HOW TO ADVANCE MEDIA CAREER IN 2013

Three speakers, Mr Gbolahan Gbadamosi (GG) and I will be joining Mr Lekan Otufodunrin to speak on the above topic at the January fellowship of Journalists for Christ on Saturday, January 26, 2013.

Venue: International Press Centre, Dideolu Estate, Ogba, Lagos.

Time: 12 noon- 2pm.

Mr Lekan Otufodunrin is the President of JFC http://mediacareerng.blogspot.com/ and Editor, Online, The Nation Newspaper thenationonlineng.net.

Mr Gbolahan Gbadamosi is a former Judicial Correspondent of The Guardian Newspaper. Gbadamosi holds a Bachelors Degree in History/Political Science from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife; Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication and a Bachelors Degree in Law both from the University of Lagos. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002. He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, International Bar Association and currently the National President of Lawyers in the Media.

And there is me: a new crop of journalist, still wearing the "L" sign -- learning, and growing in the field by God's grace. :-)

If you are in town, join us for JFC fellowship today! See you there!


(This post is a jenniferized version of the update Mr Otufodunrin posted on his FB page).

Reporting on Health and Development... #IRP2013

Fresh news is up on GPI news wire.  This year, I'll be doing a lot of reporting on the business of health and development as an IRP New Media Fellow. Here is getting started: Young HIV positive Nigerians Seek Education, Rights

It is going to be an exciting year of learning, unlearning, sharing and empowering while contributing to ensuring people have access to accurate information.

Don't miss our coverage!

For more info on International Reporting Project, click here: http://internationalreportingproject.org/

Follow on Twitter: @IRPChirps

GPI News wire: http://globalpressinstitute.org/ and @pressinstitute


There is more!!

New Tool: How to Calculate Corruption in Nigeria

When corrupt political leaders or “escapade” of corrupt individuals is reported in Nigeria most of the time, the reports are usually punctuated with shocking figures. But these jaw-dropping figures will remain just figures unless translated in a way the average man on the street can understand.

A classic example of what I mean by translating the figures can be found on Ventures Africa’s news portal. In his article, “James Ibori And The Futility Of Public Office Theft,” Fisayo Soyombo wrote:

"Iboris’ confiscated properties, which he amassed through his ill-gotten wealth, amount to several hundred billions of naira! Imagine if Ibori had allocated just N10b to construction of roads in Delta and another N20b to upping the standard of education in the state; imagine if he dedicated N30b to creation of jobs, and, say, N40b to improving the pay package of public service workers. He could have effortlessly channeled N50b into developing agricultural productivity among his people."

Imagine a tool that allows everyone calculate the opportunity cost of corruption in Nigeria. Well, don’t imagine it for long! The tool is here!!

WANGONeT's Corruption Calculator  is a FREE application that helps individuals compute the opportunity cost of the funds siphoned by our leaders. By using the calculator, individuals are able to have contextual comparisons into the actual cost of the stolen and misappropriated funds.

To get started, click here: http://antigraft.org/wangonet/corruptioncalculator

A list of different corrupt profiles and the figures they are accused of stealing public funds are available here: http://antigraft.org/profilecase

I still maintain that kicking corruption out of Nigeria can only be successful if we start with self. If we are serious about winning the war and liberating our country and resources from the shackles of fraud and greed in all sectors then we must all stand up to the responsibility and start fighting corruption from the very level that we are.

Don't forget to report corruption http://antigraft.org/node/add/bribereports, no matter what form it is dressed.

Click here for more info: http://antigraft.org

 Spread the word! Take action!

Getting Creative. Beating Unemployment

The young man says he is not joking with his new skill- driving skill. "I have already started submitting my application," he said.

It is about 8.30am. And we are all waiting for our turn at xxx driving school. Even though we are all here to learn how to drive, the motive driving us to acquiring this new skill is different- just like our faces.

For some, learning to drive is just for fun. For others, it is to give them an edge. Others are preparing for the raining day- incase their driver(s) wake up one day and quit without notice. For the young man, it is to make him more employable. I can imagine a driving job already waiting for him out there! Opportunity meets preparation.

The unemployment statistics will start reducing when young people get more creative in their approach to employability. It is not only one way that leads to the market!

The To-Do List. Saying No. Quit Whining (culled from The Professional)

The To-Do List 

I cannot remember a time when I did not make to-do lists. Each morning, I look at what I need to accomplish that day, and in the evening I check off all the things I did. It is my small victory over time…
The to-do list is nothing but a set of goals- not the big goals of life, but the small day-to ones we have to get through on our way to achieving our vision. Goals have a powerful ability to shape our behaviour, motivate us, create energy… once you build goals, you enter the virtuous cycle by which when you are close to achieving a goals, newer goals appear, and this process keeps you going. This is the essence of the purpose-driven life…
The issue some people face is not the absence of a goal, but rather the presence of too many and the lack of prioritization. I find many young people wanting to learn a new language, enrol in a personal development program, join a gym, read a book, write a blog, run a marathon and socialize, all at the same time. It is important to prioritize one’s life. ask what is really important to you. Also ask yourself why that thing is so important and whether you are willing to commit yourself completely to it.

Saying No

It is surprising how the inability to say no results in time wasting, poor prioritization and the feeling of always being rushed and behind deadlines. I am constantly surprised by the number of people who attend meetings in which they have no interest. It is a criminal waste of human potential. Do not attend meetings just because you get invited to them; say no when you know you have no value to add to the discussions. You will be surprised how your forthrightness will eventually evoke admiration…
…Attend meetings in which you have a solid viewpoint and can add or receive value…
As a professional, you must set the limits, and when you do, people will respect you for it.

Quit Whining (about your job)

Jobs are not meant to satisfy us. Jobs do not know who we are, what we are seeking and what our special needs could be. You may think this is a mere philosophical statement. On the contrary, I believe it is the most practical and rewarding way of looking at a professional’s career. When I see scores of successful people around me, I believe their achievements are due largely to such a perspective.
Some people dislike their work, some like the salary but not the work; some dislike their boss yet others dislike their colleagues. In some cases people dislike the idea of work itself. A professional realizes that work is a blessing and, most of the time, it is therapeutic. We are lucky we have work to do. Every day, increasing numbers of people in this world feel left out, unlucky, because they have woken up to a morning without any work…
Many professionals argue that it is not the work they do that bothers them; they are bored with routine. “I seek challenge” is the headline on most resumes. The world goes around because of its capacity to be predictable. The bees and other insects pollinate the crop so that we can get our food with “monotonous” regularity. Imagine the sun getting bored with its work or the Earth feeling bored with its axis? Routine things done well make life livable.
And what is not routine about a cardiac surgeon who operates on people every day? Or a pilot who flies airplanes? …the great challenging job is often an illusion; making the routine interesting is the real challenge.
Sometimes, we have genuine problems at work. We may be underemployed or stymied in our quest for advancement, or have toxic bosses and difficult colleagues. The way out is to face up to the problem. Speak to someone in the organization or even an outside trained counsellor. Discuss the issue, find a solution, be open in examining how much of the problem is because of you or your own insecurities. Try to correct yourself. If you find the organizational fit is wrong, find another job- but do not whine. It simply does not help…

Culled from: The Professional by Subroto Bagchi. 

The book is a must read for young professionals :-) Happy Monday! Have a fabulous week ahead!!

New Opening: Partnership Opportunity for youth and education focused NGOs in Nigeria

Opportunity: An International Organization based in Abuja is looking for new partners to work with in Nigeria!

Please if you run a real NGO with key focus on youth and education, kindly send your organisation's profile and contact details to youthmakingchange@gmail.com.

Please help spread the word!

Thanks.

Position yourself... #2013

I did ask my Ethiopian colleague why they were not celebrating Christmas and New Year. Don't get me wrong- Ethiopians do celebrate... But not at the same time with the rest of the world on December 25th and January 1st, respectively.

So while we, in Nigeria, screamed Happy New Year last night, I could imagine my few friends and associates turning over in their bed. January 1 is just another day. They'll wake up, and show up for work.

Wait until January 7th- thats when Christmas rave will go up in the East African country! And New Year's day? It is in September, baby! Yes, come September the good people of Ethiopia will have their turn screaming "Happy New Year" as they transition from 2005 to year 2006. I'll let you know when I successfully understand the Ethiopian time and Calendar.

So this exactly is my point- Happy New Year friends, today can either be another day on your Calendar or the best of time for you to step up your game.

Honestly, we all know our houses did not move any inch today. The stairways did not expand because it is 2013.

We 'll have to position ourselves well and push for the change we want to see. As one of my brothers once said, "nothing will change if no one changes things."

Don't be carried away by all the merry and music. Position yourself for another day to do more and be more. Yesterday's failure is an opportunity to learn to rise again.

What are you willingly to do differently this New Year to achieve a better result?

Get started and learn to bloom where you're planted.

Get started, already!