Can we meet you Sir?
I am Nsikak Tom Udo,the Project coordinator of Ibom Future Convention.
What is Ibom Future Convention all about and who are the brains behind this massive Youth Project?
Ibom Future Convention an Akwa Ibom Youth Convention (Celebrating and Inspiring Akwa Ibom Youth) is a yearly Event which seeks to bring Akwa Ibom Youths from all walks of life worldwide to discuss and proffer solutions to problems limiting The Akwa Ibom Youth from attaining the height of their potentials.The Platform Promotes and celebrates the dynamic growth of Akwa Ibom State youth in all walks of life.It also seeks to honor Akwa Ibom youth whose public conduct and action help inspire hope for better Akwa Ibom State.At Ibom Future Convention we want to see Akwa Ibom Youth Content on the global stage,competing at par with Nigerian and Western content by providing a huge platform to showcase their innate abilities to the world.Ibom Future Convention has come to fill this very wide vacuum.
The event is packaged by Ibom Future Events an Akwa Ibom Youth Media,Brand and Strategy Organization that seeks to inform, equip, inspire and empower Akwa Ibom Young minds by using a team of highly motivated individuals that are dedicated to professionalism, integrity, excellence and who are driven by the fear of God and passion for changing and moulding lives of Akwa Ibom youth.Ibom Future Events also empowers Akwa Ibom Youth under the following thematic areas such as;Youth and Capacity building,Youth Empowerment and Education,Youth Sport and Recreation,Youth and Decision making in Akwa Ibom State.The Firm has become one of the most respected private sector-driven youth development platforms in Nigeria with a history of verifiable impact, including in under-privilege and grassroots communities in Akwa Ibom State.We are also the brain behind Naija Youth Cultural Festival a National event that gathers Youths from the different tribes in Nigeria-The Igbos, Yorubas, Ibibios/Efiks, Ijaws, Hausas,Tiv,Itshekiris,Kalabaris etc-to promote Nigerian cultural heritage and propagate Nigerian Unity in diversity.
What are the Objectives of Ibom Future Convention for the past Five Years?
At Ibom Future Convention we creating a huge platform where we can empower Akwa Ibom State Youth and communicate their strength to Nigerians,Africans and the world.Youth are the wealth of Akwa Ibom State and the critical element in National Development.Any nation that will flow with the waves of the 21st century tide and compete effectively in the global community must engage its brightest and empower its young talents.Youth empowerment as a developmental concept has been misconstrued a whole lot within the Nigerian context.The term has been mostly associated with the large scale purchase of buses,sewing machines or tricycles popularly called Keke to give out to the youth as a tool to enable them put food on heir table.such models of empowerment within the social context is a far cry from what the concept really means because it is skeletal,stereotypical; and systematically fails to take into account the destiny(talent)of the individual being supposedly empowered.Youth empowerment is simply all positive efforts made towards enabling the youth to consciously discover,conscientiously develop and competently deploy their destinies(talents) for the effective service of humanity.It is all about enabling the youth build capacity for service to humanity along the lines of their destinies(talents).In the light of the above definition one can easily recon that most empowerment programmes for the youth across Nigeria though laudable in principle are not truly effective in practice because when you give a keke to a man that is not passionate about transportation business nor have built sufficient capacity to serve the public along those lines,you didn't empower him in the real sense of the word.As a precondition, an effective empowerment programme for the youth must be intricately connected with the passion,personality,natural ability,creative and innovative potentials of the youth.Over the years the government made budgetary allocations for investments in physical infrastructure without channeling funds towards developing mental infrastructure and talents of Youths.Such lack of concern for the strategic development of our young people in part remains the bane of Nigeria's inability to diversify her economy and maximize its true potentials.We tend to explore our natural resources without exploring the natural potentialities of our young people.Lets look at the immigration recruitment saga of last year where close to 800,000 agile Youths nationwide were chasing 3,500 jobs is a reflection of this sad reality.In that 800,000Youths we possibly have very good writers,artisans,musicians,Actors,comedians,Traders,architects,journalists,caterers,Bloggers,and entrepreneurs that have discovered and developed their talents but probably lacked the financial resources for start ups hence they became easy prey for a job scam.The stakeholders in Nigeria need to step up and shoulder the responsibility of harnessing these natural human resources for the all-round development of our nation.There is great need to invest the resources of the nation to tap the potentials of young people,inspire them to generate ideas to generate wealth for the collective good of Akwa Ibom people.Ibom Future as a Media, Youth Brand and strategy Organisation has come to fill this missing Gap in Akwa Ibom State.Ibom Future Convention is a movement,its moving and that's why we are calling on Stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State to join the moving train.
How have you been able to Achieve this feat consistently for Five Years?
Its not about me but its about the belief and commitment of a set of Akwa Ibom Youths that believed in the dream and came together to say ''Lets do somthing for our People''and ensured the event was a huge success.I give God the Glory for his grace.I will thank my Crew/Team and the good people that God Almighty has used one way or the other to bring this huge project into reality for the past Five Years.Its about dedication of people who have put their minds to a project and were determined to get it done.Its not quite easy gathering about 3,000 Youths worldwide under one roof.Its involves a lot and we thank God lots of people have believed in our capacity to pool the stunt again and again.The event was organised then with little or no sponsors as Potentials company sponsors are business men and not charity organisations as they wanted to see what we could do in terms of impact on the youth and their brand before coming on board.Interestingly Nigerian Telecom companies have showed great interest in the project.
Our feat for the past five years is as a result of the strong and passionate collaboration of illustrious sons and daughters of Akwa Ibom state.
What were your challenges?
I am a chattered accountant and currently in Law school,every thing l embark upon is always planned.My wonderful crew have been doing a lot of work that has gotten the best of the best of Akwa Ibom Captains of Industry speak to Youths at our Event.we mean technocrats such as Mrs Mfon Usoro(OOM),Managing Partner of Paul Usoro and Co,former DG of NIMASA,and Current Secretary General of Abuja MOU,Mr Usen Udoh,Former Managing Director,Accenture,Nigeria,currently Director,Human Resource Officer,Dangote Group,Mr Udom Inoyo,Executive Director,Human Resource,Mobil,Nigeria,Mosunsola O.O Nkanga (Mrs.) MNIM, ACIPM, AIPAN, Cdr Nseobong Akpabio, MON, amnipr ,Head, Lagos State Command Federal Road Safety Corp.,Mr Sam Bassey,Managing Director,Leverage Investments Limited currently The Secial Representative to The Governor of Akwa Ibom State(Lagos),Ini onuk a female Lead Consultant/CEO of ThistlePraxis Consulting Limited (TPC),a 2008 Draper Hills Fellow on Democracy and Development at Stanford University California and an alumna of the Harvard Business School Executive Management Program, Mr Okon Iyanam,Chairman Expetro Energy , Engr. Larry Esin,an Engineer and Harvard Trained Economist,Chancellor of Akpabio Centre for Leadership Development, Pastor Bassey James,Mr. Udom Emmanuel,a great professional,immediate past Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government,presently the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State.They are all illustrious sons and daughters of Akwa Ibom State and have all graced our events are willing to come back.
How can Ibom Future Convention Transform an Average Akwa Ibom Youth?
Thank You.As a result of the New Seaport and International Airport coming up in Akwa Ibom State and other developmental strides in Akwa Ibom State.Akwa Ibom State is the next big thing in Nigeria.Nigeria is looking at Akwa Ibom State.Akwa Ibom is the next frontier and where we have the biggest opportunity and accomplishments.Akwa Ibom is the future and each and every Akwa Ibom State youth has the capacity to play a key role in taking Akwa Ibom State from where it is today to where it ought to be.We telling Akwa Ibom Youth Story the Akwa Ibom way.We bringing Akwa Ibom Youth to spotlight.Ibom Future Convention has all the elements
to be the biggest Youth Event in best Africa.In Nigeria and world wide there is a cold cultural battle.Cultural battle in the sense that Americans want you to behave like Americans,even the Chinese want you to speak chineese,so there is need to take our own Akwa Ibom strong Message to them and its Akwa Ibom Youth that lead this renaisance.In Nigeria we have the likes of Olamide,Seriki,Lil Kesh shaking the world with their Yoruba Rap punchlines and smiling to the banks,but where are our Young Ibibio Rappers.We have the likes of Sagas,Ikpa Udo,Zillion and lots more that can compete effectively with their counterpart in South west,but where is the platform rather the Huge Stage to perform?We are also empowering our Youths for instance the final five(5) nominees for Ibom Future Prize in Movie will be given an opportunity to be casted in a Nigerian movie thereby showcasing their talents to Nigerians and the world.This is where Ibom Future Convention comes in to give our talents a huge platform to showcase what they have to the world.The convention will also feature Exhibition of Creative works, Innovations and Inventions of Akwa Ibom Youths worldwide.
What should Akwa Ibom Youths expect in the Next Edition?
Beautiful...With a 60 Man Crew for the event,The 2016 Edition is slated to be a two-day event, which will include the usual Youth Convention and our new addition to the event called Ibom Future Awards.Ibom Future Convention as usual will gather the best of Akwa Ibom State Young Professionals and entrepreneurs world wide to collectively discuss on the way foward for an average Akwa Ibom State Youth.We will network Akwa Ibom young entrepreneurs to share knowledge in best practices in their various businesses for the collective benefit of Akwa Ibom State.We also intend to give little start up funds to young entrepreneurs.The interesting part is Ibom Future Awards is an Akwa Ibom Youth mentorship initiative that identifies and mentors outstanding Akwa Ibom Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs from all walks of live worldwide that are capable of championing Akwa Ibom State industrialization.The Awards will be hosted on the second day of Akwa Ibom Youth Convention will feature Akwa Ibom Young Professionals/Entrepreneurs nominated for different categories of Akwa Ibom State Youth biggest Prize(Award) and a further Exposure of all the nominees to practical business/professional mentorship by Akwa Ibom State technocrats,professionals par excellence and captains of industry through award endowment as it affects their field of endeavor.At Akwa Ibom Youth Awards we will see Akwa Ibom young professionals/Entrepreneurs dine with Akwa Ibom State technocrats,professionals par excellence and captains of industry and many more.Dress code for this glamorous event is strictly a Black Tie/Evening Gown or full Akwa Ibom cultural dress event.
Any Pre-Event before the main show?
Yes of Course.We have as one of the Pre-Events lined up ''Ibom Future Distinguished Annual Public lecture'' where a carefully selected professional par excelence professionally and technically dissect a subject matter in any field of endeavor as it affects Akwa Ibom Youths.We also plan an Official Ibom Future Award nominee cocktail get together where all the official nominees of the different categories,their friends and well wishers gather to network and socialize.We making use of one of the best Lounges in UYO for this gig.
Does Ibom Future Convention support Local Content?
Yes we do support Akwa Ibom Event Experts and technicals especially in our Stage set designs,Light and sound and we hope to work with the best of the best in Akwa Ibom State like Touchlyte Effetz and many more..we have the best of the best as the Event host for our Ibom Future Awards,we talking of the likes Vvone Ekwere the host of Nigeria recently held in Cross River,we also plan to include Ella but we have not gotten the right male host to pair these two beautiful ladies on stage to host the event.We having in total 20 Award categories to be presented to the best of Akwa Ibom State Youths from all over the world and these categories includes Ibom Future Young Entreprenuer of the Year(Male), Ibom Future Young Entreprenuer of the Year(Female), Ibom Future Youth Prize in Medicine,Ibom Future Youth Prize in Engineering,Ibom Future Youth Prize in Literature,Ibom Future Youth Prize in Finance,Ibom Future Youth Prize in Creative Photography,Ibom Future Youth Prize in Media,Ibom Future Youth Prize in Legal Practice,Ibom Future Youth Prize in Fasion,Ibom Future Youth Prize in Music,Ibom Future Youth Prize in Movie and lots more.Every category is being endowed/sponsored by an Akwa Ibom Proffessional par excellence and Captain of industry such as Mr Usen Udoh,Former Managing Director,Accenture,Nigeria,currently Director,Human Resource Officer,Dangote Group,Mr Udom Inoyo,Executive Director,Human Resource,Mobil,Nigeria,Mosunsola O.O Nkanga (Mrs.) MNIM, ACIPM, AIPAN, Cdr Nseobong Akpabio, MON, amnipr ,Head, Lagos State Command Federal Road Safety Corp.,Mr Sam Bassey,Managing Director,Leverage Investments Limited currently The Special Representative to The Governor of Akwa Ibom State(Lagos),Ini onuk a female Lead Consultant/CEO of ThistlePraxis Consulting Limited (TPC),Mr Okon Iyanam Chairman Bond Services Ltd, Engr. Larry Esin,an Engineer and Harvard Trained Economist,Chancellor of Akpabio Centre for Leadership Development, Pastor Bassey James,Mr Ukpe Ukpabio,MD Equity Assurance Plc.Our official HighTech website where nominations and voting will take place will be unveiled soon.Our screening process for these awards will be transparent and we will not select people based on affiliation or where they come from because this is an Award for Akwa Ibom Youths.Final Five will emerge from each award category and these final Five will be the official Ibom Future Awards Nominees whose names will appear in the Award Event Brochure as finalist for the Award event.Votes will be monitored and collated by our Auditors and jury.So if any Akwa Ibom Youth gets nominated for an Award there is need to push for Votes immediately and who ever pushes for Votes and gets jurys nod will be presented the Award.Every Nominee is a winner at Ibom Future Awards.Above all its about Akwa Ibom and our core values of Fairnes,Authenticity,Creativity,Excellence,integrity and transparency.Each Award category will be presented by a carefully selected Pair of young,intelligent and classy Akwa Ibom Male and Female right on stage to the Awardee so in total we will work with 20 Young smart and classy Guys and 20 Beautiful and intelligent Ladies to present award and opportunity for this is opened to interested Youths with class and style.The Award Statuette to be presented to Akwa Ibom best is 23.9 Carat gold plated and this is so because we are building a premium brand and you cannot build a premium brand without researching and working hard.As i speak even though nominations for Awards have not started i have been receiving series of calls in Akwa Ibom State and the diaspora from the best of Akwa Ibom Youths willing to get nominated for Akwa Ibom Youth biggest Prize for Hard-work and excellence.For the Artist we hope to get best of Akwa Ibom Young stars from all over the world with a mix of other Nigerian super stars to spice up the event.We plan to have Akwa Ibom fist Female DJ spin the wheels amongst other DJ's too.We also plan to put up a stage collaboration between Akwa Ibom Indegenous rappers and their counterparts in South west like Seriki,T Blaq and lil kesh,don't ask me who the Akwa Ibom indigenous rappers will be.When you look at Ibom Future Convention and the Awards from conception,planning,implementation,development and post implementation you will get a clearer picture of the huge brand that we have just created to showcase Akwa Ibom potentials to the world.
is there any Honorary Award for Akwa Ibom sons and Daughters that are Captains of Industry worldwide?
That's a Good one.Our focus is on Akwa Ibom Youths but there is great need to honor those Eminent professionals that have carved out time to Inspire Akwa Ibom Youths.It takes a great mind to be part of our inspiration series.Since we make use of highly motivated individuals that are dedicated to professionalism, integrity, excellence and who are driven by the fear of God and passion for changing and molding lives of Akwa Ibom youth;there is need to appreciate and recognize them for their passionate an patriotic efforts even though most of them being professionals don't fancy awards.Our Honorary Awards recipients will be chosen by our Youths world wide and will involve great background check and debate so as to ensure those to be honored have one way or the order promoted the cause of Akwa Ibom State Youth.The Honorary Award comes with a great responsibility.
Does Ibom Future Convention have any Political affiliation?
We are apolitical.Ibom Future Convention is a project for Akwa Ibom Youths.We don't see politics,tribe,colour or gender.Personalities with different political views have graced our events infact Engr. Larry Esin and Mr. Okon Iyanam were both Akwa Ibom Gubernatorial candidates and they both graced our events in 2013,also in 2014 Udom Emmanuel Graced our event.We are open to any Youth lover that has the interest of youths at heart.We give equal opportunity to everybody and decisions are taken purely on merit and for the benefits of Akwa Ibom Young minds.
Who are your partners?
Institutional partners in Ibom Future Convention project are Airtel Communication,Equity Assurance Plc,Royal Arts Academy,African hub /lounge 'Afriville',606 Music Label(Ketchup),Grand Empire Entertainment,Maximum Disturbance Entertainment,Nigerian Bank of Industry (To intimate Akwa Ibom Youths on how to access SME Funds), Corporate Affairs Commission (To intimate Akwa Ibom on the fast and easy process of registering a business name and its Advantages),Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation, British Council,Youth Alive Foundation(YAF),Partnership Initiatives in Niger Delta(PIND),United State Agency for International Development (USAID), Small and Medium scale Enterprise Development of Nigeria (SMEDAN).Media Partners are Cub Communications,Sound City,Hip TV,MTV,College Line TV.The office of the Director Brand Communication of Ibom Future Convention headed by Uwemedimo Essienowo is still open for more sponsors and partners.
Final word for the Lovers of Ibom Future Convention
Ibom Future Convention 2016 Edition in UYO City will be bigger and better.Lets not reveal much now.We are working on it already and we shall wow Akwa Ibom people again with the support of like minds in Akwa Ibom State.Thank You and God Bless.
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