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Opening Address by Chizoba Imoka @ UVA 2nd Annual Teen Conference 2011

October 18, 2011 By in Africa, Blog Post, Events, UVA News 0 18

Opening Address by Chizoba Imoka @ UVA 2nd Annual Teen Conference
October 15, 2011
ST&T Regency School Ikeja, GRA

       A Nigeria shaken by Boko Haram, a nation filled with so much violence where innocent people operate with fear and sleep with one eye open.

A nation where people are prisoners in their homes and their lives is at the mercy of ruthless robbers without reprimand.

A nation where a majority of the people spend their life waiting only to be informed that they are too old for the job that they seek………..Here is the full speech: Opening Address by Chizoba Imoka @ UVA 2nd Annual Teen Conference 2011

Interview with “Naeto-C” – Words by Chizoba Imoka

October 9, 2011 By in Africa, Blog Post, Interviews, UVA News 0 17

Words by Chizoba Imoka


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Luke 8:16 says ‘No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed but puts it on a stand for those who enter may see the light’ , this is a verse that one of our favorite musicians Naetochukwu Chikwe fondly known as Naeto-C understands too well.

Naeto-C is fully aware that the life he has is a gift and a privilege that is meant to be lived to its fullest potential. As he rightly points out…. why I would I act like I did not have that privilege and come down like someone who wasn’t privileged? From a religious standpoint, it is wrong… it’s almost like a sin.. If you are blessed with something, don’t be shy about it.

 This world view paved the way for Naeto-C’s unique re-entry into the music scene as ‘The Only Emcee with an MSC’ with his Super C Season Album that was released in 2011.  In 2010, Naeto-C went back to school in the United Kingdom – University of Dundee to pursue a Masters degree (MSC) in Energy Economics. This is a feat many Nigerian musicians haven’t surpassed and this is one of the numerous reasons Naeto-C is a great role model for UVA teenagers.

We present Naeto-C to you as an Unveiling Africa Foundation Pacesetter because of the unpopular and challenging path he has taken in his academic and music career. He has managed to attain excellence and advancement in his academics while maintaining success in his hobby as a musician. There is a lesson for everyone in his story, I hope you find yours. Happy reading!

1)     What was growing up like for you?

a.       Growing up was fun and cool. I had a normal childhood with toys and cartoons. I grew up in the United States, U.K. and different parts of Nigeria (Enugu, Owerri, Abuja, Lagos). I come from a big extended family; I have always had cousins and friends around, I have always been into music; either I liked listening to music it or I used to play with vinyl; I used them as Frisbees. I also watched a lot of series and action cartoons like Voltron and Captain Planet…

 2)     Is there anything about your teenage years that you think contributed to your success today?

a.       One of the things that prepared me for the outside world was going to boarding house. I went to Atlantic Hall. I was a boarder and at the time, my family lived in Owerri while my aunt lived in Lagos. Moving from Owerri to Lagos was not necessarily a culture shock but a challenge. However, the challenge of assimilation in a new environment taught me a lot of different social skills that I eventually built upon and helped me deal with different people and situations.
Read more on Naeto’s Interview in the 3rd Edition of Unveiling Africa Foundation’s Teen Magazine – Pacesetters. It will be available for purchase on October 15.

UVA’s Children’s Day Event: The Teen Soiree

May 25, 2011 By in Africa, Entertainment, Events, UVA News 0 19

      On the May 23, 2011 to mark Children’s day, Unveiling Africa is collaborating with APEN (Association of Private Educators of Nigeria), to host over 300 students to a teenager’s conference themed ‘Pacesetters’ and a funday for the attending teens. Titled ‘The Teen Soiree’, this event is different from the rest as it will be truly all about the teenagers taking up their role as future leaders today. The teenagers will be leading every segment of the event from emcee, to key note speakers, to technology team to public relations and logistics management. The conference content will center around Unveiling Africa Nation Building roles which include Academic Excellence, Personal Leadership, Community Activism and Excellence in Social Interaction. The event has been put together to celebrate the children and the hope they bring to the nation while also preparing them for their responsibility along the way. The event details is as follows: Date: May 27, 2011 Time: 10.a.m. Venue: 20 Remi Fani-Kayode (off Sobo Arobiodu) Street GRA.

 

To learn more about the organizers, please visit: www.unveilingafrica.org and www.apen.ng.com

Unveiling Africa Call for Pacesetting Teenagers

April 4, 2011 By in UVA News 16
     Unveiling Africa Foundation is looking for five teenagers that are setting the pace and inspiring greatness in their communities. These teenagers will be featured on the front cover of the next edition of Pacesetters scheduled for publication in May 2011. Each of these teenagers will also be interviewed and showcased in the magazine.
The following are UVA Nation Building roles, their explanations and the criteria for selection.

     Unveiling Africa Foundation is looking for five teenagers that are setting the pace and inspiring greatness in their communities. These teenagers will be featured on the front cover of the next edition of Pacesetters scheduled for publication in May 2011. Each of these teenagers will also be interviewed and showcased in the magazine.The following are UVA Nation Building roles, their explanations and the criteria for selection.

UVA Thanks Everyone!

December 7, 2010 By in Africa, Education, Events, UVA News 17

     On October 26, 2010, Unveiling Africa (UVA) Foundation hosted about 50 schools across Lagos and Abuja at the First Ever Nigerian Teenagers Conference themed: Nigeria at 50, The Role of Nigerian Teenagers in Nigeria’s Development. At the event, UVA defined and presented four roles that teenagers’ play in nation building. They include Academic Excellence, Community Activism, Personal Leadership and Excellence in Social Interaction.  

     In summary, the event was a medley of inspiring speeches by seasoned speakers, heart-warming presentations by select UVA Essay Contest winners, awe-inspiring musical performances by students of Command Day Secondary School Oshodi, thought-provoking drama performance titled ‘Nigeria @ 50, whose independence and an interactive breakout session for the teenagers based on the UVA Nation Building Roles. Over 600 people were in attendance for the conference and testimonials about the event showed that all the participants especially the teenagers left the event with a new sense of purpose for their life and Nigeria’s future. All the participants cannot wait for the next Unveiling Africa showcase for teenagers.

     The winners of the UVA 2010 Nigerian Independence Essay Contest were also announced at the conference. In the order of 1st to 3rd, the winners for the senior secondary school category are: Ugoeze Uchegbu (Maryland Comprehensive College, Maryland Lagos), Susan Olajide (Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja) and Nosagie Asaolu (Corona Secondary School, Agbara Estate, Ogun State). Similarly, the winners of the junior secondary school are: Opeoluwa Otegbade (Chartered College, Lekki), Omotolani Akinbolajo (Gideon International College) and Odinaka Adigwe (Corona Secondary School).

     The Unveiling Africa Team would like to use this opportunity to thank all our partners, numerous individuals, sponsors, speakers, and attendants that made this event possible. We also thank God for the vision, passion, strength and resources that he has given us to thread on this path.

UVA Teenager’s Conference

October 5, 2010 By in Events, UVA News 18

In commemoration of Nigeria’s jubilee year, Tuesday, October 26, 2010 is scheduled to mark the official launch of Unveiling Africa Foundation Nigeria with a teenager’s nation building conference on: “The role of Nigerian Teenagers in Nigeria’s development”.

First of its kind in Nigeria, the main focus of this annual conference is on Nigerian Teenagers. Teenagers are defined as individuals between the age of 9 – 18 years or students in JSS1 – SSS3. It is our belief that Nigeria’s bright future is guaranteed in the hands of the upcoming generations; which are the Nigerian children. To enable this generation deliver a bright future for Nigeria, we strongly believe that there is a need for the Nigerian child to be inducted into a culture of critical thinking, community activism and problem solving in their developmental years.

Press For Unveiling Africa!!

June 10, 2010 By in UVA News 16

Hello All,

We continue to roll out the essay contest in Nigeria and have receive amazing support throughout the process! Check out this wonderful article by the Punch newspaper, on Unveiling Africa and the essay contest!

Nigeria at 50: Dreams and dreamers

By Abimbola Adelakun
Wednesday, 26 May 2010

As Nigeria reaches her 50th year as a country, a frenzy of activities is expected to take place to celebrate a landmark year. Not much is happening officially but Nigerians are putting their heads together to ensure that the anniversary is worth it.

A Canadian organisation, Unveiling Africa Foundation, as part of its expansion strategy, is organising two essay contests targeting secondary school students in Lagos and surrounding areas.

In Nigeria, the organisation is focusing on supplementing youth education by promoting critical thinking and community activism amongst Nigeria’s secondary school students.

The essay contest is scheduled for launch on Children’s Day, May 27, 2010. Junior Secondary School students will be writing on Nigeria at 50, Nigeria of my dreams, while senior secondary school students will be examining the topic, What is the role of secondary school students in Nigeria’s development?

UVA is founded by Nigerian-born youth activist, Chizoba Imoka, and according to her, the foundation is already perfecting plans to mark the official launch of Unveiling Africa Foundation, Nigeria with a teenager’s nation-building symposium on The role of Nigeria’s secondary school students in Nigeria’s development. The launch will coincide with Nigeria’s golden Independence anniversary on October 1, 2010.

“Unveiling Africa will be hosting 50 public and private schools across Lagos. The purpose of this event is to spur critical thinking amongst secondary school students in Nigeria about social issues in the country, as well as providing tools for enabling positive development and change within the community. I also hope that the symposium will build relationships and mentorship networks amongst secondary school students and role model Nigerians,” she says.

“Amongst other things, it is our belief that the implementation of these initiatives will be the beginning of the birth of a generation of critical thinkers, problem solvers, community activists and fearless leaders in our society. Ensuring a bright future for Nigeria is paramount and requires an early induction into critical thinking and community activism amongst its citizens.”

Imoka is confident that the two events are critical steps to laying the much-needed foundation for Nigeria’s future.

According to her, “It is our belief that Nigeria’s bright future is guaranteed in the hands of the upcoming generation which are the Nigerian children,” she enthuses, adding, “To enable this generation deliver a bright future for Nigeria, we strongly believe that there is a need for the Nigerian child to be inducted into a culture of critical thinking, community activism and problem solving in their developmental years. Teenagers are defined as individuals between the age of 9 – 18 years or students in JSS1 – SSS3.”

Prizes for the contest include: N75,000 – N150,000 Scholarship, Dinner with the Future Awards Alumni Network, and Mentorship Opportunities.

UVA Goes Live !

May 12, 2010 By in UVA News 16

Unveiling Africa Website Goes Live!

Many of you may have noticed that UVA has been missing in action for a while; this is because we have been working behind the scenes to develop this website and to develop strategic relationships for our bright future ahead. Now that we are back, we are here in full force and energy to Unveil Africa with and to you. Welcome!

2010 promises to be another fulfilling year for UVA, we are excited about a lot of things. Firstly, this website. This website will provide a platform for us to continuously deliver on our mission which is to: ”Educate to Empower and Empower to Educate” through the knowledge, information and inspiration that we will be sharing and engaging you with. We will be unveiling and celebrating our continent in more dynamic ways through food, fashion, photography, politics, arts etc. Most importantly, this year will be about forming and building bridges from the past to present to future, from efforts in the Diaspora to ground work on the continent. We are committed to strengthening the platform here for African youths in Canada to channel contribution to the continent while also creating meaningful projects on the ground. On this end, we are proud to be launching in Nigeria this year with our Nigerian Teenager’s Nation Building project, which attempts to “Educate and Engage the Nigerian Teenager”. Be sure to learn more about this project.

Deeply rooted in our passion for a better continent and the determination to deliver a different future for our unborn generation, we believe that the Unveiling Africa is on the right track and that the future is bright for our motherland. We are motivated by the big picture that is full of possibilities and the passion, action and achievements so many young Africans around the world towards the fight for a better continent. I know that we will be the generation to emancipate our continent from its regression. It is a difficult and gruesome task but a necessary one to complete. We must not back down! Our past leaders have brought us this far, we must outrun them; we need to make sure we build our countries and continent on a solid foundation so that the upcoming generation will have a better place to live in. There has never been a better time to make the most out of ourselves as Africans.

Let’s go! Impossible is not African.

Long live Africa and Peace to the people of the world.

Chizoba (Chi-Chi) Imoka.

Founder/Director of Operations.