From the Managing Editor’s desk
Just like in every clime worldwide, while a minute fraction of citizens draw attention for the wrong reasons, multitude of others go unnoticed inspite of their exploits and monumental achievements. While it is true that an infinitesimal number attract opprobrium and notoriety by their predilection and propensity for crime, a la six Nigerians recently declared wanted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Hushpuppie and his gang members arrested in the United Arab Emirates for alleged multiple frauds, honest efforts of a whole lot of others out there doing wonders with their God-given talent and sheer energy are often made to pale into insignificance.
Yet, undeterred, these crop of young and enterprising Nigerians/Africans are out there working their fingers to the bones while at the same time keeping their noses to the grindstones, so to say, at various legitimate and legal ventures, not just only to eke out a living, but to be successful as well.
The recent instances of Ikenna Nweke, a Nigerian PhD student in Japan anda Nigerian-born US Navy officer, Lt. Victor Agunbiade, should inspire young Nigerians that honesty and hard work pay. Nweke drew global attention when he returned a big purse he found containing about 10,000 Yen to the Japanese police and even rejected the 10% of such money he’s by Japanese law, entitled to. Lt. Agunbiade, on the other hand, was honoured last month by the US Navy for managing its largest overseas cash disbursement of $45million well.The US Navy hailed Agunbiade, who emigrated to Lake Crystal, Minnesota, from Nigeria in 2007, for “demonstrating superior leadership’” and “unswerving determination, wise judgment and complete dedication to duty.”
It is this species of Nigerian and African youths that we, as a media outfit, have decided to celebrate.
Every week, from the month of August, and for the next six months, First News will spotlight on African/Nigerian youths who are making waves, conquering the odds, rewriting history and positively changing the narrative in the continent through their work. This is in keeping with our earlier promise to showcase persons who are role models in the continent. These are personalities in the continent who must be recognised and celebrated for their hard work, dedication and patriotic spirit, especially having won repute for their entrepreneurial drive, capacity, great work ethic and unswerving probity – values and qualities that are fast disappearing and even becoming rarities in today’s Nigeria and Africa.
The series will begin with youths in the continent as a prelude to the television version, which will showcase older and more accomplished personalities, who are trailblazers in various fields of human endeavours.
CRITERIA:
As a matter of course, unique personalities in the African continent, who have become global icons, including admired political figures, successful and respected businessmen and women with amazing entrepreneurial vision, corporate tycoons, sports personalities, power brokers and clergies, philanthropists, professionals, academics, authors, musicians and artistes, who have earned repute for great work ethic and unswerving probity, dedication and patriotic spirit, will be in our spotlight.
While a formal launch date for TRAILBLAZERS on television will be announced soon, we will, however, commence the web and online version of the series in the youth category here. Happy reading!
Segun Olatunji