http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/454087
It is a painful process for Nigerians, especially the Bakassi people, who have lived, earned livelihood, spent Nigerian currency, has a local government of their own which is recognised and enshrined in the 1999 constitution, to now officially have their land and some of their people (if they choose to) to be ceded to Cameroun.

The road to this process has been a long and complex one. We went all the way to the international court where we lost the case. Nigeria gave her commitment to honour the court verdict by further signing a Greentree agreement at the United Nations several months ago.

No matter what happens, i salute the courage of our leaders for choosing peace instead of war in settling what could have turned into a diplomatic mess.

Bakkassi belonging to cameroun or not, its all about people. We need to ensure that the people who have lived in that region or their lives are comfortably resettled back in Nigeria, with little or no fuss at all.

On a lighter mood, i look forward to seeing what the new nigerian map would look like without bakassi, the shape of the map i learnt in my primary school is forever shaped in my memory.]]> Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:33:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/454087 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/450643
I was shocked, and also sad, about these development, an attempt to hide the real motive behind these demotions fell like a pack of cards, no one, even the press, could not be fooled, the demotion was targeted at Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria's foremost anti-corruption Czar, whom elements within this government want to reduce to a mere rubble. Ribadu alongised hundred of officers, including the gallantry Haz Iwendi, was demoted from AIG to a deputy commissioner of police.

Apart from the headaches of solving the administrative blunder that will arise from this decision (Ribadu is currently attending a course at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategi Studies because of his title as an AIG), the now bold attempt to rubbish and heap embarrasment and disgrace on a set of people who have defied all odds, swam against the tides to work for the betterment of this country is very discouraging and confusing.

Ribadu's crime: Daring to arrest and prosecute, the class of untouchable Nigerian.

Apart from Ribadu; Soludo's wrinkles have deepened since the advent of this administration; his attempt to introduce a Naira redenomination policy mid-last year was crushed with a sledge hammer because, as we were told, he did not follow due process.

His attempt to build Africa Finance Corporation into a world class institution that will mobilise funds specifically for infrastructure projects in Nigeria and several other African countries has now been dragged in the mud: Why? Because he did not follow due process.

If it is to sack Ribadu or send him on an exilic course in Kuru, the due process code that is very active in arriving at many decision suddenly goes on hibernation.

The lists are endless, Ribadu, Soludo, Okonjo Iweala, El-Rufai: we know! They have toiled endlessly in the last couple of years to turn round the fortunes of this country; however, they have been replaced by a group of Ministers who for lack of what to do, have turned round to ridicule the work of their predecessors.

Caution: We, as a country, need to be mindful of what we preach, who we reward, who we criticise. The lesson out there is simple: Steal enough money, Government might ask you to return some, you will still have enough for you and your 4 generations. Fight too much for your country and step on big toes, we will spear no expense to bring you down.

This lesson is very dangerous especially for young people, we better start changing it now!]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:07:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/450643 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/441515
You have the opportunity to listen to him talk for free by visiting www.chrisgardnernigeria.com ]]> Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:44:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/441515 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/416095 Clad in a black suit, spotting some grey hair, Dr. Meshida stood tall as he shared with the rest of Nigeria and the world, his ground breaking work on the invention of “lateralite”, a stabilizing flux for fine grained lateritic soils which could potentially be a solution to road pavement destabilization.
According to Dr. Meshida, laboratory and field tests have shown that when the flux is mixed at a ratio of 1:10 by volume with compacted clayey lateritic soils, the soils are no longer soluble in water but maintain their compacted strength. What this all means is that the adoption of the flux for the treatment of problematic sub-grade or base course in road construction should eliminate the development of pot-holes and wavy wearing course, as excess moisture would no longer be a major factor causing pavement destabilization, leading to longer lasting highways in Nigeria.
The road to Dr. Meshida’s award winning research started in 1975 as a research student in the department of Geology, University of Ife. He chose the problem of water dissolution of base course lateritic soils as his self designed research problem. This was based on his experience as an engineering geologist in 1972 while working for Messrs Nigeria soil Engineering Company at Ikeja, in Lagos. He had to intensify his knowledge of Geo-chemistry and mineralogy towards finding the solution. After several attempts, he achieved success in 2001, 26 years after he commenced his research. The rest is now history.
Dr. Meshida is a home-grown egg head. He had the major part of his primary education in Ado-Ekiti from where he went to Akure for secondary education. After school, he went to Christ School in Ado-Ekiti for his Higher School Certificate (HSC), before proceeding to the University of Ibadan. He graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and went back shortly after for a Bachelor of Science in Geology, graduating in 1971. Meshida holds a PhD in geology (Geotechnics) which he obtained in 1985 from the Obafemi Awolowo University.
Several of Nigeria’s finest academicians joined Dr. Meshida on stage at the University of Lagos main auditorium as he was publicly presented as the winner of the 2008 NLNG Nigerian prize for science which comes with a cash award of $50,000 making it the most prestigious prize for science on the continent. Among them is Emeritus Professor David Okali, President of the Nigerian Academy of science who lamented on the dearth of entries for the awards. According to him, of the more than 40 entries, Meshida’s work stood tall and it was easy for the selection committee to pick him as the winner. He would have expected a scenario where two to three entries will jostle for the final selection and the committee will have a problem selecting a winner, which was not the case.
In his welcome address at the occasion, the deputy managing director of Nigeria LNG Limited, Engr. Faithful Abbi AbbiyeSuku described the Nigerian prize for science as the product of partnerships between the NLNG and the Nigerian Academy of Science. The NLNG, he said, embarked on the project as a firm conviction that greater recognition for science will provide leaders with answers to crucial national issues and bring about improvement in living standards. The award amongst many things is also expected to make the youth crave to be scientists, to put scientists in the list of the nation’s role models by elevating Nigerian scientists to ‘rock-star status’ having same face and name recognition as Nollywood stars.
Meshida’s work has turned into a beacon of light in Nigeria’s ivory towers. What with coping with obsolete and non-existence laboratories and equipments, lack of research grants and an uncooperative and unconcerned Government. There is at present little interaction between university based research results and their industry application in Nigeria. The parallelism of efforts in this area has to be arrested for good says Meshida.
Fortunately for Meshida and unfortunately for Nigeria, the invention of lateralite has caught the attention of a Chinese firm operating in Nigeria who has requested for the purchase of a manufacturing formula and the franchise to market the flux. Should Meshida accede to the request, the flux automatically becomes a foreign product like many other Nigerian inventions, a reason why many of Nigeria’s best brains leave the country in droves for greener pastures.
If the NLNG and the Nigerian Academy of Science dream of turning scientist into rock-star status will be achieved, winners of the Nigerian prize for Science must be taken round various higher institutions to deliver lectures and act as role-models to students so as to ensure that scientists have equal chance with the Nigerian music and video stars as role models for the Nigerian youth.






]]> Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:06:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/416095 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/416093 Accolades upon accolades poured in on Dr. E.A. Meshida, winner of the Nigerian prize for science, 2008 as he was honoured yesterday at a public presentation organized by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and the Nigerian Academy of Science at the University of Lagos.
Clad in a black suit, spotting some grey hair, Dr. Meshida stood tall as he shared with the rest of Nigeria and the world, his ground breaking work on the invention of “lateralite”, a stabilizing flux for fine grained lateritic soils which could potentially be a solution to road pavement destabilization.
According to Dr. Meshida, laboratory and field tests have shown that when the flux is mixed at a ratio of 1:10 by volume with compacted clayey lateritic soils, the soils are no longer soluble in water but maintain their compacted strength. What this all means is that the adoption of the flux for the treatment of problematic sub-grade or base course in road construction should eliminate the development of pot-holes and wavy wearing course, as excess moisture would no longer be a major factor causing pavement destabilization, leading to longer lasting highways in Nigeria.
The road to Dr. Meshida’s award winning research started in 1975 as a research student in the department of Geology, University of Ife. He chose the problem of water dissolution of base course lateritic soils as his self designed research problem. This was based on his experience as an engineering geologist in 1972 while working for Messrs Nigeria soil Engineering Company at Ikeja, in Lagos. He had to intensify his knowledge of Geo-chemistry and mineralogy towards finding the solution. After several attempts, he achieved success in 2001, 26 years after he commenced his research. The rest is now history.
Dr. Meshida is a home-grown egg head. He had the major part of his primary education in Ado-Ekiti from where he went to Akure for secondary education. After school, he went to Christ School in Ado-Ekiti for his Higher School Certificate (HSC), before proceeding to the University of Ibadan. He graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and went back shortly after for a Bachelor of Science in Geology, graduating in 1971. Meshida holds a PhD in geology (Geotechnics) which he obtained in 1985 from the Obafemi Awolowo University.
Several of Nigeria’s finest academicians joined Dr. Meshida on stage at the University of Lagos main auditorium as he was publicly presented as the winner of the 2008 NLNG Nigerian prize for science which comes with a cash award of $50,000 making it the most prestigious prize for science on the continent. Among them is Emeritus Professor David Okali, President of the Nigerian Academy of science who lamented on the dearth of entries for the awards. According to him, of the more than 40 entries, Meshida’s work stood tall and it was easy for the selection committee to pick him as the winner. He would have expected a scenario where two to three entries will jostle for the final selection and the committee will have a problem selecting a winner, which was not the case.
In his welcome address at the occasion, the deputy managing director of Nigeria LNG Limited, Engr. Faithful Abbi AbbiyeSuku described the Nigerian prize for science as the product of partnerships between the NLNG and the Nigerian Academy of Science. The NLNG, he said, embarked on the project as a firm conviction that greater recognition for science will provide leaders with answers to crucial national issues and bring about improvement in living standards. The award amongst many things is also expected to make the youth crave to be scientists, to put scientists in the list of the nation’s role models by elevating Nigerian scientists to ‘rock-star status’ having same face and name recognition as Nollywood stars.
Meshida’s work has turned into a beacon of light in Nigeria’s ivory towers. What with coping with obsolete and non-existence laboratories and equipments, lack of research grants and an uncooperative and unconcerned Government. There is at present little interaction between university based research results and their industry application in Nigeria. The parallelism of efforts in this area has to be arrested for good says Meshida.
Fortunately for Meshida and unfortunately for Nigeria, the invention of lateralite has caught the attention of a Chinese firm operating in Nigeria who has requested for the purchase of a manufacturing formula and the franchise to market the flux. Should Meshida accede to the request, the flux automatically becomes a foreign product like many other Nigerian inventions, a reason why many of Nigeria’s best brains leave the country in droves for greener pastures.
If the NLNG and the Nigerian Academy of Science dream of turning scientist into rock-star status will be achieved, winners of the Nigerian prize for Science must be taken round various higher institutions to deliver lectures and act as role-models to students so as to ensure that scientists have equal chance with the Nigerian music and video stars as role models for the Nigerian youth.






]]> Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:03:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/416093 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/401545
By my calculations, that is 65 persons for every 1 job available at the immigrations.

Today, there are possibly close to a million unemployed or under-employed nigerian youths raoming the streets of Nigeria.

I hope and pray that something meaningful will be done soon. We need to end the probe era and move on to meaningful development work. We need to move forward and stop looking back. we need to create jobs.

Nigeria must work!]]> Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:47:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/401545 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/384211
For close to four hours, i was held spell bound as i read through the entire book. Azu tried to explain how Ribadu 'for the first time in Nigeria's history' commenced an assault on 'hi-profile' looters of our national treasury.

He chronicled the attempt by Aondoaka, the minsiter for justice to carpet both EFCC and ICPC and render them useless. Above all, he highlighted how Ribadu tried as best as he could to build the institution named EFCC.

Yesterday, the senate confirmed Madam Waziri as the new chairman of EFCC. Firstly she parades strong credentials, secondly, she is a woman but asides these i have my doubts that she will bring zeal, passion and anger to the job as much as Ribadu did.

Whatever the case, the EFCC as an institution needs to build on past successes and move forward under the new chairman.

Time will tell if EFCC will turn into a lame duck institution under her watch]]> Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:16:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/384211 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/280179
I fell in love with the books, especially Jagua Nana's daughter.

cyprian ekwensi began his writing career with the publishing of 'The Leopard's claw in 1950'. The writing career spanned more tan 50 years, his last known book 'Gone to Mecca' was published in 1991.

cyprian Ekwensi, is a good Nigerian role model.

he is gone. may his sooul rest in peace.]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:40:00 EST http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/280179 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/276859
i should admit, my expectations were very low, you do not want to expect much from politicians, i said to myself, it is better that you set a low standard, so that you won't be dissapointed.

However, for 11 days, i have watched from the gallery, the robust debates and contributions from legislators at the ousn state house of assembly, i have been more than impressed.

Since inception of the current house of assembly on June 4 2007, the legislators have debated and passed into law 5 bills. This is at the rate of a bill a month, which is highly commendable.

To think that the house consist of 15 PDP members and 11 action congress members, then you will understand that this is not an ordinary feat.

speaking with the Majority Leader of the house yesterday, he believes that the experience of the speaker as a three-time legislator plays a large role in the effectivesness of the state parliament.

Just yesterday, the house of assembly passed into law, the more than 120 paes child right bill, after more than six weeks of deliberation.

Other bills that have been passed icnludes, the Osun state revenue generation bill, the Osun state emergency managment bill amongst several other.

The house sits 4 times in a week from Monday to thursday.

I want to use this opportunity to praise the osun state house of assembly and to also urge them not to rest on their oars in passing good legislation for the good people of osun state.]]> Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:55:00 EST http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/276859 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/276855
after which a motion for the third reading was moved and seconded, and the bill passed into law, currently awaiting the Governor's assent.

The journey till yesterday has been challenging and exciting. The Nigerian National assembly passed the child right bill into an act in 2003. Since then, all the states in Nigeria were mandated to adopt the bill to suit the needs of their people.

The bill has been at the osun state house of assembly since 2005. It was not passed by the last house of assembly.

since the inception of this current house of assembly, they debated the bill for 6 straight weeks until it was finally passed yesterday.

i am glad to have watched the process and in my opinion, i think children and young people in osun state will be the better for it.]]> Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:52:00 EST http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/276855 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/273391
As an avid user of the internet, i subscribed quickly to o-net internet services using a frien'd o-nret line.

For the past 1 week, i have had 3 hours daily access which is extremely slow.
It takes 30 minutes to log into my gmail acocunt. It takes forever to open my yahoomail and infact dont even try to attach and send a document, it will take forever.

I am back at the internet cafes mingling wit all sorts of people.
It is well]]> Tue, 30 Oct 2007 06:30:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/273391 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/264597
Students were very angry and sad at the development because most of them read and crammed over the weekend and came prepared to write exams.

From 8am, they waited without end until 11am to commence exams, lecturers and invigilators did not show up.

As at now, no one is sure of the exact situation, wether exams will commence tomorrow or not.

]]> Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:54:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/264597 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/263007 Okonjo-Iweala, whose app-ointment takes effect from December 1, will join Managing Directors Juan Jose Daboub and Graeme Wheeler, Executive Vice Presidents Lars Thunell (IFC) and Yukiko Omura (MIGA), and Chief Financial Officer Vincenzo La Via at the top level of World Bank Group (WBG) management.
World Bank President, Mr. Robert B. Zoellick, who announced the appointment yesterday, remarked that Okonjo-Iweala’s commitment to the developing world was unparalleled, noting: "Ngozi brings a unique set of skills and experience to the World Bank Group.”
According to him, as an outstanding Minister of Finance and Foreign Minister in Nigeria, Ngozi helped lead the country's reform programme on issues of fiscal prudence, transparency of government accounts, good governance, and anti-corruption.
He said she led Nigeria’s quest for debt relief and helped her country obtain an unprecedented US$18 billion write-off from the Paris Club.
Ngozi was also instrumental in helping Nigeria obtain its first ever Sovereign Credit rating (of BB minus) from Fitch and Standard Poor’s. She is an internationally respected world leader. In addition, she knows the WBG well from her 21 years of service.
“Her commitment to the developing world is unparalleled. I am delighted she has accepted to join my senior team,” he said.
Before her eventful years as the country’s finance minister, Okonjo-Iweala served in a number of important positions at the World Bank including Vice President and Corporate Secretary, Director of Operations in the Middle East and North Africa region, and Country Director for the South East Asia and Mongolia Country unit. She joined the World Bank in 1982.
Okonjo-Iweala, is the Founder of NOI-Gallup polls, an indigenous Nigerian opinion research organization, and co-founder of the Makeda Fund – a fund to invest in African women entrepreneurs. She is currently a Distinguished Fellow at the Brookings Institution.
From 2003-2006, she served as Finance Minister and subsequently Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria.
As Finance Minister, Okonjo-Iweala led Nigeria’s Economic Team responsible for implementing the Obasanjo administration’s far-reaching economic and social reform agenda. The reforms made particular progress in restoring macroeconomic stability, tripling growth, initiating a strong fight against corruption, and increasing transparency.
Accepting the appointment, Okonjo-Iweala said: “I am delighted to be coming back, and I welcome the opportunity to work through this great institution to make a difference in the lives of our youth, and our hardworking men and women in the developing world. I particularly look forward to working with President Zoellick as he maps out exciting new paths for the World Bank Group.”
She is a member or chair of numerous boards and advisory groups in the public, private and non-governmental sectors including DATA, the World Resources Institute, the Clinton Global Initiative, the Nelson Mandela Institution and the African Institutes of Science and Technology, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Governance Prize Committee, Friends of the Global Fund Africa. She is also an adviser to the World Bank on the Stolen Assets Recovery (STAR) initiative, and served as a member of the Malan Committee on Bank-Fund collaboration.
Okonjo-Iweala graduated with an A.B. magna cum laude in Economics from Harvard University, and holds a PhD in Regional Economics and Development from the Massa-chusetts Institute of Technology.

Sourse: www.thisdayonline.com
]]> Fri, 05 Oct 2007 10:09:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/263007 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/262591 PS: i got this from Ibraheem sanusi's pictures on Facebook.

Cheers]]> Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:39:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/262591 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/262203
1 boiled egg
ripe fried plantain
1 satchet of indomie

Total time: 20 mins]]> Tue, 02 Oct 2007 06:05:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/262203 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/261183
Please follow the link.

http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/youth/2007/09/presenting_the_ecyis_new_youth.html#more]]> Fri, 28 Sep 2007 05:20:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/261183 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/252143
MTV will soon begin promoting the award throughout its international network – spanning more than 160 countries and nearly 500 million households – with promo spots that have been created in nine different languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, French, Russian and more. The Boys Girls Clubs of America, with more than 4,000 Clubs in the United States and abroad, has also signed on to promote the opportunity to the more than 4.8 million young people it serves.

"Young people are more likely to see the world without limits. We’re looking for fresh ideas. Young people are less likely to be intimidated, by convention or custom, from asking questions like ‘why not do it in a different way?’ ” said Alberto Ibargüen, president and CEO of Knight Foundation. “The Young Creators Award encourages and rewards innovative ideas and individuals.”

"MTV is proud to leverage our global reach and the boundless creativity of our audience as a way to help strengthen communities around the world," said Ian Rowe, vice president of Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, MTV. "No group is more technically savvy or inventive than today's youth, and we can't wait to see their brilliant ideas on how technology and journalism can bring more people together in the real world."

“Boys Girls Clubs of America is thrilled to promote the Young Creators Award with MTV and Knight Foundation,” said Judith J. Pickens, senior vice president, Program Youth Development Services, Boys Girls Clubs of America. “This initiative seamlessly fits our commitment to increase digital literacy and civic engagement among Club members who are active citizens of their community, their nation and the world.”

The Young Creators Award is open to young community-minded innovators worldwide with big ideas such as: anything that informs and inspires community using bits and bytes; new ways to deliver news on emerging platforms, such as cell phone documentaries; new types of operating software for news collectors; and journalism games. All entries require three elements: 1) use of a digital media; 2) delivery of news or information on a shared basis to 3) a geographically defined community. Although there is a category for commercial applications, most entries are "open-source" and must share the software and knowledge created. The number of grants awarded will be based on the size of the ideas; no idea is too large or too small.

The first year of the Knight News Challenge concluded with grants to 25 individuals and private and public entities. Some first-year winning projects included:

New software that links databases, allowing citizens to learn (and act on) civic information about their neighborhood or block.
Cell phone distribution of video news reports from mobile young journalists on the 2008 presidential election.
Online games to inform and engage players about key issues confronting New York City.
An online environment which lets citizens “play” through a complex, evolving news story through interaction with the newsmakers.
Digital newscasts for Philadelphia’s immigrant community distributed through a new citywide wireless platform.
This year, for the first time, the contest's web site – www.newschallenge.org – will also allow entrants to invite public comment, to help improve their entries. A special Web site has also been created for the Young Creators category at think.mtv.com and at www.youngcreatorsaward.com. The web site will accept applications through Oct. 15, 2007. Winners are expected to be announced by the spring of 2008.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation invests in journalism excellence worldwide and in the vitality of the U.S. communities. Since 1950 the foundation has granted more than $300 million to advance quality journalism and freedom of expression. It focuses on projects with the potential to create transformational change. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.

Boys Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) comprises a national network of more than 4,000 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving some 4.8 million young people, in all 50 states and on U.S. military bases worldwide. Known as “The Positive Place for Kids,” the Clubs provide guidance-oriented character development programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Key Boys Girls Club programs emphasize leadership development, education and career exploration, financial literacy, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation, and family outreach. National headquarters are located in Atlanta.

thinkMTV is the umbrella for MTV’s on-air, off-air and online “pro-social” campaigns that engage, educate and encourage young people to take action on some of the biggest challenges facing their generation. This includes the Break the Addiction campaign on global warming, the Choose or Lose campaign on the presidential election, ongoing efforts with the Kaiser Family Foundation on sexual health and HIV/AIDS, and a partnership with the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation to help more high school students graduate prepared for college, career and life. MTV is the recipient of a Knight News Challenge grant for a program that will empower one young person in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to cover the 2008 elections as MTV and Knight multimedia youth journalists. Audio, video, photo and written reports will be spread via mobile devices and online, with the most popular showcased across MTV's platforms.



]]> Fri, 21 Sep 2007 22:02:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/252143 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/251181 For Digital Experiments in Community News
International contest offers high winning chances for innovative ideas.

MIAMI - The Miami-based John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has launched year two of an international contest, the Knight News Challenge, awarding as much as $5 million for innovative ideas using digital experiments to transform community news.

Do you have a big idea for informing and inspiring community using bits and bytes? Cell phone documentaries? New operating software for news collectors? Journalism games? Nothing is too far out to qualify. With the slogan "You Invent It. We Fund It!" the contest is open to community-minded innovators worldwide, from software designers to journalists to citizens and students of any age.

The Knight News Challenge contest aims to discover ideas for using digitally delivered news and information to enhance physical communities and improve the lives of people where they live, work and vote. "Jim and Jack Knight fostered community through their newspapers," said Alberto Ibargüen, president and CEO of Knight Foundation. "The Knight News Challenge hopes to discover innovative ways of using cyberspace to bring communities together."

The first year of the contest concluded with grants to 25 individuals and private and public entities ranging from MIT to MTV. Some first-year winning projects included:


New software that links databases, allowing citizens to learn (and act on) civic information about their neighborhood or block.
Cell phone distribution of video news reports from mobile young journalists on the 2008 presidential election.
Online games to inform and engage players about key issues confronting New York City.
An online environment which lets citizens "play" through a complex, evolving news story through interaction with the newsmakers.
Digital newscasts for Philadelphia's immigrant community distributed through a new citywide wireless platform.

Winning entries must have three elements (besides being innovative): 1) use of a digital media; 2) delivery of news or information on a shared basis to 3) a geographically defined community. Although there is a category for commercial applications, most entries are "open-source" and must share the software and knowledge created.

"Last year, out of the 1,600 applications we received, 200 ideas were truly innovative and met the three contest requirements," says Marc Fest, the foundation's communications director. "26 of those 200 applications ended up receiving a total of $12 million in awards. Statistically speaking, if you're innovative, this contest offers a very good chance of getting you money to make your idea reality. This year it's our goal to increase the number of international applications."


for the first time, the web site - www.newschallenge.org -will allow entrants to invite public comment that will help improve their entries. Also for the first time, Knight has partnered with MTV to promote a sub section of the contest called "Young Creators Awards", specifically to applicants aged 25 and younger. MTV will advertise the Young Creators Awards on its Web site think.mtv.com and on its TV programs in the US and worldwide.

The foundation plans to invest at least $25 million over five years in the search for bold community news experiments.

A simple online entry form is available at www.newschallenge.org. The web site will accept applications through Oct. 15. Winners should be announced by the spring of 2008.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation invests in journalism excellence worldwide and in the vitality of U.S. communities. Since 1950 the foundation has granted more than $300 million to advance quality journalism and freedom of expression. It focuses on projects with the potential to create transformational change. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.

]]> Wed, 19 Sep 2007 07:41:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/251181 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/249027
20 carefully selected young professional + 1 top CEO in a 90 minutes no holds barred session

• Have you dreamt of having a once-in-a-life-time chance of having a heart-to-heart discussion with a top CEO
• Do you have ideas that you want to share with a top Nigerian CEO
• Do you have burning questions in mind related to your career, personal development, or business strategies that you think a CEO can help to answer.
• Do you wish to be mentored by a top rated CEO.
• Do you want to learn from real-life success and failure stories of top CEOs

If the answer is YES, then you need to attend the MEETtheCEO forum

MEETtheCEO version 1.0

CEO: Fela Durotoye,
Principal Partner, VIP Consulting Limited
Project Coordinator, GEMSTONE 2025 project www.gemstone2025.org

Date: October 12, 2007

Venue: Undisclosed location, Lagos

How to apply:

1. Send a detailed CV and a short bio to include in brief who you are and what you do
2. Send a passport sized photograph of yourself.
3. Write an essay of not more than 300 words on why you want to meet with Fela Durotoye and your expectations from the program
4. Send the three documents together by email to Rotimi Olawale through ecubeconsulting@gmail.com, with the subject MEETtheCEO 1.0
5. Deadline for receipt of application is 12noon on September 27, 2007.
6. All applications received after this date will not be processed
7. 20 best applications will be selected and notified by sms and email by October 1, 2007.
8. 5 other applicants will be selected and placed on a supplementary list
9. Selected applicants will pay a commitment fee of N5, 000 within 7 days after notification.
10. Participants who do not pay the stipulated fees on or before October 7, 2007 will lose their slot to potential participants on the supplementary list.

• Young professional women are encouraged to apply.
• For enquiries, please call Rotimi Olawale on 08057704111
]]> Thu, 13 Sep 2007 07:13:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/249027 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/248655 --------------


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tanya edward: hello honey
BUZZ!!!
BUZZ!!!
BUZZ!!!
TOM AUSTIN: Hi
TOM AUSTIN: Tanya
tanya edward: how are you doing honey
TOM AUSTIN: How yu doin
tanya edward: i am fine honey
TOM AUSTIN: i was sleepin and you
tanya edward: its 15 minutes to 9 oclock here honey
TOM AUSTIN: its 345 am here
tanya edward: sorry for the inconviniency
tanya edward: but i have really missed you deerly
TOM AUSTIN: what the heck i am up now
TOM AUSTIN: i know me too
TOM AUSTIN: how have yu been
tanya edward: i am cool honey
tanya edward: and missung you dearly
TOM AUSTIN: sexy girl my sexy girl
tanya edward: you are all my thinking each time i am working in the office
TOM AUSTIN: good i like the sounds of that
tanya edward: honey i cant wait to be with you
TOM AUSTIN: you are in my thoughts and dreams every day
TOM AUSTIN: oh honey me too
tanya edward: honey i want to go and get the visa as i have told you earlier before today
TOM AUSTIN: ok honey
tanya edward: so send me the money so i can do that
TOM AUSTIN: i still don't have the money honey but maybe soon
tanya edward: i think i have told you the cost honey
tanya edward: honey just try cos i can wait anylonger honey
tanya edward: even if it is to borrow it and when i come we can pay back
TOM AUSTIN: ok i am doin my best i am so lonely for yu
tanya edward: i mean get the money honey so we can be together
tanya edward: you know i so much love you and you are all i am living for
TOM AUSTIN: ok sweety i am workin on it
tanya edward: honey i will like to travel to the ambassy today or tomorrow to get the visa
TOM AUSTIN: maricles take time
tanya edward: what honey?
tanya edward: please try
TOM AUSTIN: i am
TOM AUSTIN: i want to cuddle with yu
TOM AUSTIN: i want to feel yu in my arms
tanya edward: i wanna do just that too honey
tanya edward: your love is burning in my heart and i dont wanna loose youy
TOM AUSTIN: so what is new with yu
tanya edward: nothing much
tanya edward: i am still expecting my birthday gift from you
tanya edward: honey i saw a hand chain that i like here and it costs 200$
TOM AUSTIN: don't worry yu will never lose me
tanya edward: honey but the earlier the better
TOM AUSTIN: i know my sweet
tanya edward: honey why not try and send the money this week honey
tanya edward: i know its not very easy but try honey
TOM AUSTIN: i don't have the money yet or I would
TOM AUSTIN: I am doin my best honey Tanya gorgeous woman of mine
TOM AUSTIN: was that yu on the phone
tanya edward: yeah i was trying to wake you
TOM AUSTIN: when i picked up it was dial tone
tanya edward: ok
TOM AUSTIN: oh you beautiful beautiful girl, i am so in love with yu
tanya edward: honey can you get me the 200$
tanya edward: so i can get the hand chain i told you
TOM AUSTIN: not now sweetheart
tanya edward: honey try cos i need it honey
TOM AUSTIN: lots of time for that we have a lifetime for that my darlin
tanya edward: just for my birthday present
tanya edward: is that too much for you my honey?
TOM AUSTIN: i have told yu i have no money honey i am workin on it
tanya edward: honey working on it till when
tanya edward: till when will you work on 200$ honey?
BUZZ!!!
TOM AUSTIN: at the moment yes soon
TOM AUSTIN: i will let yu know
TOM AUSTIN: a few weeks
BUZZ!!!
TOM AUSTIN: Come here you. Come on. Closer. Closer.
tanya edward: what about my visa honey
tanya edward: please give me the actual time honey
TOM AUSTIN: this money talk is really tirerin me
tanya edward: but you can borrow from your friends or from the bank
TOM AUSTIN: no i can not
tanya edward: but why honey
TOM AUSTIN: no credit
tanya edward: it means you are not ready for me
TOM AUSTIN: i am ready but my empty wallet isn't
tanya edward: a few weeks?
TOM AUSTIN: yes
tanya edward: like when should that be
TOM AUSTIN: a few weeks
tanya edward: till eternity?
TOM AUSTIN: no a few weeks
tanya edward: this month?
tanya edward: this week?
TOM AUSTIN: no after the end
TOM AUSTIN: of sept
tanya edward: but this is too far honey
TOM AUSTIN: what yu want to do
tanya edward: i dont know
tanya edward: all i want is get the visa ready
tanya edward: for now
TOM AUSTIN: ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
tanya edward: what
tanya edward: honey
TOM AUSTIN: how is your dad
tanya edward: he is cool
TOM AUSTIN: he is a missionary
tanya edward: why ask
tanya edward: he is a retired railway worker
TOM AUSTIN: just making conversation
TOM AUSTIN: oh i see
TOM AUSTIN: brb
tanya edward: ok
TOM AUSTIN: ok here i am
tanya edward: ok
tanya edward: welcome
TOM AUSTIN: did yu miss me
tanya edward: you know i will always do that
TOM AUSTIN: iknow lover
TOM AUSTIN: i will slways miss yu as well
tanya edward: love you like never before
TOM AUSTIN: I love yu as well
tanya edward: brb
TOM AUSTIN: ok
TOM AUSTIN: Oh honey I am so sorry but i have to go back to bed i am fallin asleep at the wheel so to speak see yu later Love yu dearly



]]> Wed, 12 Sep 2007 06:58:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/248655 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/248651 The prisoners who have been maltreated, under-fed for a couple of years used the opportunity to attempt a prison break.

Led by 'Sonpana', the prisoners stormed the carpentry section of the prisons and armed themselves with various crude weapons and unleashed violence on the wardens.

When the dust settled 90minutes later, 11 people were feared dead, 22 inmates and wardens critically injured and no-one has been able to confirm if any of the inmates actually escaped.

For more on the story, read newspaper reports on http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=89078]]> Wed, 12 Sep 2007 06:53:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/248651 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/247525
In case you don't know, Osun state possibly has one of the highest number of higher institutions in Nigeria. Let me list some of them, Obafemi Awolowo University Ife, Bowen University Iwo, Michael babalola University. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (co-owned with the oyo state government), Federal polytechnic Ede, Osun state polytechnic Iree, Osun state collegfes of education Ilesa, Ila, Esa-oke and many more.

So i ask myself again, why do we need one more higher instituion when we have lots and lots of them in our immediate environment in the state?

The only argument that i have listened to that sounds a little bit good was that there is need to create access for more people to go to a univeristy.

However, the arguments seems invalid as i learnt today that the least fees payable at the multi-campus universirty is 165,000 naira around 1,320 dollars.

I wonder, how does the state government want the students to pay such fees? In a state where you will hardly find 100 factories that employ 100 workers or more.

The fees are barbaric and uncalled for.

I have times without number argued that university school fees need not be ridiculously low to the extent that it will be a burden for the university system to sustain the institution effectively, but i think that the osun state government has taken this to the extreme.

The message is clear and simple: The fees are too high. Your excellency the Governor
. We have more than enough higher institutions in the state to have one more created by the state governments in itself that will be too expensive for the common man.

For a state government to establish a university, the prioirities should not be about making money, but ensuring that the average child or young person can afford to go to school.



]]> Sat, 08 Sep 2007 14:36:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/247525 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/246901
I was amazed! Don't blame me. From where i am coming from, i have not seen any african leader, presidents, ministers, wives of presidents, governors do do.

They attend the grand opening, arriving very late and make a big political statement. They leave 15 minutes later in a sea of sirens and AK47 wielding guards with stern looks or dark goggles.

Mrs. Mubarak was the opposite of all of this. Now i don't claim to understand or have an experience of the egyptian political landscape. My judgement is just based on 5 days in egypt and 3 dyas on interacting and mingling with Egyptians and the the first lady.

You hardly know when she arrives or leaves, she sneaks silently in and out of the conference centre. NO SIRENS!

It was obvious she was interested in the entire process, the comments, the question and the outcomes contained in the action plan.

I think more African leaders should emulate her!

For more on the International youth Forum please see www.voicesofyouthforpeace.org

]]> Thu, 06 Sep 2007 11:05:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/246901 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/245179
The session was focused primarily on is media youth friendly?

The session was moderated by Ashok Regmi, the global prgram manager of youthactionnet.

We started the session by watching a 45second documentary which brought people to tears. I was visibly shaken myself.

The documentary opened with the voice and visuals of children singing and dancing in a village in Kenya. They were singing in their native language.

the words that scrolled beneath the video showed that the children were just seeing video camera for the first time in their lives,

It was also obvious that the children were happy.

The documentary producer promised the children he was going to return to show them the final video, he however says, only one thing is stopping him from fulfilling his promise, most of the children are dead, they were HIV psitive.

The documentary opened the floddgates for very intense discussions.

Many people wept. I was close to tears myself, but i had several other emotions, i was mad, angry, sad at the same time.

I made 2 strong comments:

1. Right now, the same problem is repeating itself over and over again all over the continent and the middle east. thousands of children have not eaten anything today in sudan and they do not have hope to eat before the day runs out, their country is being ravaged by war, and the world is not doing enough, we all need to do more.

2. I am furious again beacuse, every program, conference and meeting i have attended, Africa has been portrayed as the sick continent, the documentaries show the sickly unhealthy children dying from one disease oor the other, and women suffering from lack of food oor hiv/aids and cities and villages ravaged by war and child soilders with thier ak47s.

There is more to Africa than these. African countries have many positive things happening that are either under-reported or not reported at all.

It amazes people to hear that young people in Africa know the latest music on the global scene and also follow the premier leagues.

It amzes people to hear that there is hardly anything you can find in London, that you would not find in abuja or Cairo or Dakar and many more beautiful cities in Africa.

There ae wars, diseases in africa, but also their are success stories, growing companies, expanding opportunities, young people affecting their communities positively and more.

]]> Mon, 03 Sep 2007 03:20:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/245179 http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/245019
We were questioned and then sent to the office of the ambassador, beacuse the invtation letter we carried bore the name of the wife of the president of Egypt.

We submitted our passports and given a date to come pick it up.

Four days later, we were onbaord Egypt air from Lagos to Cairo. We recieved a lot of attention from Egypt Air officials in Lagos, we got priority seats and the station manager of Egypt Air offered us sweets and ensured that we were checked in properly.

Arriving in Cairo, after 6 hours, we were ushered straight to immigration and cleared in a jiffy.

We waited for three hours for the connecting flight to Sharm and arrived in sharm at midnight.

]]> Sun, 02 Sep 2007 02:38:00 EDT http://rotexonline.tigblog.org/post/245019