Tuesday 26 January 2016

Fear of Public Speaking


By Dr. Ahmed Adamu

I receive calls and messages from many of my followers and friends disclosing their weaknesses and fear in public speaking, which gravely affect their businesses, social and political endeavours. I gave them many advices which I would like to share few of them with you.

It is natural to have fear for public speaking. The Book of Lists mentioned that, many people fear public speaking more than they fear death. According to the book’s survey, death was ranked seventh in the ranking of the top worst human fears, while public speaking was ranked first worst human fear. So if you fear public speaking, you are certainly not alone, because 3 out of every 5 people have fear for public speaking. What you need to do is know why you have this fear and how to overcome it.

Every person can speak comfortably and effectively at least to his/her peers or juniors, which means they are in person good and effective speakers, it is only a matter of the environment and cognitive perception.

If you are comfortable talking to small group or your juniors or your siblings, then when you are talking to big audience, just imagine that the big audience are exactly the same ones as that of the individual or small group of your juniors or peers. Perception about your audience contribute 90% to your anxiety, which makes you absent from the place. Perceiving your audience as different from your peers or juniors makes you concentrate more on how uncomfortable you feel and how bad you might communicate, which will then distract you from the purpose and content of speech.

Sometimes you will be clouded by the fear of the fear itself. Sometimes you worried that you will look fearful, which makes you to fear that once the audience notices your nervousness, everyone will realise you don’t actually know your topic or you are not a good speaker. So don’t get distracted about what people think about you, but what they think about your message. Don’t get up there to impress anyone or to be better than other speakers or be reckoned as an orator, just go there to communicate a message. So your job is not to be an excellent speaker.

It does not matter how it was presented, but what matter is to get the message across. Assume that your audience know nothing about the topic and you are the only one to inform them about the new knowledge. So, you are there just to pass an information. This then relate to how much you know about the content of the message. That is why it is very good to know deeply and widely around the topic of your speech. Preparation is one of the best way to tackle obstacles of public speaking. Know very well the content of your speech, and prepare some guiding notes.

Practice your speech over and over if you have time, and practice it before your friend or your junior, this will prepare you establish the imagination and comfort that you will assume while presenting the actual speech. Public speaking is a learning process, there have to be times when you will do it badly, you will have to fail in some important speeches, so don’t let the fear of what happened in the past affect you now. Don’t let the past influence your presence. You are meant to improve and learn from your mistakes. The best speakers in the world had their worst moments too. Always dress well and breathe deeply when you come to public speaking. Be at your best possible personal and physical appearance at the moment. And when you come to the Podium, spend some few seconds to engage in some little acts, like touching the Mic, or rearranging your guiding notes, or any little act before you start talking, and then look your audience into the eyes for a second, and then you begin your speech. Try and start your speech with informal jokes or making your audience laugh, but that should be after thanking and recognising the dignitaries present. That makes you relax and create connection between yourself and your audience.

Monday 18 January 2016

Advice to student graduate


By Dr. Ahmed Adamu


My students invited me for their graduation dinner, where I adviced them as follows:

Now you are graduating from University, and there is no guarantee for a perfect job for you, and now you fear that you lack competitive skills and experience required for the labour market. You may not be sure which industry you want to work in, you are full of thougth and facing uncertain life after University. So, I have 10 advices for you:

1.Dont let the world decide for you, pick a career of ur own choice and get a mentor to guide you through. Do have a career plan ranging from short term, medium to long term plan. Identify your strength and build your career on your strength.

2. Never get scared of job interviews, use interviews as a way of getting information and identifying whether the job is right for you or not.

3. Go for something you love over money

4. Education shall not end from University. You have been reading to pass exams, it is now time to start reading to learn. What are those your favourite areas of study? Identify them and broaden your knowledge. Read widely, and be above or exact reflection of your class of degree.

5. Always think positive and aim higher. Be dedicative, persevere and never give up. Best jobs are not suppose to be easy.

6. Dont expect much from government jobs, because only 1% of new jobs come from government. Think about creating jobs. You have choice to make, you can either be a job seeker or job provider. Be an employer not employee.

7. Dont compare your life with that of others, you are meant to be different and follow different path to success. Focus on your goal, identify what you want and concentrate on it.

8. Keep the network of your friendship (alumni) and inspire each other. Hear from the experience of each other. Find out about the career success stories of your colleagues so as to learn from them.

9. Most jobs out there require you to have experience, and if you are not given the job, how would you get the experience? I will advice you to get volunteer job or internship where you will work without or little pay. This will help you get the experience. While working as intern, ask for challenging assignment, and it will prepare you much better.

10. Be simple, humble and help one another.

I will miss you so much, and I hope none of you will be here next year to celebrate another graduation dinner.

Wish you alll the best. Till we meet again!

Sunday 10 January 2016

Commonwealth Youth Council Granted Funds to Youth Organisations: CYC Partnership Grants Initiative 2015


The Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) has granted funds to the following youth development projects in four countries from three regions in the Commonwealth, i.e. Kenya and Mauritius from Africa, Pakistan from Asia, and Jamaica from the Caribbean.

1. Community Youth Apprenticeship Project to be delivered by the Kangema Youth Group, Kenya
2. Economic and Social Integration of Youth to be delivered by the Laureate Foundation, Pakistan
3. Dynamic Youth Programme to be delivered by the National Youth Council, Mauritius
4. Realize, Embrace and Achieve your Purpose – REAP Project to be delivered by the Young Women/Men of Purpose (YWOP/YMOP), Jamaica

Announcing the final beneficiaries and projects, Ahmed Adamu, the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Youth Council said this pioneer initiative is to ensure inclusive participation and partnership with the CYC member organisations.

“We are glad that these funds have already been disbursed, and implementation of these projects has already commenced. The distribution of the funds are regionally balanced, and we have put in place all monitoring and evaluation mechanism to ensure efficiency of these projects.” Mr Adamu said.

These youth development projects were selected by the CYC after thorough and rigorous application and selection processes. This aims to ensure that young people in their communities from rural areas to urban areas are empowered to become active participants in their societal development and to improve their well-being and in line with its overall mandate and strategic objectives, the CYC allocated certain amount of funds to sponsor youth-led organizations to implement youth development projects in their communities in partnership with the CYC. As a result, the CYC called for applications from youth-led organizations in the Commonwealth in May/June 2015.

The CYC received 32 applications together with project proposals from 14 countries of the Commonwealth, i.e. Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Jamaica and Saint Lucia.

The received project proposals were in five thematic areas such as Education & Skills, Youth in the Post 2015, Employment & Enterprise, Youth Engagement & Governance, and Reconciliation & Social Cohesion.

The selected four applicants were the best project proposals from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. All these projects were in Education & Skills and Employment & Enterprise, some of the thematic areas to which high priority was given by the CYC.

These projects would mainly focus on capacity building, enhancing leadership, improving entrepreneurial skills and thereby reducing the unemployment rate especially among vulnerable, marginalized, and disadvantaged youth groups that includes youth living with HIV/AIDS, the disabled, internally displaced youth, the homeless, abandoned single teenage mothers, sexually and physically abused, drug addicts, and youth heading households.
 
The CYC has granted 2500 GBP to each of the selected four youth development projects, i.e. in total 10,000 GPB was granted. The Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between the CYC and the selected youth-led organizations were signed and in accordance with the MOUs, the youth development projects would be implemented by those youth-led organizations in partnership with the CYC.

The CYC believes that this is a significant investment and partnership in enhancing employability, leadership and thereby the life standards of those vulnerable, marginalized, and disadvantaged youth groups in Kenya, Mauritius, Pakistan and Jamaica.

From the CYC Secretariat, Commonwealth Youth Council on 19th January 2015

Saturday 2 January 2016

The Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) has reacted to the 2016 Nigerian budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari.


According to the outgoing chairperson of the youth council, Ahmed Adamu, who spoke with Naij.com, he said the 2016 budget proposal has further reinforced the confidence and hope of the Nigerian youth, as it was clearly designed to reposition the young people in the country as economic and national development partners.

“Despite the 4% reduction in budget allocation to youth and sports sector compared to previous year, the 2016 budget has proposed additional allocation to other critical development sectors that correlate to youth development, which include Education, Works, Housing and Power etc,” he said.

Speaking further, he added: “These economic sectors if fully developed will provide millions of jobs to the young people, and enhance their employability. We therefore commend and welcomed the 2016 budget as tagged “budget of change”. As this administration is committed to fighting corruption, we hope that the budget will be implemented beyond 70% and all financial leakages will be blocked. We also hoped that young people will continue to take the centre stage in the implementation of the change agenda"

Adamu raised concern over the merger of the youth development and sport ministries.
“Young people are concerned that the youth development sector may not receive the specific and robust attention it deserves. The ministry of youth should therefore be supported and complemented by a government department or commission that will specifically be addressing youth development issues. This government institution should be led by the youth and for the youth. The youth development work requires specific professional experience and it has to be youth led, therefore, there should be a structure that will optimise speciality and professionalism in the youth development sector."

“That is why the young people are solidly in support of the legislative bill that has passed the first reading at the national assembly, which proposed for the creation of the youth development commission. This kind of initiative will enhance sense of inclusion and participation of young people, as it will provide a systematic engagement of the young people, and ensuring that professionalism and relevant youth development policies and programmes are reinforced,” he stated.

Adamu added that the government should create a platform that will create and coordinate networks of young professionals that will volunteer in the implementation of the change agenda.
“The youth development sector requires synergy devoid of duplication and isolated intervention. There should be clear understanding of the context of youth development issues and from which specific youth policies and programmes can be prioritised. All youth development funds from various government institutions should be consolidated and coordinated by the competent and responsible government organisation responsible for youth development,” he told this newspaper.
https://www.naij.com/681513-commonwealth-reacts-2016-budget…

Friday 1 January 2016

Ahmed Adamu emerged as the winner of the African YOUNG PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR (MALE)

African Youth Awards Winners for 2015

2015 winners

CATEGORY WINNER COUNTRY
YOUNG PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR (MALE)Ahmed Adamu – Commonwealth Youth Council Nigeria
YOUNG PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR (FEMALE)Bitania Lulu Berhanu – YALDA Ethiopia
LITERACY EXCELLENCERichard Paa Kofi Botchwey Ghana
MEDIA EXCELLENCEAmaka Onyeagoro – Hot FM Abuja Nigeria
NGO OF THE YEARDolly Foundation Ghana
PUBLIC SERVANT OF THE YEARBibaa Lundi Anne – Omam Reach Out Cameroon Cameroon
YOUNG FASHION ICONJanerose Gatobu – Jagari Designs Kenya
GRASS ROOT TRANSFORMATIONDivine Komla Kpe – Teen Age Build Ghana Ghana
STUDENT ASSOCIATION OF THE YEARNational Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) Ghana
TERTIARY INSTITUTION OF THE YEARKenya Methodist University Kenya
YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEARKelvin Macharia Kuria – Sunrise Tracking Kenya
CONFERENCE OF THE YEARLeaders After God’s Own Standard Nigeria
ADVOCACYHikmat Baba Dua – League of Young Female Leaders Ghana
YOUNG FILM PERSONALITY OF THE YEARUmar Krupp Ghana
 EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIPDamola Morenikeji – All for Development Foundation Nigeria
http://www.africayouthawards.org/2015-winners/