I was at the United nations General assembly representing Nigeria at the United nations Global Youth Leaders summit when i read on the internet an ADC plane carrying the Sultan of Sokoto and some other Nigerians crashed.

From here, i am not sure if there are surviviors yet, but i am extremely angry that this is the fourth time in just over a year that we will be experiencing plane crash in Nigeria. I am mad and sad. I feel it is not worth it working for and even in Nigeria any longer.

As expected, the presidential spokes-person, Madam Remi Oyo, said the president as ordered a full investigation.
The report of the investigation into the Donnier Plane crash that killed a huge sum of Niogeria's military brains is not yet out.
We dont need the reports, even as a non aviation expert, you only need to visit the airports to experience the ro going on there. I should say that there has been some improvements in recent times, but no., this improvements are not commensurate to the rate at which are best brains are dying.

In a couple of days, i will be heading back home to Nigeria, of course via a plane, many other Nigerians will be flying from differents part of the world back home the nation of their pride in the next coupl;e of days, you can imagine the fear that will grip our mind as we approach the now 'cursed' Nigerian air skies'

If i am offered the golden opportunity of coming back to Nigeria via a ship and it will take me a month., i will jump at it without thinking twice.

If i am offered the opportunity to stay forever in the US, i will reject it because i have been here in NY, i have see how it looks like and how the system works.

I know Niigeria's system will work that way one day, i. am confident about that and i want to be a part o/f this success story, i just honestly hope that more of these best brains will not keep dying either through plane crashes, political assassinations and the likes; if that happens, then maybe we will all pack our bags and go and live Nigeria to another new generation as the Wole Soyinka's generation has left it to us.

SUN Micro systems redefines Mentorship for Young people

As the United Nations Global youth Leadership summit kick-started yesterday, there has already been a landmark achievement. Sun micro system, an IT company based in the Unitted states, announced at the launching of the Global village for the summit that the company is committing to make available its over 35,000 staffs for a free one on one professional mentorship relationship for young leaders attending the UN Global Youth Summit.

The impact on this initiative on youth development globally will be tremendous as it will afford so many young people the unique opportunity to interact, learn and recieve advice from well established professionals thereby providing them with thr neccessary guidance needed to develop a meaningful life.

However, young people in developinng countries especially africa will not be available to access this opportunity due to the unaffordaibility and the difficultiies involved in accessing ICT platforms.

In african countries where there exists a robust internet infrastructure, the cost of accessing these structuresis usually too high for the average young person in afriica. For example in Nigeria, there is only 1 computer for every 200 university students.

Sun micro systems have paved the way for a robust private sector partership with the United nations and young leaders to ensure that the digital divide that exists between the global south and North diminishes. Other private sector companies also need to work with young people in developing countries of asia and Africa to ensure that they become an integral part of the participation age and information society in order to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals are achived by 2015.

Over 400 youth leaders from around the world will converge at the
United Nations this week to attend the first ever United nations
Global Youth Leaders summit.

The summit will kickstart on the 29th of November 2006 and ends on the
31st of November. The youth leaders are expected to come from the 181
member states of the United nations.

Already, some of the delegates are trickling in. Delegates from
Angola, Nepal, Niger and Nigeria are already in New York, they will be
attending the pre summit peace training alongside 70 other selected
delegates at the Dharma drum Mountain in New York.

In the words of the Angola delegate, ´´I am glad and excited to be
representing several thousands of young people in my country and
indeed the entire country at this very important meeting and i hope to
bring the attention of the world to challenges faced by young people
in Angola and how we have been working hard to ensure that Angola
achieves the Millenium Development Goals´´.

The summit is not just another talkshop, this is the first time the
United Nations will be hosting young people from all over the world at
the General Assembly gorund.

Expected at the summit are the Secretary General of the United
Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, who will be bowing out of service at the end
of the year, Mr. Bill Clinton (former US president) and a host of
others.

This summit is especially important for Africa says Huawa Umar from
Nigeria, because it presents an opportunity for the African delegate
to mobilise support for their countries and to dispel many of the
myths held against Africa which has been propelled by media.

From Malaria, to HIV and AIDS, education to sustainable environment,
the young diplomats at this summit will share experience, best
practises and come up with a declaration on behalf of the entire young
people of the world.

Watch out for more update as i will follow up on the summit and xray
the events and discussions as they unfold

Some days ago, Nigeria turned 46, or better put, Nigeria celebrated 46 years of freedom from the shackles of colonialism.

46 years down the road, Nigeria has had quite a lot of set backs, notably amongst which are military dictatorship, a high level of corruption and a near failed state.

Over the years, Nigeria best brains has flocked out of the country in search of the golden fleece, scientists academicians, journalist, youth notably amongst them Philip Emeagwalli who has earned himself a world wide fame as an IT tinkerer.

However, in the past few years, escpecially since the enthronement of democracy, Nigeria has had pockets of successes, cheaper and more accessible communications, a new attitude to make things work most importantly, and now for the first time in its history a national movement to battle corruption headstrong led by the Nuhu Ribadu's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

High profile cases, individuals whom the average citizen usually think are untouchable have been arrested and prosecuted...the long lists include a former police chief, Cabinet Ministers, former President of the Senate and most recently a damning report on the Vice president. (To be contd)