NLI Associate, Adeola Austin Oyinlade has been named by the African Union to popularize and digitize the African Youth Charter. While unveiling him and speaking to the young African Leaders at the AU Youth Experts’ meeting in Addis Ababa, Dr. Raymonde Agossou, Head of Division Human Resources and Youth Division of African Union, announced that Adeola , a United Nations’ Young Ambassador for peace and President, Know Your Constitution Initiative in Nigeria, has successfully used law, social media, radio and mobile applications successfully as tools of Social Engineering and problem- solving.

Adeola, a law graduate of the University of Lagos, was invited by the African Union Commission in April 2011 as a guest speaker at the plenary session of the African Youth Forum where he addressed the forum on Readiness to reform National Laws and Legislation in compliance with the African Youth Charter. His recommendations were part of the Forum resolutions presented to the Africa Union Head of States at the Malabo, Equatorial Guinea AU summit, in July 2011.

The thrust of the agreement signed on 4th November, 2011 at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia between the African Union Commission, Youth Division and Adeola for Know Your Constitution Initiative, is that he will develop mobile and facebook applications of the African Youth Charter in the six (6) African Union Official Languages: English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, Swahili and Spanish and genarally popularize the African Youth Charter so that every phone user in Africa can have access to the Charter at the push of the button on their palms.

“The African Youth Charter enshrines the rights and duties that are critical to the survival of African Youths. Being an international treaty, it has to be signed, ratified, and transformed into the local laws by the African Union member- states before implementation. Many countries have not yet ratified the charter, not to talk of domestication,” Adeola observed in Addis Ababa.

He carried out opinion polls online alongside other Young social developers scattered across Africa in 2011 and realized that about Eighty Five percent (85%) of African Youths had not heard about the charter, let alone engaging their government to sign, ratify, transform into local law and implement the charter. He was of the view that African Youths cannot engage their leaders on the content of the charter because they are ignorant of their rights and duties contained in the document.

Speaking on the expected results of the project, Adeola said, “it will go a long way in making youths across Africa understand their Civil/Political rights and socio-economic rights alongside their duties towards national and international development. Moreover, it will go a long way in making all African Union member- states sign, ratify, transform into local laws and implement the charter in order to empower youths to get involved in the drive towards sustainable development in Africa.”

Adeola added that it would take twelve months to complete the project as it would not only involve mobile applications but also massive awareness campaigns. “My team will work with young technocrats, Young Africans who have distinguished themselves in important areas of life, Pan African Youth, National Youth Council of AU member- states and others” while responding to questions at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa.

Thirty (30) year- old Adeola Austin Oyinlade is the President of ‘Know Your Constitution Initiative’, an organization that educates Nigerians and non- Nigerians alike to know their legal rights and provides solutions to legal issues that arise in people’s daily activities free of charge. It has been carrying out this project through on-air programes and international conference

His immense contribution to expanding the frontiers of Liberty, Human rights, democracy and happiness of Nigerians and Non- Nigerians alike through the Initiative has fetched him recognitions and awards from many national and international organizations and recently, the US Department of state in May, 2011 featured him on the US Government blog for helping Nigerians know their rights and immense contribution to the development of Africa. For details about the US department of state recognition, kindly click here.

Adeola was invited as a speaker at the African Parallel session of the 7th UNESCO Youth Forum on October, 2011 in Paris, France to give a testimony on youth- led social innovations from the perspective of his Initiative.

He was commended by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Navanthem Pillay last year for his ‘work to promote understanding and awareness of human rights in Nigeria when he distributed 10,000 copies of the Nigerian Constitution to Lagosians to mark the International Human Rights Day 2010 and demonstrated the relevance of the provision of the constitution to their daily life activities.’ He also organized a two- day Human Rights international Conference to empower Nigerians and Non-Nigerians alike free with 22 National and International lawyers as resource persons.

He has written many articles in contribution towards debates on national and international issues such as good governance in economic and social development, peace and security, Human rights, democracy, rule of law and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals which have been published in Nigeria and international print and online media. For details about Adeola, click here.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) recently honoured Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, NLI Fellow and Managing Partner, Aluko & Oyebode for a distinguished contribution to the advancement of legal practice in Nigeria.

Mr. Gbenga Oyebode is the managing partner of Aluko & Oyebode and in that capacity coordinates the various practice areas of the Firm. In addition to his managerial role, he heads the Firm’s corporate and energy practice areas. Mr. Oyebode has also been involved in the negotiation of complex commercial agreements for a wide variety of transactions and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He was conferred with the distinguished National Honour of Member of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR) in December 2001. Mr. Oyebode was a former partner at Ajumogobia, Okeke, Oyebode and Aluko [Barristers, Solicitors and Notaries], having previously worked at the Gulf Oil Company, Lagos and Houston and also associated with White and Chase, New York.

Mr. Oyebode was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1980 and to the New York Bar in 1983. He holds an LL.M from Pennsylvania as well as LL.B Hons from the University of Ife, Ile-Ife.

NLI recently inducted 24 new associates. These associates include:

1. Akinyemi Lawal – Vice President, Helios Investment Partners, LLP, Lagos
2. Amina Cephas Gadzama – Executive Director, MANA Foundation for Grassroot Development, Yola; Founder, Act for Conceptual Change Initiative
3. Chidiebele Iwuchukwu – Management Associate ( Associate Director), Standard Chartered Nigeria, Lagos
4. Clara Ohakim – Finance Operations , Reporting/Compliance – Team Member, SHELL, Lagos
5. Damilola Olawuyi – Doctoral Fellow, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
6. Judith Onugu – Research Engineer, Caterpillar, Inc., Chicago, USA
7. Mary Olushoga – Program Manager, Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, New York, USA
8. Michael Omidiora – Researcher, Aalto University, Finland
9. Mohammed Mijindadi – Commercial Director for East & West Africa, General Electric Company, Abuja
10. Muktar Gadanya – Senior Registrar, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano
11. Olubankole Wellington – Founder and CEO, Empire Mates Entertainment, Lagos
12. Sani Aliyu – Managing Partner, Nouvea Delice Private Equity Firm, Abuja; Co-Founder and Director, Grassroot MFB
13. Saude Abdulfatah – Progrect Supervisor, Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN), Sokoto
14. Taofeek Siyanbola – Associate & Head, Structured Finance Desk, CardinalStone Partners Limited, Lagos
15. Tokunbo Koiki – Executive Director -Programs, Emotional Development Academy, Mental Health Foundation, Lagos
16. Tolulope Abari – Practice Manager, Tope Adebayo LLP, Lagos
17. Tunde Ajia – Rollouts and Initiative Manager, Visa Europe, United Kingdom; Founder, Confluence Corner, United Kingdom
18. Luqman Edu – Director, Fortis Project Services, Lagos; Joint Ventures Planning Department, NAPIMS, Lagos; Founder, We Talk Nigeria
19. Damilola Olubanwo – Investment Banking Analyst, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Lagos
20. Oladayo Olagunju – Founder and CEO, Nyoombl, California, USA
21. Charlotte Ashamu – Associate Operations Officer, Business Advisory Services, International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group, Johannesburg, South Africa
22. Chinedu Odebeatu – Business Manager, Retail, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Lagos
23. Adebimpe Ihekuna – Product Manager for Mortgages and Personal Loans, First Bank of Nigeria, Plc, Lagos
24. Chike Anikwe – Senior Associate, Aluko & Oyebode, Lagos

The Aspen Institute and Anne Welsh McNulty, Institute trustee, today announced journalist Dele Olojede as the winner of the fourth annual John P. McNulty Prize. A committee of judges including Madeleine Albright, Olara Otunnu, Shashi Tharoor and Anne McNulty selected Olojede in recognition of his groundbreaking work to deliver unbiased information to the Nigerian public, demand government transparency and advance journalistic standards in the country.

Dele Olojede is the Executive Chairman of Timbuktu Media. He has over 25 years of extensive experience in journalism. He is the former Foreign Editor for New York Newsday where he worked until 2004. He founded Timbuktu Media later that year after relocating temporarily to South Africa. In 2005, he won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for his retrospective on Rwanda a decade after the genocide.

Please click here to read more:
http://www.aspeninstitute.org/news/2011/10/25/john-p-mcnulty-prize-announces-2011-winner
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204777904576651481119112252.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

The Huffington Post recognizes NLI Associate, Idris Bello as ‘the Greatest Person of the Day’ for working towards the program to create Libraries across Africa. The goal of the program is simply to: “empower individuals through access to information.” By establishing low-cost infrastructure for libraries and connecting people directly with computer training, even the poorest communities can become more self-sustaining. He explained to the post that there’s not always an easily accessible location for young Africans to meet and discuss ideas, to utilize everything people in the U.S. take for granted on the Web. These libraries can also serve as their de facto “Starbucks,” or their “FedEx Kinko’s,” as he put it. Africans need to become more self-sustaining, and should be fully aware of the world outside their own villages, he said.

Idris holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, where he was a NNPC/ChevronTexaco Scholar. He also obtained a Master’s of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Houston, and was the recipient of the TPEG Grant Award. He also has an Executive MBA in Global Strategy from Rice University and serves on the Executive Lecture Series Council of the Jones Business School

Idris is on the Board of Directors of several business and non-profit organizations, including Mumineen Foundation Inc., The Small Kindnesses Fund (SKF), and Bell & Gems Resources, Inc.

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The United States First Lady, Michelle Obama recently delivered a message before leaving on her trip to Africa, urging young people to engage with each other in order to find commonalities. In her message, she said: “When it comes to meeting the challenges of our time whether it is climate change or extremism, poverty or disease, the world is looking to African Nations as vital partners. We will be looking across the continent to young people just like all of you to help lead the way. We’ll be looking to women like Toyosi, she’s a 28 year old from Nigeria who every year gathers 50,000 people for the largest youth conference in the country”.

A University of Jos, Nigeria trained Lawyer, she has pioneered countless youth / professional initiatives and is a very intriguing and most sought after speaker, trainer, panelist and facilitator at several Youth and Professional programs. Partnering several Frontline Corporate Organizations and Multi-Nationals, she is the Convener of what has now undoubtedly become the most attended youth event in Nigeria with about 50 000 participants in 12 Nigerian States; the annual RISE Interactive Youth Forum
She has been actively involved in Local, National and Regional projects and processes on the need to provide a platform for youth inclusion in policy formulation and project implementation. She is a role model to many youths in Nigeria with her ability to initiate and implement youth-led, youth-focused projects aimed at developing the potentials of young people in Nigeria. Partnering several frontline Corporate Organizations and Multi-Nationals, Toyosi, the phenomenal CEO of Nigeria’s first and most prominent youth interest organization, RISE, is a consummate young professional and an outstanding Manager. RISE itself has become a fast growing driving force and skill providing concern for several young people in Nigeria. She is the major driver of Nigeria’s leading Online Youth Interaction Centre (www.risenetworks.org).

Please click here to watch video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SMIxX2zZMms
http://www.whitehouse.gov/youngafrica

Adeola Austin Oyinlade, an associate of the October 2010 Class has recently been commended by the U.S Government news blog for helping Nigerians and Non-Nigerians alike know their rights. Adeola Austin Oyinlade is the United Nations-UPF/YFWP Young Ambassador for Peace. He has written articles in contribution towards national issues such as good governance in economic and social development, peace and security, human rights, democracy, rule of Law and United Nations Millennium Development Goals which have been published in local and international magazines, daily newspapers and commendations from the United Nations for his ‘interest in and support of the United Nations. Read more

Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, Idris Bello and their team have recently received the Angel investor funding and the Cambridge University Entrepreneurship Angel prize, the highest honour of entrepreneurship in the University of Cambridge, to develop a concept – ‘Elpida Cambridge Health’

The concept is an innovative aggregated point of care diagnostic toolbox (focuses on AIDS,TB and Malaria) with an integrated health data reporting technology that tracks the incidence and sub types of disease strains tested. It seeks to equip mobile doctors that provide care in rural communities with a cost effective, rapid healthcare delivery (early detection) platform – with the potential to have an estimated 23.2% budget impact cost saving. It streamlines the typical 2 week diagnosis cycle into 20 minutes.

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Friends of the Global Fund Africa, in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, TY Danjuma Foundation, Global Impact and Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria hosted a special dinner for the Secretary General of the United Nations, H.E Mr. Ban Ki-Moon at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, on Monday May 23, 2011.

The dinner titled “Implementing the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health in Nigeria: Opportunities for Private Sector and Civil Society Engagement” created a platform for stakeholders to discuss the opportunities for Nigeria to contribute in the realisation of the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health otherwise known as “Every Woman, Every Child”.

Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi, an associate of the May 2010 Class and the immediate past Political Secretary to the Speaker, House of Representatives Abuja, won the House of Rep. election for Shinkafi/Zurmi Federal Constituency, Zamfara State.

He is a Business Management graduate from the University of Maiduguri. Shinkafi won against an incumbent Rep member and another aspirant by an unbelievable margin. Against all odds, and a confirmation of his wide popularity, Shinkafi polled a total of 389 votes to defeat incumbent Bello Abubakar Moriki with 93 votes, while another contestant, Isiaka Mohammed Zurmi, got no vote. From all indices, Shinkafi would take his seat in the Green Chamber, as his constituency and state is firmly in the grip of PDP in the state and other aspirants have pledged to give their full support during the general election.