The Future of Work in Africa: Innovations in Youth Employment: Future Forward Ecosystem Exchange-Nigeria 2016.
The Future Forward Ecosystem Exchange Nigeria was a collaborative event, which focuses on scaling the impact of social innovators like YOU to transform the youth employment landscape in Nigeria and beyond. It features capacity building and peer-to-peer feedback sessions; workshops lead by thought leaders; and networking opportunities with other organizations who are also working on youth employment in Nigeria. The purpose of the Ecosystem Exchange was to assist you and your organization with amplifying its impact. The Future Forward partnership, between Ashoka and The MasterCard Foundation, aims to identify and convene innovators, thought leaders, and youth to inform the conversation about solutions that can move #AfricaYouthFwd in Nigeria.
Theme: Do Something: Innovate People & Process.
The event had in attendance representatives from Ashoka Staff, Ashoka Fellows and Ashoka Changemakers Scholars across the country who shared their innovative experiences in different sectors – from media, enterprise development, social innovation agriculture, ICT, to education. The event was co-hosted and co-facilitated by Topsie Egbetokun and Gabila Neba Franklin from Cameroon.
According to the Ashoka Changemakers Scholars Coordinator in Nigeria and CEO of Business Without Boundaries (BwB), Olutope Olatilewa Egbetokun popularly known as Topsie, the convener of the event. She challenged the new scholars with these words: “The proof that you have gone through these courses should be seen in the innovation you institute after now. “The certificate and sash are only a beginning point for you and for the many innovations that Africa expects from you in your areas of focus.” She furthered: “While it is important to innovate, collaboration among young innovators is also important for Nigeria’s development. “The aim is to change the landscape of policies, leadership, governance and youth engagement in creating a better Nigeria project and Africa enterprise”. With this award, Ashoka and Mastercard Foundation as well as the rest of the continent are looking up to you for future of work in Africa.”
The Nigerian valedictory session, “Ecosystem Exchange Nigeria: Do Something! Innovate Youth”, was a fitting conclusion to a six-week African Changemakers course that involved thorough online training and deliberation on the Future of Work in Africa. 32 Ashoka Scholars were honoured on Saturday, July 2nd at NECA House, Ikeja Lagos State following their completion of the youth employability innovation course, Future Forward.
Future Forward course, an initiative by Ashoka Changemakers in partnership with MasterCard foundation, is targeted to recognize, educate, equip and empower young individuals in Africa who have exhibited leadership qualities and are passionately providing sustainable solutions to the issue of unemployment and human incompetence in Africa.
FOR All CHANGEMAKERS
- I can’t pay it back, so I have to pay it forward through empowering others. That’s the power of changemaking – it cyclical.
- If you light a lamp for someone, it will also brighten your own path – Buddhist Proverb
- Success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about difference you make in people’s lives.
- Emerging leaders needs mentors to guide them, but they also need a network of peers to reassure them they are not on the path alone.
** Future Forward Ecosystem Exchange-Nigeria 2016 Picture Gallery: https://flic.kr/s/aHskCAWrSC
** I’m Changing – The Future of Work in Africa – Campaign-Nigeria Edition Reloading: https://flic.kr/s/aHskDXYmUY
** Future Forward Ecosystem Exchange-Nigeria 2016 Report: http://bit.ly/2bzpJxB