Opportunity to Participate in ‘ICT for Festivals Development’ [Geeks, Designers, Marketing gurus, Business Analysts]

British Council in conjunction with Co-Creation Hub has shortlisted selected members of the community (technology developers, designers, branding and marketing professionals, and business analysts) to apply to participate in the Culture Shift project, themed ‘ICT for Festivals Development.’

About the project

• Culture Shift is a partnership-led, British Council-managed competitive innovation fund.
• It will provide an opportunity for emerging creatives to bypass what are often the most inhibiting factors in the progression of good ideas – access to seed funding and expert mentorship.
• Selected festival managers will work in collaboration with technology developers and designers, and business experts to create web and mobile solutions for use in festivals, and then compete for seed finance to realise the projects.
• Winning idea will receive Naira Equivalent of £5,000 and two others £1,500 each.

For whom:

• Software developers, designers (graphic, web and user-experience), branding and marketing professionals, and business analysts.

When:
The project will take place in three phases:
1.   Stage 1b: 3-day ‘Hackathon’: 17^th, 18^th and 19^th March
2.   Pitching for seed funding: 19^th March 2012
3.   Mentoring and Fruition: April – September 2012

Venue:
Co-Creation Hub (CcHub), 6th Floor, 294 Herbert Macaulay Way, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos

Applications:

Software Developers | Graphic Designers | Business Analysts | Branding and Marketing professionals

Interested persons should fill the attached forms and email completed forms to cep.nigeria@ng.britishcouncil.org on or before Monday 05 March 2012

Applicants must:
1. Have a history of and familiarity with technology tools development
2. Be willing to commit a few hours a week to the Culture Shift project, expected to last between 8 – 12 months. Applicants selected to receive the seed fund will be required to develop the final product from prototype stage. Click the link below to download the application form!
africa-ng-culture-shift-participation-form

Free movement policy cannot be implemented without an active youth participation

By Ayodele Samuel, Abidjan

The Economic Community of West Africa States ECOWAS has said implementing its free movement policy in the region is problematic.

Director of Trade, Industry and Free Movement, Ministry Of African Integration Republic of Cote D’Ivory, Louis-Philippe Goli Kouame , while delivering a paper tittle, “Contributions of youth organization to raise awareness and promote the free movement of person within the ECOWAS” said the implementation of the policy remains problematic at Member State level calling on States to develop means for more stringent implementation, including monitoring and enforcement of the policy at local borders.

He said the harmonization of community member’s national laws and regulations to ease free movement is crucial to the implementation of the policy in various member states.

He said Free movement in the integrations process of  ECOWAS is crucial to the growth of the Sub Sahara region, “the ECOWAS region is perceived as a place of extreme mobility of populations. The bulk of migration taking place by land of  over 15,000 km of borders intra and 8500 km with their neighbouring countries of North Africa and Central the social continuums extending beyond borders: Country Haussa, more than 30 million people from northern Nigeria and Niger; Mande area with 15 million people between Senegal, Mali, Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire country borders Concept”

He stated that the commission cannot oblige any country to comform with the policy to the detriment of members state to the growth of the region.

He said the ECOWAS policy cannot be implemented by the Head of State alone, thus urgingc youth to work with government to ensure the successful integration of West Africa Communities, “the free movement of persons is paramount need for regional integration in ECOWAS.” He said.

Adding that youth must learn and understand the free movement policy for the purpose of social, economy and political development.

Nigerian representative at the meeting, Adeola Aroso, said that the policy is overrated by all ECOWAS member states, “it is all talk, no action, the policy of free movement should be effective  at all West African borders and not on paper and our governments should strengthen its local laws, institution and process on implementing the ECOWAS policy.”

Free Movement Policy not Effective- ECOWAS Youth

By Ayodele Samuel, Abidjan

Youth from Economic Community of West Africa States ECOWAS yesterday lamented the non-effectiveness of the free movement policy in the region.

Photo caption: L-R  ECOWAS Representative in Cote D’ Ivory Ambassedor Abraham Doukoure, President of the NGO Solidarité Jeunesse IVORY COAST,  Stanislas Laurent YAO, Representative of Ministry of Africa Integration, Ogni Kanga Beniot , Minister for Gender  and Family immigration Mr Doumbia Yakouba and Adviser to Spain Consular General Mrs Garcia at the opening  of the ECOWAS Youth Conference on Free Movement Policy in Abidjan CoteD’ Ivory

During the opening ceremony of a three day conference on the ECOWAS Youth Conference in Abidjan, Cote D’ Ivory, themed, "The contribution of youth organizations to raise awareness and PROMOTING THE FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS IN SPACE,”  the youth identified poverty as the major cause of migration from the ECOWAS region.

Two delegates each were selected from the 25 members state of ECOWAS to continue discussion on how successful implementation of the free movement policy will boost development in the sub-region.

Speaking at the event, Adviser to Spain Consular General in Cote D’ Ivory, Mrs Garcia, expressed her country's readiness to assist ECOWAS achieve integrate the policy. “Spain is involved in the project because migration is very important nowadays. Spain his ready to help ECOWAS to achieve the goal of free movement within the region,” she said.

She stated that migration is a major challenge to the region but if well control can be an opportunity of social and economy development.

She urged youth and community members to promote the free movement policy within the ECOWAS region.

Meanwhile, ECOWAS Representative in Cote D’ Ivory Ambassedor Abraham Doukoure in his address urged participants at the conference to share ideas and proffer solutions to the problem of barriers to free movement in the region, “This meeting is an occasion for the Youth organization to ponder about the actions that be accomplish in order to reduce constrains to the free movement of persons and good within the region,” he said.

It his welcome address, the President of the NGO Solidarité Jeunesse IVORY COAST, Stanislas Laurent YAO, said inter-regional movement is not effective while ECOWAS first principle is based on integration of its members country.

He noted that migration policies of member countries constitute the principal barrier to the free movement of goods and persons in the region.

He identified lack of proper travel documentation, corruption at borders and disrespect for ECOWAS Free movement policy by the agents of members state as major hindrance to successful implementation of the policy in the region.

He added that the objective of the conference is to create awareness about the ECOWAS free movement policy, “Ignorance of the right among citizen of ECOWAS member state remain major constrain, we need to pay a particular attention because youth constitute the highest level of migrating movement in the region.” he said.

Present at the Conference are representative of ECOWAS country missions in Cote D’Ivory, among others.

At the end of the meeting a network platform of youth organizations and young ECOWAS to raise awareness and promote the ideals of ECOWAS on the free movement of persons and property and the fight against road harassment and borders will be set up.

ECOWAS YOUTH MEET IN ABIDJAN OVER FREE MOVEMENT POLICY

By Ayodele Samuel
http://ayodelenews.blogspot.com/
 
Youth from the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) will on 15th February gather in Abidjan, Cote D’ Ivory for a capacity building workshop on youth advocacy and engagement on the implementation of free movement of persons and goods policy within the region.

Themed “The contribution of youth organizations to raise awareness and promoting the free movement of persons in space,” the conference has its participants drawn from 15 ECOWAS states.

Other issues to be discuss at the meeting includes: the legal framework and obstacles to the free movement of people and the right of establishment within ECOWAS ; strategies and means of action for youth organizations to contribute to the effective implementation of ECOWAS texts and Youth organizations and the fight against the red road and border.

The meeting according to Stanislas Laurent YAO, President of the Non-Government Organisation -Solidarité Jeunesse IVORY COAST, is to raise awareness among citizens and governments on the importance of the integration through the free movement of persons in ECOWAS.

Stanislas stated that the conference is to set up as a campaign caravan intended to help develop a framework for youth to make a status report on their involvement and the role youth can play in promoting the free movement of persons and the fight against the red road and border security.

Through this campaign caravan, it is hoped that the youth will be able to get the attention of politicians, decision makers and media about the need for the implementation of ECOWAS free movement policy.

“The overall objective of the gathering is to ensure the contribution of youth organizations across ECOWAS states in promoting the free movement of persons within the region,” he said.

Organized exchange of experiences between youth organizations in West Africa through a space of dialogue for the debate about innovative initiatives and increasing promotion of the texts governing the rights and obligations of citizens to free movement of persons within ECOWAS is a priority.

He said the central goal of the meeting is to create awareness on the issues of free movement of people and goods in the ECOWAS region and creating a change in our regions. At the end of the meeting, YAO said a network platform of youth organizations and young ECOWAS to raise awareness and promote the ideals of ECOWAS on the free movement of persons and property and the fight against road harassment and borders will be set up.

“An eye for an eye only ends up and makes the whole world blind” Mahatma Gandhi

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."
Mahatma Gandhi

"The moment there is suspicion about a person's motives, everything he does becomes tainted."
Mahatma Gandhi

“An eye for an eye only ends up and makes the whole world blind” Mahatma Gandhi

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."
Mahatma Gandhi

“Be the change you want to see in the world” Mahatma Gandhi

Quotes culled from Here

The International Women’s Media Foundation @iwmf Seeks Applications for the 2012 Women Entrepreneurs in the Digital News Frontier Grant Program

For immediate release 

WASHINGTON – The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) will award three $20,000 grants to entrepreneurial women journalists proposing to use digital media in new ways to deliver the news. 

The Women Entrepreneurs in the Digital News Frontier grant program, first offered in 2011, is diversifying the digital news media landscape by expanding the voice and role of women entrepreneurs.  In addition to seed funding, grantees will receive pro-bono coaching, and will participate in a monthly call series featuring leading entrepreneurs and digital news media experts.

Applicants can be full-time, part-time or freelance women news media professionals based in the U.S. 

A successful applicant will pitch an innovative digital news media enterprise with a well conceived plan for sustainability after initial funding has ended.  She will clearly demonstrate how her proposed enterprise advances women in the field of news media.  She will outline tangible benchmarks for her success as a digital news media entrepreneur. 

Funding is available for start-ups only.  Personal blogs and documentary projects will not be considered.   

Applications will be accepted until Friday, March 2, 2012. Late applications will not be considered.  Winners will be announced in April 2012.

2012 grantees will be selected by an advisory committee comprised of IWMF Board Members, digital news media experts and entrepreneurs. 

Read about the IWMF’s 2011 Women Entrepreneurs in the Digital News Frontier grant winners here.

View the application FAQ and apply here.

The Women Entrepreneurs in the Digital News Frontier grant program is made possible with generous support from the Ford Foundation.

Founded in 1990, the International Women’s Media Foundation works to strengthen the role of women in the news media worldwide. The IWMF network includes women and men in the media in more than 130 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.iwmf.org.