34—SA TURD AY 34—SATURD TURDA
Vanguard, NO VEMBER 3, 2012 NOVEMBER
YOUNG NIGERIANS MAKING THE DIFFERENCE
There is dignity in work —Kunle Egbedun
Kunle is one young Nigerian who started volunteer work quite early and he has since turned his passion into creating opportunities for other young people who want to become entrepreneurs. He quitted his banking job to follow his passion —Entertainment Media. Recently, he had a chat with Youthful Vibes Vanguard. Excerpts: r e p u t e relating their success story to him is a g r e a t motivating factor for me and has greatly helped in shaping my psyche in living for that thing I believe can take me to the top; entertainment media.
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pbringing I was born 29 years ago in Osogbo to the family of Prince & Chief (Mrs) Adebayo Egbedun, though a native of Asi town in Odo-Otin L.G.A of Osun State, but had my childhood experiences and formative years in Osogbo. I attended Christ African Primary School Isale-Ijebu and Laro Grammar School both in Osogbo, Osun State capital. I later proceeded to Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke where I studied Electrical/ Electronics Engineering for my ND and HND programmes. I also attended Daystar Leadership Academy and The Edge Business School for my leadership and business capacity development. I am privileged to come from a home where integrity and decency are most valued in what we do, especially in material acquisition. My parents believe strongly in integrity as the only key to godliness ; my father is a teacher who dedicated all his life to serving our community by teaching students who are now champions in various human endeavours. My secondary school days wasn’t really fun for me because I was taught by teachers who were formerly my father’s students and I imbided the kind of my father's training. Today, my father is very popular in my town,and he never contested an election or combine any other job with teaching all through his life,and now I can boldly say he’s my number one hero and mentor. Seeing captains of industries, politicians and academicians of
volunteerism through exemplary leadership I started volunteering so early in life after my meeting with Pastor Lekan Ayodele of RCCG; he opened my understanding to opportunities that abound in the society, this was the man who guided me to discover through his personal life experiences that there is
,
•Kunle Egbedun
earning
After school, I realized there is more to giving to the society than making noise, either as an activist or a politician and that I don’t really need an elective position in the society before I can contribute my quota to the development and liberation of humankind. From then I fuelled my passion through youth development initiatives while I provide youths the opportunity to be exposed to the positive influences in the society by giving more attention to young minds doing excellently well in their chosen professions by organizing platforms to share their success stories capable of motivating people coming behind them to motivate and strive for success. This defines the idea behind my monthly Light conference where we gather young minds to listen to people getting outstanding results in their assignments. I am also coconvener of African Youths Network; a network of emerging young entrepreneurs, who are not only driven by monetary gains in their businesses, but are also busy consistently creating innovations and values capable of shooting our continent to the top in the comity of continents. It is a project conceptualized with a fellow young entrepreneur from Ghana, Cecil Nukator, CEO of Equinox Technologies. These days I teach in conferences, seminars, meetings and workshops— telling youths they are capable of creating the changes needed to make their society a beautiful place to live in. I am also one of the pioneer members of Accra
I can contribute my quota to the development and liberation of humankind
dignity in labour and the best form of living is a life living for others watching this man accommodating youth corpers serving in Osun State from different parts of the country in his house without any connectivity with them. I became a member of the Joint Action committee of Nigeria (JACON) when I was in JSS1 and I started following late Chief Gani Fawehinmi ( National Conscience Party) Osun State chapter from JSS3 under Comrade Amitolu Shittu, Comrade Waheed and Comrade Oyebade Olowogboyega then State President of NULGE,even before NCP was accorded a political party status in Nigeria. All these put together really shaped my dexterity and proactiveness as a Student’s union leader in Esa-Oke and also contributed to my performance through various leadership capacities in NANS.
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toastmasters, a global community of public speakers and resource persons, sharing knowledge based ideas through fellowship and intellectual discussions.
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areer transition: Banking to Media Yes, I left my job with the defunct Guaranty Trust Assurance plc, a sister company of Guaranty
ABU JA
Youth Organization gives scholarship to 5 years old primar y school pupil
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n Abuja registered Youth Org Initiative for Sustainable Develoanization (Youth pment) under the leadership of Joseph Emmanue awarded scholarship to Miss l Yaba, on October 5th 5, a Primary 2 Pupil at ECWABlessing Danladi, aged Mararaba, Nassarawa State Academy, Aku Village, and whose Mother is a Widow. Joseph Emmanuel Yab pre sen tat ion on beh alf of a while making the Sustainable Development, said You th Ini tia tiv e for of the organization’s contributiothe Scholarship is part of the MDGs on Universal Prim n to achieving Goal 2 rei ter ate d the nee d for col ary Education. He also individuals and corporate bod lab ora tive effo rts by ies to support the group so they can continue to create required in the society and for the desired change Millennium Development Go the achievement of the als. Trust Bank in 2010 to pursue my interests in events coverage, entertainment coverage and event management through creative innovations as a photographer by creating quality media links and back up for event organizers, show-biz agencies and creative arts sector, through our viable media tools, technical expertise and cutting edge technology that are capable of making events activities in the continent to be more visible and above all get a quality media coverage needed to travel beyond the shores of African markets and get Africa entertainment exposed more to other parts of the world. At the same time utilizing the viability of African entertainment to promote businesses and brands in Africa through results targeted advertising medium on our world class web based channel (gistafrika.com) and the biggest continental magazine (GistAfrika Int’l) and our Telemarketing tools all new media initiatives of Gist Africa International Communication Ltd. We set for a continental unveiling in Lagos come 2nd
February 2013.
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hange project I am presently working with fellow young African innovators on the first ever continental Youth conference tagged “Change Drivers” and Awards tagged “African Stars Awards” aimed at celebrating exemplary leadership indicated by African youths and promoting our collective dream of a United African States through dynamic youths. It is fun supporting BEK Africa in their New Business Initiative project, a programme developed to support emerging young entrepreneurs in the Nigerian fashion industry. Partnering with Orchard Events company to stage “Abba Jamz 2012” a cosmopolitan evening of glitz and glamour, designed to bring young Nigerian professionals and business executives together to wine, dine and most importantly network to plan ahead of the coming business year. And last but not the least, supporting Paradigm Shift Institute, a human capacity development organization here in Lagos in their quest to develop 10,000 Nigerian youths between now and 2013.
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*Kunle having a nice time with
the future generation
ounsel and advocacy I want Nigerian youths to stay positive, live their dreams, never bow to defeats, shun violence and other social vices, persevere and stay focus, above all know there is space for them at the top, only if they are ready to convert the challenges before them to pack of opportunities capable of uplifting humankind and also change their societal status.