It has been said that early socialization is good for the growing child. Indeed, the choices we make from childhood, the struggles we face growing up, prepare us for life and shape who we eventually become. There is no doubt that the home remains the main conduit for grooming good and responsible citizens. We all need to look inwards, and find those areas of our individual and communal life that require mending, and mend them. As Frederick Douglas puts it…“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men”.
Over the years, growing up amidst all types of stereotypes, below is a selection of activities that represent how I spent my time when I was not in school (during my school years) or at work.
Training/Workshops Attended as Participant (Select)
- Africa Green Investment Gateway Conference (ICCOUNCIL) – London 2011
- Summit on Community Relations in the Oil Producing Areas(House of Reps Cmtee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) – Abuja 2008
- Constituency Outreach Training (NDI) – Abuja 2005
- Connecting Futures Workshop (British Council) – Kano 2005
- Stakeholders Forum on the National MDGs (UNDP/Presidency) – Abuja 2004
- Youth Leadership Training Workshop (CDD/Novib/Oxfam) – Benin 2003
- Abuja Youth Summit (WODECO) – Abuja 2003
- Gender, Human Rights & HIV/AIDS Prevention Campaign (Unifem) – Uyo 2002
- Conflict Management Mechanism & Peace Building (Pedep/FES) – Uyo 2002
- Democratic Leadership Training Workshop (ALF/CORDAID) – Ota 2001
- Capacity Building & Need Assessment. A CSO Mapping Project on HIV/AIDS (ACTIONAID/DFID) – Benin 2001
- Youth in Partnership for Change (Codep/endip/ashoka) – Enugu 2001
- Earthday 2000 Network Zonal Conference – Benin 2000
- Re-assessing Nigeria’s Educational Future (Student Rep.) ETF – PH 1999
- Presenting Human Rights Information to the Media (MRA-Lagos) – Owerri 1999
- Youth Leadership Training Course for Nigerian National Youth Award Scheme (Min. of Women/Youth Dev, Akwa Ibom State) – Uyo 1996
Training/Workshops Attended as Facilitator (Select)
- LYNX Youth Leadership Camp (Counsellor) – Abuja 2004
- Communication & Morality Training for Women in Politics (CODENN/OSIWA) – Uyo 2003
- Peace Advocacy & Conflict Management for NGOs & CBOs inthe Niger Delta (CPCV-Lagos) – Calabar 2001
- Anti-Corruption Campaign/Workshop for Youths, Undergraduates/Graduates (FAYOMS/USAID-OTI) – Uyo 2000
- Youth/Students Leadership & Non-violent Approach to Conflict Resolution (CPCV-Lagos) – Uyo 2000
- Grassroots Mobilization, Sensitization & Advocacy Training for Women – Uyo 1998
- Children’s Conference/Campaign on Child Abuse – Uyo 1998
- Grooming for Empowerment (FAYOMS) – Uyo 1996
Training/Workshops Attended as Resource Person
- Intercontinental Bank Customer Service Excellence Training Programme
- “Superior Customer Service on the Telephone” Lagos 2008
- MessageWise Ltd – Internal Empowerment Series Abuja 2008
- Developing People Skills
- Self-Confidence Building Strategies
- ECOBANK Nigeria Plc – Retail Banking Renewal Training on Customer Service Abuja 2009