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Nigeria hosts world youths in Abuja, 7-12 Aug

…Some of you have expressed concern about security measures. I should emphasize that there were no security problems at all, when Abuja served as host city in 2008. I am confident that Nigeria will, once again, be an excellent host - SAGEGlobal CEO, Curt DeBerg

Nigeria is billed to host almost 300 youngsters from 22 countries of the world from 7 August to the 12^th. Participating countries include the United States, Canada, Russia, China, Ukraine and Ghana.

Sage Team UCISS members proudly displaying one of their textile design products.
PHOTO: SAGE UCISS

The youth are converging on the federal capital, Abuja, to take part in a global contest dubbed SAGE World Cup tournament. An annual youth contest launched 11 years ago, this year’s SAGE World Cup tournament, will take place at Sheraton Abuja Hotel, according to SAGE Africa Continental Coordinator, Mr. Agwu Amogu.

In a letter to Amogu, CEO of SAGEGlobal, Curt DeBerg; thanked him “and his entire SAGE Nigeria staff for agreeing to host this year’s event”. mauricearchibongtravels gathered that accommodation and feeding will be provided by the organisers for 13 participants per country, this translates into at least 286 people.

The figure is bound to be higher based on expectations that the visitors will include international media, observers and tourists that may not necessarilly travel as part of the official national contingent. Speaking further on the forthcoming youth world contest and what to expect, Amogu enthused: “We are about to the raise the bar again for future SAGE World Cups”.

Currently operating in all continents, Sage is an acronym from the abreviation for Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship and its members are Millenium Development Goal (MDG) Youth Ambassadors.

SAGE Nigeria team works to create a dynamic network of young pro-active social entrepreneurs, whose activities aim at the attainment of the millenium development goals. Described as a “non-profit Transnational Social Movement Organisation (TSMO) initiated at the California State University Chico, USA”; SAGE aims “to create the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders”.

It is hoped that innovations and social enterprise by this crop of leaders’ will address the major needs of the world community. Interestingly, a few participating countries had earlier expressed concern over security, given the situation in certain parts of Nigeria, these days.

However, SAGEGlobal CEO DeBerg, had helped to alley such fears; thus: “Some of you have expressed concern about security measures. I should emphasize that there were no security problems at all, when Abuja served as our host city in 2008. I am confident that Nigeria will, once again, be an excellent host”.

A statement jointly signed by Mr. Amogu and Mr. Wale Fasanya, Director, Strategic Planning, Policy and Coordination, SMEDAN (Small and Medium Entreprises Development Agency of Nigeria); reveals several important bodies are involved in this world youth competition project. The ministries/agencies include Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development; and, Federal Capital Territory Administration.

Students from two schools, University of Calabar International Secondary School (UCISS) and Jikwoyi Junior Secondary School, Abuja; will represent Nigeria at the forthcoming competition. The latter, Sage Team JSS Jikwoyi, qualified to represent Nigeria after winning first prize in the Social Enterprise Business (SEB) category at this year’s National Competition held in Makurdi, Benue State.

The President of the victorious Craft House, Sage Team UCISS is Kwamina Obo, who was elected African Regional Director, Children League of Nations. During telephone conversations with mauricearchibongtravels, an obviously elated Miss Obo, who is also Face of Sage, recalled that her team came third in the same SRB category at the 2012 Sage National Competition.

Sage team UCISS emerged first prize winner in the Socially Responsible Business (SRB) category at Sage 2013 National contest. It is also worth pointing out that this same team also won the prizes for Best Costume Display, Best Cultural Troupe and Most Outstanding Team. The trio of Kwabena Obo, Mary-Brenda Akoda and Beshi Shiyam, who represented SAGE Team UCISS; made it all possible.

 

No wonder their Coordinator, Miss Kristy Oko, was crowned Best Sage Coordinator at Makurdi, during the 2013 National contest held in Makurdi on 5 and 6 July.  It could be recalled that UCISS SAGE members have severally made Nigeria proud in recent years.

Instances: Sage Team UCISS emerged top out of over 40 countries that participated in the 2012 Sage World Cup competition held in Ukraine. It was at that forum, Sage Team UCISS leader, Obo, was elected African Regional Director.