I am sitting in the eInclusion Ministerial Conference and Expo beginning in Vienna today, and I have very (very) mixed feelings. While I admire the obvious effort put into this conference and the entire eInclusion concept as driven by the European Union, I am wondering when African governments will quit the low-hanging fruit of “pot belly politicking” and focus on the real essence of governance — improving the lives of the people. This is the 21st century and the average African youth is increasingly becoming less competitive in a world that has obviously lost all its borders. But I am glad that even in the face of this obvious neglect on the part of African governments, there are people (and institutions) that are consistently bridging the gap between what is and what must be. They are my heroes!

I return to Lagos (tomorrow), happy about how my discussions have gone at the various preparatory meetings — and also with some renewed passion to catch up with the many demonstrations I have seen at the 2 different conferences I have attended here in Austria (in Graz and now Vienna) thanks to the Salzburg-based International Centre for New Media. My return to Lagos is made more exciting by the fact that in six (6) days, the Ajegunle.org project will be celebrating the first set of graduates who have now gone through the various phases of the project — orientation, capacity building, internship, peer training and consistent reports to PIN; another reminder of those efforts that dare to confront the status quo in order to take Nigeria (and her youth, especially) to the New Economy. The project is driven by a young man whose passion I am yet to fathom; he knows how to deliver even in the face of near-zero resources: Ugochukwu Nwosu.

Ugo started volunteering for Paradigm Initiative Nigeria even before we became a legal entity. At the time when PIN was just an online group that tried its best to connect youth to any possible ICT opportunities, Ugo joined others to contribute man-hours to make this possible. I was quite surprised that he chose to return to that same role of a volunteer when he completed his undergraduate studies, and he has since moved on from volunteer to intern and then full time staff. While I keep myself busy with the task of institutional development and also attend to the commitments that come with my service in a number of roles, Ugo is the one who keeps the engine of progress in PIN going. When PIN becomes the institution I’m working hard to build, it should not be a surprise to see Ugo play a role that many of his peers will consider lucky. It would have been duly earned. I am not afraid to celebrate you, Ugo, because you represent the generation of youth who are now leading the campaign I spent my last decade working on. Thank you!

Each time I look to the corner of my office where a good number of award plaques sit, I think about the people who have now taken the message and have turned it into a lifestyle. To Ugo and the many young people who still understand the principle of delayed gratification (and forge ahead to deliver change even under the least comfortable circumstances), I salute you. You are my heroes, I celebrate you!

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I’m in Austria to conclude talks on a new initiative that will help Paradigm Initiative Nigeria and other partners connect young Nigerians (and eventually Africans) with the opportunities that come with innovation (with a special leaning towards mobile applications). Like many first-time visits, this has been a splendid one for me. From the diplomatic intervention to the 9-hour wait in Doha (thanks to the lounge whose name I’ve now forgotten), “where’s my 30 year-old blonde” wait at the train terminal, nice 3-hour trip with my guide-turned-friend, warm welcome by my hosts and progress on the mission, I’m loving it! I think I should also say I love the snow too, because it was actually fun getting lost last night and falling twice (do I now have to buy anti-slide shoes?) in the snow. Confession: I love Lagos more, even if the heat is often unbearable

The meetings were timed to coincide with the Europrix Festival in Graz and it’s been 2 full days of inspiration! Meeting young Europeans who are showcasing their innovative projects has added new flavour to the content of my meeting discussions — and I can’t wait to see young Africans come together to celebrate innovation and create new pathways for their respective industries. Listen to the organizers: The EUROPRIX winning projects are the best of young multimedia contents and design in Europe. The projects and products are the top selection from all entries to the Top Talent Award. They show that the new developments are not isolated, but that from the Baltic to the Mediterranean, from small towns to the European metro centres, young media designers have taken charge of the technologies to create new applications and contents that work in the real world.

Following yesterday’s beautiful session that featured a keynote presentation and discussions led by past winners of Europrix awards in different categories, today’s session focuses on demonstrations by category finalists. You can see a complete list of nominees here but the Robovox demonstration was really cool! The Robovox, a large interactive public sound installation using SMS for general public interaction, allows anyone to say anything out loud (and anonymously) by sending text messages to the robot via a short code. Even though the demonstration was made with a much smaller (about 2m) robot, the Robovox installation is usually 8m tall and has traveled to a number of public squares across the world. During the presentation, various text messages made their way to the short code and Martin Bricelj had to allow Robovox to say the many things that anonymous text authors just had to let out.

I wonder if the idea can be integrated into the existing public monuments so that the three elders that greet you as you enter Lagos can say Eko o ni b’aje! to remind everyone who drives into town that we make Lagos whatever it becomes.

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The Management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (OAU) through its Advancement Office is presently updating the institution’s Alumni Database. This initiative, as part of the University Strategic plan seeks to increase the database to 30,000 from the pool of about 66,000 graduates which the University has produced in the last 46 years of its existence.

We therefore appeal that you support this initiative by sending us the list of OAU Alumni that you know, stating their names in full (former names if married), course of study, year of graduation, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and current rank/status at work.

It would be appreciated if the information is sent to us through these addresses: advancement[at]oauife.edu.ng or alumnire[at]oauife.edu.ng.

We assure you that the information we receive will be treated confidentially.

Thank you.

Signed
‘Ronke Ajibola
Executive Director
University Advancement Office
Obafemi Awolowo University
Ile-Ife.

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Yes, he did! And you can be sure I did not swap names, that’s right: Obama’s campaign ran just like the kind of campaign Prof. Pat Utomi discussed with his team.

I had the rare priviledge of being close to the campaign Prof. Pat Utomi ran towards his April 2007 candidacy for the presidency of Nigeria and I wasn’t surprised when he told me sometime during Obama’s 21-month campaign that the ideas he saw in play were very close to what he advocated in Nigeria. I remember discussions around setting up RestoreNigeria.org, when he hinted that he wanted a grassroots campaign that allowed market women, students and every stakeholder to contribute their single-digit contributions so that government would truly be driven by these people (the true stakeholders) and not the moneybags who usually expect their own dividends of democracy after bankrolling campaigns.

He also insisted on creating a platform to allow all Nigerian citizens to contribute ideas towards the governance of Nigeria — as he presently advocates through the opposition website, www.shadownigeria.org. How could I also forget his choice of Web 2.0 tools during the campaign — he blogged at UtomiNotes.com, uploaded YouTube videos and he’s now on FaceBook! I remember a few people asking if he was truly the one running the FaceBook page himself, noting that Nigerian public officers are known to have secretaries who have deputies — who in turn have assistants (and those assistants often have Vice-Assistants). I also remember his request for some high-level animation to go along with his Public Declaration at the Musa Yar’adua centre in Abuja.

SMS was central to the Utomi campaign too. And you can probably remember that the words “change,” “values” and “issues” were not far from most of his speecehs! Okay. If he ran the kind of campaign Obama ran much after his own, how come he lost. Well, the answer is obvious: amongst many others that are too political for this page, many of us didn’t seal the deal. Think about the role that American youth played during Obama’s election and you’ll see a missing opportunity from our 2007 elections in Nigeria. How many of us were excited about the opportunity to vote for change following 8 years of a president who had become quite unpopular (let’s face it, they share similar near-exit ratings and I bet you know the two people I refer to here.)

Will we do something different in 2011? Will young professionals ensure that they are registered on time? Will students mobilise their friends towards active involvement in that election (and we know just how to do that, don’t we?) Unfortunately, Nigeria’s middle class has created a pseudo-government of their own by installing generators to replace a dysfunctional power utility company, bore holes to stand in for some agency we used to call “Water Corporation” when I was growing up, private guards (of all shades, sizes, uniforms and languages) to take care of what the “Men In Black” are paid to do, and self-created happiness (either through religion, extra hours with colleagues who’re also scared of the bridge during high-traffic hours at work or … you know) to make up for that joy that comes from a government’s fulfilment of its promises to her citizens. Thus, it is difficult for that same middle class to be bothered about elections, it’s only one of those things they’ve learnt to “endure.”

But not in 2011. The lessons of Obama’s choice as “leader of the free world” will be lost if we don’t wear the robes of citizen participation now — not when 2011 suddenly happens on us. We must start mobilising the majority that is right so that the minority that has held us bound can feel the pulse. This is already November 2008 and if you discount the holidays, 2009 is here. The budget debates and new year lull (and possibly some breaking news — as we usually have it but hopefully not with the price of PMS this time) will then make way for mid 2009 by which time the political parties will be preparing for the string of primaries and fundraising events that will lead to the full-blown campaign for April 2011. We should have new dates for some positions owing to tribunal rulings but April 2011 (or thereabout) will be time to decide who the next president will be.

We must not miss the opportunity to tell the world that Nigeria — just like the US — knows just when to surprise the world. We always do that with football, and we don’t lack the intelligence (or number) to achieve the same in the most important part of our socio-political existence. I know that we’ll have many Utomi-like (and if you prefer, Obama-like) campaigns towards 2011 but the difference this time should be our response to the call and deliberate choice to follow through with the message of change. We’re not lacking in technology gurus who can help mobilise 60% of Nigeria’s population (the youth) towards virtuous political involvement, and this should meet with political genius that can take advantage of that wave of change — and also deliver on its promise as, and when, due. Obama’s 21-month campaign and the 2007 candidacy of Pat Utomi are serious pointers to the possibilities that are ahead for Nigeria.

Regardless of where you are, get ready for the much-needed revolution. At home, on holiday, in diaspora, on extended stay, planning to return or officially back in Nigeria? Arise and obey the call. Arise, O compatriots. Nigeria’s call obey. To serve our Fatherland with love and strength and faith. The labour of our heroes past “should” never be in vain. To serve with heart and might, one nation bound in freedom. Peace. And unity! O God of creation, direct our noble cause. Guide our leaders right. Help our youth the truth to know: In love and honesty to grow, and living just and true. Great lofty heights attain, to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign! As for me, I pledge to Nigeria, my country: To be faithful, loyal and honest; to serve Nigeria with all my strength. To defend her unity, and uphold her honour and glory. So help me, God. The journey towards 2011 presents Nigeria with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to return to our place as (or fulfil the dream of becoming) the Giant of Africa.

My name is ‘Gbenga Sesan and I approve this message… but with no political ambition for now (maybe later).

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