THE FUTURE AWARDS IS LOOKING FOR SCIENCE INNOVATORS & INSPIRING YOUNG
PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT … NOMINATIONS END IN 2 DAYS (JUNE 30)
For the third year in a row, The Future Awards, referred to by the World
Bank as ‘The Nobel Prize for Young Africans’, is searching for the most
brilliant young minds in Science, in addition to its yearly search for
the brightest minds in Technology.
“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,”
said Chude Jideonwo, who is Executive Director of The Future Project.
“In keeping with our _’Tear down these walls!’_ campaign this year, we
are looking for the brightest young minds driving innovation and impact
in science and/or technology with innovation or invention – through the
category Innovator of the Year – Science and Technology.
The awards website explains the broad criteria for this category: We are
searching for young people across science and technology (especially
Information Technology) who have furthered the boundaries in these
fields in terms of research or activity. There are a critical number of
young Nigerians who are advancing impressive, practical innovations that
can compare with the best around theworld. It will help if there is some
kind of recognition or institutional buy-in for that work, and the work
should be available for inspection.
“We are also beaming the search light on service,” Jideonwo said in
explaining the Excellence in Service categories. “We are looking for
young people in governance and the corporate sector whose work shines
bright in driving effective, professionalism and impact, with integrity
and productivity.”
IT WILL BE RECALLED THAT, IN 2010, IFY ANIEBO won the Best Use of
Science (also the biggest prize, Young Person of the Year) award for her
ground-breaking work in malaria research, and in 2011, Debo Olaosebikan
won the award for his _work__ __on developing the world’s first
electrically operated Silicon Laser, a project supported by a $6 million
grant from the United States Department of Defense__._ In the same year,
Tolulope Iroye won theBest Use of Technology award for the ‘Magic box’;
a device built to allow you control your electronic gadgets, for
example, your TV from anywhere with your mobile phone as well as control
electricity or mobilise/immobilise cars from anywhere in the world.
Nominations for the 2012 awards kicked off on the 29th of May and will
continue until this Saturday, June 30. Town Hall Meetings have been
holding across the country, including in Lagos, Rivers, Anambra, Adamawa
and Abuja. Nominees must be Nigerian citizens and must be aged 18 – 31.
To nominate for this category, please go to www.thefuturenigeria.com
[1].
Other categories for the Awards this year include Best Use of Advocacy,
Actor of the Year, Best Use of New Media, Entrepreneur of the Year in
Media/Communication, Entertainment, Technology and Fashion; Designer of
the Year, Innovator of the Year – Education, Creative Artist of the
Year, Journalist of the Year, Magazine 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), Excellence in Service -
Journalism, Corporate and Government, Screen Producer of the Year, and
the biggest for Young Person of the Year.
NOMINATIONS END AT MIDNIGHT ON JUNE 30 (TWO DAYS AWAY!).
ABOUT THE FUTURE AWARDS
Referred to by the World Bank as ‘Nobel Prize for young Africans” and
“the biggest youth Awards in Africa” by the London Metropolitan
University, The Future Awards continues to be the most influential and
popular youth platform that identifies young people who have excelled at
their work and by so doing inspire others, celebrates their
achievements, and showcases them as role models to inspire a generation
of Africans to believe in themselves and the future of their countries.
With outreaches to Ghana, Ethiopia and South Africa, The Future Awards
has been described by respected leaders as “Africa’s biggest youth
event” and in six years, has produced 126 winners and over 1,000
nominees. Our mission at The FutureAwards is to inspire leadership and
build enterprise.
The Future Awards presents winners and nominees from diverse
backgrounds: from female farmer Mosunmola Umoru to internationally
acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, NASA scholar Tosin Otitoju to
1-second power change over inventor based in Ajegunle Otejiri Oghogori;
Ndidi Nwuneli of LEAP Africa (MFR) to Dustbin Estate Advocate; Tolu
Sangosanya. The last winner for Young Person of the Year, was Rolex
Award winner and farm technology entrepreneur Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu – this
is a critical mass that are positioned as leaders and whose collective
influence can change the leadership equation for an evolving nation
Full Report:
The House of Representatives is not yet done with the oil baron, Mr. Femi
Otedola, the central figure in the $620,000 alleged bribe which has led to the
suspension of Mallam Farouk Lawan as Chairman of the House Committee on
Education and the Ad hoc Committee on fuel Subsidy Management.
The House described Otedola as "a sinking man" after the oil baron dismissed
the decision of the Reps to restore Zenon Oil and Gas Limited and Synopsis
Enterprises Limited, believed to be owned by him, in the list of oil importers
indicted by the ad hoc committee as corruptly receiving oil subsidy. He had
called the decision as laughable and a celebration of corruption.
He also said he suspected that Lawan could not have acted alone in allegedly
extorting bribe from him.
Chairman of the House Committee on Media, Zakari Mohammed, responding to
Otedola's allegation, challenged him to name Lawan's conspirators.
The House, he declared, acted within the rule of law by its decision and did
not celebrate corruption as being alleged by Otedola.
He said: "As an institution, we won't join words with Mr. Femi Otedola. His
case is that of a sinking man. As far as we are concerned in this country, for
every personality that claims to be straightforward, we know his or her
background, antecedents, way of life and means of doing business.
"On his allegation that Mr. Farouk Lawan could not have acted alone, the
House of Representatives is asking Otedola to name others. He who alleges must
prove beyond reasonable doubt. We have made ourselves available as open as
possible with what we did on Friday."
He continued: "To say that we are celebrating corruption is mischievous and
unfair. I think any patriotic and conscientious Nigerian should appreciate that
what we did was a show of transparency and allowing the rule of law.
"We support anti-corruption campaign; we will not waiver in our commitment to
this. We cannot be the investigator, the prosecutor and the judge at the same
time. We decided to allow the law to take its course."
He denied suggestion that the Reps were witch-hunting Otedola.
"Since the removal of Zenon Oil and Gas from the list of those having issues
to answer became questionable, we felt there is need for a thorough
investigation into the matter.
"The Ad Hoc Committee is re-examining allegations against those 17 companies
who allegedly obtained foreign exchange without importing products. Otedola
should go back to the committee instead of rushing to the press.
"Certainly, there is no question of witch-hunt at all. As an institution, we
are above partisanship."
On the mix-up of figures by the House on the actual amount credited to Zenon,
Mohammed added
"Whatever complaint he has about figures, he should channel it to that committee
rather than hastily running to the press."
The House spokesman assured Nigerians that it would be more courageous in
conducting its affairs to earn more dividends of democracy for the populace.
He said: "We will continue to be focused, we will avoid distraction. We have
resolved to be more courageous on the Nigerian Project targeted at delivering
more dividends to Nigerians who are our employers."
Otedola had, in his reaction to the position of the House on him, said: "I
have stated the facts in my interview with ThisDay newspaper and nothing but the
facts. That Farouk Lawan demanded $3 million from me and because I refused to
oblige him he included the name of Zenon amongst those who bought forex without
importing petroleum products.
He did this without even asking Zenon to produce a single document of the
forex transaction. He clearly wanted to extort money for an offence I did not
commit. That is why I went to report to the security agencies. If I had anything
to hide I wouldn't have gone to the agencies. There is an old adage that says
"people who live in glass houses should not throw stones".
"Moreover it is not possible to purchase $232, 975,385.13 from CBN without
importing the product. The total figure is not even $232, 975,385.13 million as
alleged but $372, 207, 990. They should go and amend the report to read $372,
207, 990 which is the correct figure.
It is not possible to purchase this volume of forex from the CBN with first
class banks such as Access bank, FCMB, GTB, UBA and an international bank BNP
Paribas which is one of the biggest and most respected banks in the world.
"If people at my level who have worked hard to build their businesses can be
blackmailed this way all in a bid to extort money from them, I pity people that
are just starting out in business in this country. In all my business dealings I
have always been above board and the records are there to prove.
As far as I know Lawan could not have been working alone in this extortionist
plot. A tree does not make a forest. Let me also state for the records that we
are not in any way affiliated to the other company Synopsis enterprises Ltd also
included in the report. Actions of today by the House is laughable, a mere
celebration of corruption and a further indictment on their honourable
member."
Source: ChannelKoos