pls Nominate Ken Okoli (a madonnite) for Nigerian Centenary Award. NOMINATION OF MR. KEN OKOLI FOR NIGERIAN CENTENARY HONOURS AWARD Nominee’s Name: Mr. Ken Okoli Phone No: 08035497577 Email Address: professorenter@yahoo Address: N0 1 Marble Arch Hotel Awka, Anambra State Eligibility for Nomination: He is a Nigerian citizen by birth. He was born on 9th July 1978 in Owerri, Imo State. He is an indigene of Anambra State. Male and currently lives in Anambra State. Scope for Nomination: Youth & Voluntary and Community Development Service Decade of Contribution: 2004 – 2014 Selection Criteria (His Achievements): Ken Okoli graduated from Madonna University in 2003 and was mobilised for the National Youth Service (NYSC) in Nasarawa State in February Batch A 2004. He emerged the No 1 best corps member in Nasarawa State due to his outstanding performance in the service. The NYSC State Merit Award was presented to him by the then Deputy Governor of the State, Mr. Labaran Maku (now the Minister of Information), who represented the then Governor of the State, Alh. (Dr.) Abdullahi Adamu (now a Senator), on behalf of the State Government. Ken’s personal Community Development Service projects in the service year were as follows: Built a science laboratory block worth N0.7 million in G.S.S. Karmo Launched N3.5 million Appeal Fund for the building of a block of four class rooms and other equipments for the G.S.S. Karmo. Wrote a book titled “The Ajuwayah”, and the foreword was written by the then D.G. NYSC, Brig. Gen. Yusuf Bomoi. Carried out a Research Study on the NYSC and submitted the report to the NYSC Management for improving the Scheme. Constructed a signpost for G.S.S. Karmo Took care of a schistosomiasis patient in Karmo community. Organized lesson classes for all the students of G.S.S. Karmo and engaged his fellow corps members (four of them) to assist him. On the 3rd February 2005 Ken passed out from the national youth service and after few months he wrote a book about his NYSC experience, which was titled: “The Best Corper of the Year”. The book contains all his personal CDS projects and how he initiated and executed them. The book was written to motivate and inspire prospective and serving youth corps members to perform high and better during their service year. Ken did this because he discovered through his research study that lack of knowledge, interest and motivation were among the major factors affecting youth corps members’ performance during service year. The same year Ken promoted and formed Madonna University Alumni Association (MUAA) with the support of his school friends. He later registered MUAA with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a corporate body. Despite Ken’s dedication to duty and commitment to service to his fatherland under the NYSC scheme, he was not shortlisted for the NYSC National Hounours Award in spite of the fact that majority of those that made the list did not perform better than him. This experience of injustice did not discourage Ken as he moved on with life. Ken secured admission to do his MSc programme in Leeds Metropolitan University, UK, but as he was preparing to travel, he got an invitation to participate in a leadership training programme tagged Democratic Leadership Training Workshop (DLTW), organized by the Africa Leadership Forum (ALF) Ota, for NYSC National & State Merit Award Winners. The ALF Ota is an initiative of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Ken proceeded to ALF Ota in March 2006 for the DLTW programme and after the training he took an uncommon decision to stay back in Nigeria for the purpose of working for the Nigeria Project for common good. Ken led the 37 participants of the DLTW programme to embark on a research with a view to identifying the core values of the Nigeria Project for transformation. Ken sacrificed the very opportunity given to him by his family to travel to the United Kingdom for further studies for the sake of the Nigeria Project. Ken’s action made his brother, Nwabueze to think that something was wrong with him. But Ken convinced his brother that he had an assignment for Nigeria which he strongly believed in. To demonstrate his belief, Ken wrote a letter to Leeds Metropolitan University, UK to defer his admission for the sake of the assignment he has for his country Nigeria. Ken’s decision was against his dad’s choice and wish for him. His dad wanted him to join First Bank Nig. Plc, where he (his dad) retired from as a Senior Regional Manager (South East). But Ken refused to join First Bank Nig. Plc and was bold enough to tell his dad that teaching is his passion and he would use it to affect his generation and transform Nigeria for common good. Ken refused to pick a paid job, but preferred to set up an NGO. In 2006 Ken founded an NGO cum Volunteer Organization called Centre for Youth Development & Education (CYDE). With the support of his friends and family Ken registered his organization, CYDE with the CAC and began to research about the Nigeria Project, with the aim of finding a solution to the Nigeria Project for the common good of the Nigerian society. He continued with his research. In 2007, Ken wrote a book on Career Development and used it to organise seminars and workshops on career development for the Nigerian youths so as to prepare them very well for the dynamic world of work. Ken presented two copies of the book to His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi, the Executive Governor of Anambra State as a gift. In 2008, Ken went to Awka to study MSc programme in Accounting at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. While doing his MSc programme, he began his crusade for the Nigeria Project, thus teaching the Nigerian youths to have faith in the Nigeria Project and to believe in themselves. In 2009, after his MSc programme, Ken went to Abuja to launch the ‘I BELIEVE IN NIGERIA’ Project. In September 2009, the I BELIEVE IN NIGERIA Project was launched as a platform for the transformation crusade. The programme was attended by the Minister of Youth Development, the D.G. National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme, the D.G. National Orientation Agency (NOA), the D.G. Citizenship & Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and other dignitaries and organizations. The invited guests commended the IBIN Project initiative and pledged to support it. Immediately after the I BELIEVE IN NIGERIA Project was launched, Ken began to carry the crusade to different states of the country and was teaching the youths values. While he continued with the research. In 2010, Ken was consulted by the authorities of OSISATECH Polytechnic and Caritas University to establish the Alumni Associations of their schools. This was as a result of the success he achieved in establishing Madonna University Alumni Association (MUAA), his Alma Mater. Ken successfully established the OSISATECH Polytechnic & College of Education Alumni Association (OPCAA) and Caritas University Alumni Association (CUAA). He was the Director Alumni Affairs for both institutions in Enugu for almost one year before he left his position and went back to complete his research work on the Nigeria Project which he began in 2006. The same year Ken was appreciated by His Excellency, Gen (rtd) Ibrahim B. Babangida (GCFR) when IBB visited Anambra State. IBB as he is fondly called thanked Ken for his contribution in community development service especially during his service year (NYSC) in Nasarawa State. In 2011, Ken with his team of research committee completed his first major research work which he started in 2006. The research report which took five years to complete (i.e. 2006 – 2011) was initiated by Ken. The report of the research was published into a book titled: ‘I BELIEVE IN NIGERIA’ which was sponsored by his organization, CYDE. The book identified 12 Core Values of the Nigeria Project for transformation. The book became the first book to identify the core values of the Nigeria Project. The book was dedicated to the 10 Heroes of Transformation (i.e. the NYSC 10 who were killed on the 18th April 2011 after the post-Presidential election). After having identified the 12 Core Values of the Nigeria Project for transformation, Ken began to articulate a Transformation Model for Good Governance. In 2012, Ken completed the development of a Transformation Model for Good Governance which was published into a booklet titled: “IBIN Project Document” using Anambra State as a pilot scheme for implementation. The document was launched in Awka at Marble Arch Hotel. The IBIN Project Document became a framework for implementing the transformation model for good governance using a state as a pilot study. The IBIN Project Document identified 7 key components of the Nigerian society as 7 key Transformation Institutions in Nigeria. The project launch had in attendance, some dignitaries like the D.G. of CLTC; the D.G. of NOA; the D.G. of ITF; Hon. Commissioners for Science & Technology and Women Affairs & Social Development in the State; State Coordinator of NYSC Scheme, Anambra State; National Treasurer Ohaneze Ndigbo; Honourable Member of the State House of Assembly representing Awka South 1 Constituency; H.O.D of Banking & Finance of the Dept. of Anambra State University, Igbarian Campus; MD of Charleson Industrial Supplies Ltd; and other personalities, the youth corps members and the press. The IBIN Project Document was dedicated to Ken’s father because of his father’s belief in the IBIN Project before he died in 2011. Ken’s father, late Chief G. Nwagbo Okoli the son of late Mr. Okoli Ezeguobe who remains Ken’s Mentor Emeritus, taught and groomed him for 33 years before he died in 2011. In February 2013, the Citizens & Leadership Training Centre (CLTC) adopted the 12 Core Values of the Nigeria Project which was identified by the ‘I BELIEVE IN NIGERIA’ Book for teaching the serving youth corps members at the NYSC Orientation Camps (nationwide) for good leadership and responsible citizenship, which became effective in March 2013. In March 2013, Ken in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) began to visit NYSC Orientation camps to talk to corps members about the transformation of Nigeria as a task for the present youth leaders. On the 18th April, the pioneer members of the IBIN Group adopted the 12 Core Values of the Nigeria Project as their articles of faith in Nigeria thus establishing the IBIN Group as an association of Nigerian graduates that believe in the Nigeria Project and are voluntarily working to transform the country for common good. Ken drafted a Bye-law for the IBIN Group and became the Founder of the group. He set up a pioneer committee to inaugurate the IBIN Group in each state of the federation and in the Diaspora. Ken’s organization, CYDE developed a National Transformation Seminar for preparing the emerging leaders (graduate youths) of the Nigeria Project for the task of transforming Nigeria for common good. The same year, Ken led the IBIN Group to present a paper (memo) to the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue in support of the proposed National Conference declared by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR) on the 1st October 2013. As a Social Entrepreneur and Youth Development Consultant, Ken has established five different groups of youth development platforms from 2006 to 2013. The four groups are: 1. the Ajuwayah Group (2006), 2. the Light of the Nation Group (2006), 3. the Great Victorious Group (2010), 4. the Great Ambassadors Group (2010) and 5. the IBIN Group (2013). The membership strength of the five groups is more than hundred thousand (i.e. 100, 000). According to Ken, it is not the President of Nigeria or the State Governors that will make the transformation of Nigeria to work for common good, but rather it is the citizens of Nigeria, especially the ex-corps members. For that reason he is committed to raising 1 million of them to join him in the task of transforming Nigeria. That was while he founded the IBIN Group. In 2014, Ken led the IBIN Group to write a book titled: “I BELIEVE IN NIGERIA Declaration”. The book was published by CYDE on the 1st January 2014 to mark Nigeria’s Centenary and to mobilise 1 million ex-corps members that believe in Nigeria to participate in marking Nigeria’s Centenary and to support the National Conference. The work was edited by Ken. Ken who was trained by His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR) through the Africa Leadership Forum (ALF) Ota in March 2006, is now ready to implement the “Transformation Model for Good Governance” which he developed for his fatherland Nigeria by collaborating with the Government (at all levels) and other key components of the Nigerian society. The NTS programme will run for a period of seven years (i.e. 2014 - 2020). As the Federal Government of Nigeria is celebrating Nigeria’s Centenary (1914 – 2014), Ken’s organization, CYDE initiated the ‘I BELIEVE IN NIGERIA’ Campaign so as to mobilize 1 million Nigerian graduates to lead the transformation of Nigeria. Through the IBIN Campaign, CYDE will reach out to the Nigerian citizens all over the world to introduce the 12 Core Transformation Values of Nigeria to them. Ken has begun the distribution of 1 million free copies of the IBIN Campaign Document to 1 million ex-corps members that believe in Nigeria so as to mark Nigeria’s Centenary (1914 – 2014). Ken’s Brief Profile: Ken Okoli is the Founder of the IBIN Group. The IBIN Group is a Volunteer Group of ex-corps members that believe in the 12 Core Transformation Values identified by the I BELIEVE IN NIGERIA Book as their articles of faith in the Nigeria Project. He is also the Founder/President of Centre for Youth Development & Education (CYDE). He is a Youth Development Consultant. He is also an Institutional Development Consultant. He is a Writer, Researcher, Author and Teacher. He is a Public Speaker, a Social Entrepreneur, a Community Builder and a Crusader for Transformation. He is the National Coordinator IBIN Project. He is the Initiator of the I BELIEVE IN NIGERIA Book. He is a Believer in the Nigeria Project. He was born in Owerri in Imo State on 9th July 1978 to the family of Chief G. Nwagbo (late) and Lolo Angela O. Okoli (late) of Ifite Nanka in Orumba North L.G.A. of Anambra State. Ken’s father late Chief G. Nwagbo Okoli the son of late Mr. Okoli Ezeguobe was the President General of Nanka Patriot Union (NPU) in 1992 during the administration of His Excellency Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife (CON). Prof. B. C. Osisioma described Ken as: “very passionate about Nigeria, a dreamer and a pragmatist, who is as ready to reach for the moon, as he is to cut a path through the wilderness of life.” After Ken’s recent meeting with His Excellency Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife (CON), Okwadike in which Ken used the opportunity to share his Transformation Project for Nigeria with Okwadike; the next day Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife sent him a text message which reads: “Thank you very much. I see a clearly focused and determined young man. I should only advise that you hold to your vision. We need reawakening of consciousness.”
Posted on: Sun, 19 Jan 2014 13:20:22 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015