Arewa Youth Assembly honours AMCON boss
The Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) has presented the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON),
Mr. Ahmed Lawan Kuru, with yet another Heroes of Nigeria Platinum Leadership Award of 2019.
Speaking at the presentation at the corporate head office of AMCON Abuja recently, Comrade Mohammed Danlami, who led a nine-man delegation to the corporation, said that the AMCON MD was chosen for the award for his “integrity, unique leadership prowess that have come to bear at AMCON since he assumed office at the government recovery agency.”
While presenting the award, which was received on behalf of the MD by the duo of Usman Abubakar, Head General Support Services and Mr. Jude Nwauzor, Head Corporate Communications, Comrade Mohammed said Kuru deserved the award because he was singled out as a leader who through his assignment at the corporation, is contributing to the socio-economic development of the country, by ensuring stability in the banking sector, the capital market, which are critical to the growth of the Nigerian economy
The AYA recognition is the third time the AMCON boss would be honoured in 2019. Earlier in January, he received the Businessday Excellence in Public Service Awards and the Sir Ahmadu Bello Youth Council of Nigeria (ABYCN) Award.
Yemisi Ajeojo, 22, is the Co-founder of Triift Africa and Ilorin Digital. The Tedx speaker in an interview with corps members in Ilorin, Kwara state, spoke about her passion for seeing small businesses grow.
You are a Tedx speaker. What does it take to speak at Tedx events? Yes, I had the opportunity to speak at the first Tedx that took place in Bowen University in 2018. There are different ways to be a Tedx speaker, but the first thing is to have a message you want to share and be sure that you can share it as articulately as possible within a short period of time maximum 12 minutes. This is very easy to achieve with practice. You can put yourself forward to speak at a Tedx event or just make sure that everyone around you knows the things you are passionate about and you would like to share this knowledge at Tedx event. That way, people are able to recommend you for opportunities when they arise.
What did you do differently during your service year?
I camped in Bauchi and redeployed to Kwara State where I had no family and had prior to that time never been to. I worked as project analyst and economic advisory trainee in the Public Private Partnership Office in Kwara State, started my business Triift Africa and organized the first ever Ilorin Digital Summit which had over 600 people in attendance and speakers from different parts of the country sharing about how to leverage on the opportunities that digital platforms provide for employment. I learnt to delegate and to depend on the people around me when I needed to in order to achieve a greater good.
How does the Ilorin Digital Summit empower youth?
When I organized the event, I had spent 7 months in Kwara State as a Corps member. During that period, I realised that Kwara State had over 10 higher institutions which accounts for approximately student intake of 60,000 people. At least 7,000 young people are posted to serve in the state yearly. The event was about helping young people know about the various opportunities that digital platforms and teaching them how to leverage on these opportunities. It was impactful with over 600 people in attendance with Google, Facebook and other digital organizations supporting it.
You run a business platform, Triift, what is it about.
Triift Africa is a social enterprise unlocking growth opportunities for small businesses and individuals in Africa. We back Africa’s audacious entrepreneurs and helps them grow great brands around their ideas.
Our big goal is to raise a digital, nancially literate, and a socially empowered generation that can contribute tangibly to Africa’s economy as well as hold the keys to our sustainability as a continent.
We provide microloans, advisory, training and other support services to small and micro businesses.
What is your advice to many youth who are unemployed?
This period can be really hard, please do not lose hope. Reach out to people and offer your skill and time so you stay productive. Read, develop yourself by getting new skills and don’t stop applying for jobs.
Interview conducted bycorps members, Nnamuchi Ezinne and Ajagbe Blessing, Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, NYSC - Ilorin.