures adequate coverage, exposure, and response to any matter that has real implications. YMonitor started the year by initiating a call to action campaign called #BeforeTheRainsCome, the campaign was aimed at calling the attention of both the government and citizens to the need to act on environmental issues such as flood before the rains come. The campaign trended on social media and was published on national dailies such as The Nation, Naij.com and others. Grassroot Engagement Series (GES) As part of the program for YMonitor, 5 grassroots engagement was held in five local governments in Lagos state. It was a conversation between the people at the grassroots and their representatives in government. Over 500 people were brought in contact with their representatives in government through the grassroots engagement while their requests were aggregated, distilled, and addressed by their representatives. My First Vote As we head towards the 2019 elections, this project is aimed at enlightening citizens on the need to get their PVCs so as to be actively involved in the next election. ‘My Vote, My Voice’ is our flagship project geared at using the power of comic illustrations to draw young people’s attention towards active citizenship and greater involvement. Citizens insight game and My First Vote show on Channels TV are also activities carried out to ensure 1st time voters participate in the forthcoming elections. LEADERSHIP This thematic area seeks to highlight the exploits of young people inspiring the next generation. To this end, the following activities were implemented in the year under review. The Aspire Center In thirteen years, the Aspire Center has hosted students from SS2 – SS3 in selected high schools to meet with The Future Awards Africa alumni. These provide a platform for students to engage and ask questions on issues that concern them. This activity holds prior to the TFAA main event. This year, 10 schools competed for 3 top positions in the STEM Innovation Challenge. The top positions went home with cash prizes, microscopic telescope, mentorship for 6 months, and certificate of participation. Aspire Centre stimulated the mental capacity of students, noticeable in the STEM Innovation Challenge which saw students pitch various STEM-focused ideas to solving societal challenges ranging from power supply to health. The STEM Innovation is proudly supported by University of Sussex and First Bank Plc. The Future Leaders Forum Under the theme, ‘Youth Empowerment, Leadership and Community Action’, the forum created a platform to foster inter-generational dialogue and millennial collaboration supported by an academic community. The two sessions are as follows: Women in C-Suite: Moderated by the journalist, Roqeebah Olaoniye. The panellists for this session were: Chinwe Bode-Akinwande, Head, Brand Quality Assurance, First Bank of Nigeria Limited; Francesca Uriri, Head of Communications, West Africa, Uber; and Sinmisola Hughes-Obisesan, Creative Director, Leo Burnett. The second session was on Education and Tech moderated by Gideon Olarenwaju. Panellists include Olugbenga Agboola, CEO, Flutterwave; Ademulegun Olowojoba, CEO, Code Tutor, and Akanji Abayomi, Co-founder, Pass.ng TFAA Post Award School Tour In preparation for the 2018 edition of The Future Awards Africa (TFAA), we commenced the TFAA school tour focused on developing young individuals in leadership, career, and active citizenship. This kicked off in April 2018 and ran till June 30, 2018. Alumni of #TFAA2017 paid courtesy visits to British International School, Supreme Education Foundation, Queensland Academy and others. The 2-hour seminar educated students on career planning and the opportunities available to evaluate and expand their job-related skills and knowledge. The Future Awards Africa Nominees Reception With 20 categories and 101 nominees selected this year, the British Council hosted the 2018 nominees of The Future Awards Africa. An evening of food, networking, and celebration presented a platform for nominees to meet each other and receive their certificate of nomination. Mr. Steve Forbes, Director of Operations, British Council gave the opening/welcome address at the event. Other special guests include CEO of ACT Foundation, Osayi Alile; musician and social activist, Bankole ‘Banky W’ Wellington, and others. The Future Awards Africa 2018 In its 13th edition, The Future Awards Africa (TFAA), themed Nigeria’s New Tribe, unveiled the anticipated nominee list of 101 young Nigerians across 20 categories, covering agriculture, business, advocacy, new media, sports and other fields of endeavour. Nominees were announced in a continent-wide broadcast on Africa Magic, EbonyLife TV, ChannelsTV and Wazobia Max. The Awards held at the Balmoral ConventionCenrtre, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria on 16 December, 2018. Media Mileage: The Future Project 2018 Impact in numbers: FEEDBACK: Edith Ijeh Umeugochukwu – Enugu Beneficiary, Accelerate LABS “I resigned as a lecturer from Benin Republic to start my business here in Nigeria. I came cross the Accelerate Labs project online where I registered and I was chosen as part of the participants for the first stream. I can say that since the commencement of the training I have had fresh insights into running a business. I have worked on my elevator pitch, and the pool of participants has been so resourceful as I have learnt a lot from them and they have helped me develop my business better than it was, which is why I came for the accelerator program.” Femi Bakre - Lagos Beneficiary, TFESS Photography workshop “As an alumni of The Future Awards Africa, I was quite excited to apply for TFESS, knowing the kind of quality I would get. With the skills I have gotten from the wonderful facilitators, I have been able to apply them to improve my business.” Moresu Mamani Bitrus – Bauchi Beneficiary, Accelerate LABS “My entrepreneurship journey started when I was serving as a Corps member in Pankshin, Plateau State. I was posted to a secondary school and assigned as a Mathematics teacher. I enjoyed the classroom interaction but the grading and lesson plan became very cumbersome and challenging. I also noticed that other teachers of the school also faced the same difficulties. At that point, I saw the need for providing a sustainable solution to the problem, in form of a school management automated system. Participating in Accelerate Labs brought out the business opportunity in my idea by equipping me with the right knowledge, information, tools, and training which this has enabled me to produce the prototype of the software. I am grateful for this opportunity and have been able to expand this idea with the training that I have received.” Dapo Awobekun (@DapoAwobeku), a beneficiary of YMonitor Grassroots engagement commented regarding the GES - “This is great! We need to get to the people! Nice work @Y_Monitor Olatunji Olusunmbola (@chrismiles78) commended YMonitor on its work on providing citizens with information needed to take action towards good governance. “My goodness! Thank you so much for this citizen education. This is not just fiscal indiscipline but fiscal criminality. To make matters worse, the combination of revenue allocation & IGR that comes in disappears into the cracks of corruption and dubious public contracts.” Nelson Odo - Anambra Beneficiary, Accelerate LABS “Fashion is a very competitive business especially in the eastern part of Nigeria, where you can easily produce things. I was able to distinguish myself as the founder of one of the leading footwear industries in the east that manufactures and designs stylish handcrafted footwear and accessories for men, women and kids. Thanks to the training I received from Accelerate Labs, my clientele now ranges from both middle class individuals to influential people. My profit level has significantly improved and I am much better at perfecting the shoes I make.” Tokurah Majid - Oyo Beneficiary - Graphics Design workshop. “Graphics design has been something that I have always wanted to learn and sadly I missed the first TFESS training, so I called in so as not to miss on the next opportunity. I was able to learn how to create amazing designs, brand my business as an entrepreneur, and attract customers. I am based in Oyo state and had to come to Lagos for it and I am glad it was worth it. I thank TFP for providing this opportunity to engage with great minds.” Read more testimonials here: [www.thefutureafrica.com]( Partner Organisations: - Guaranty Trust Bank Plc - First Bank of Nigeria Plc - Microsoft Nigeria - National Endowment for Democracy - H2Oh - Amstel Malta - University of Sussex - Lagos state ministry of youth and social development - Edo state government - Bauchi state government - Abuja Enterprise Agency - Lagos state employment trust fund - Sabi Hub - Gubi Initiative - Maise matrix - ICare Foundation - The Zariah Elizabeth Foundation - Emmanuel Oyeleke Photography - LASAA - 12 baskets - Enough is Enough (EIE) - City FM - Surulere local government - Idi Olowo local government - Follow the Money - Fourth Canvas - VPCube Photography We appreciate you as always. Yours sincerely, Bukonla Adebakin Chief Operating Officer, The Future Project info@thefutureafrica.com @tfaafrica [www.thefutureafrica.com]( ​ Copyright © 2018 The Future Project, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website, registered or attended any of our events. Our mailing address is: The Future Project Surulere Lagos 10123 Nigeria Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.