Interview with Samuel ODOFIN (Nigeria)

Born in Kaduna state in the Northern region of Nigeria, Samuel ODOFIN is a 20 years talentuous young man with already an intensive experience of Web developer and project manager. Samuel actually lives in Great Britain where he studies; his family is still in Kaduna, a moderately populated semi-arid city which is well known for its commercial activities.

We are curious to know more about your personal experience…, what issues motivate and inspire you, your main fields of involvement at local, national and international level?

Motivation, I am motivated by what I read and see, I find myself reading so many issues on Africa and the fact that its being referred to as the ‘third world’, really gives me more courage and burst up my passion to a contributor to revolutionizing the continent into the first world continent. When I get motivated I throw myself into action and brainstorm into issues which I feel my skill could help in solving.

Before I leave for Europe (to develop my skills), I had the opportunity to witness how Africa desperately need help and solutions in realizing her own potentials, I draw my motivations from all these and set a goal to help collaborate and develop useful solutions that will help Africa realizes how rich she is and hopefully start utilizing her riches.

I am also motivated when I get acknowledgement (such as awards for my work).

Why and how did you choose to get involved in these issues?

Because these are issues that directly affects me and regrettably some privileged people (mostly our leaders) tend to ignore them and pretend everything is fine, when we can all see that there are problems everywhere. No matter how little, I believe every positive effort I make towards development of humanity is a gesture that will never be forgotten, and I never know here they end (in most cases). It’s like a legacy for not just my generation, but generations to come.

At your age you are a very creative young person… you work as web developer, project manager for commercial enterprises, lead innovative projects and create numerous of websites that you can remind us the goal and the public target…http://www.naijapals.com/,http://www.zooqoo.com/,http://www.iwantahost.com/,http://www.londoninternationalproperty.com/ ....)

I have my professional aspirations and personal aspirations, when I work I try as much as I can to be most innovative and try to cook up new things, because that’s the only way to gain differentiation and in the world today you need to be different from others to be a successful in your carrier, in my case the difference comes just by putting in some extra efforts in brainstorming and planning before embarking on the actual project building (code writing and graphics design).

Since 4 years, you have been greatly rewarded for your actions and initiatives (… An incredible honors list (12 prizes in total, in 2005 you got 4 prizes !)
I imagine that this international acknowledgement helped you to keep going forward … How did you live these special moments of rewarding ( personnaly and interaction with family, friends, colleagues…?

Wow, each moment my work was acknowledge it was such a moment of glory, but I always don’t let it take over me, as I just see them as a call to improve upon what am doing, u know just like a pointer saying, ‘you are on the right lane’, and this just boast my morals and wants me want to do even more. My family and friends are really happy with what I do, and most importantly my mum, she’s being my great adviser, teacher and motivator, always reminding me of whom I am and what I supposed to be doing each time. So it’s being such lovely, sweet moments all along!.

Do you manage to associate your personal aspirations to your professional goals? If you do, what is your secret?

Luckily enough for me these two go together, even though I have handled them in totally different ways, they tend to tangle and intersect at some points. I need my professional skills to achieve my personal aspirations, and it’s being really fun handling both.

You actually live in Great Britain (Sunderland) as part as your studies. How comfortable are you with your new environment? How do you fit with your new life What do you prefer in Sunderland and in London ?

To be honest, it’s such a great place, though the level of distraction is quite high, but for a focused person, it’s extremely lovely and great fun. Here on Uk, people love to see skills and they really appreciate talents (which really helps in developing skills) and most of all, everything are done to standards, so anything below the standards are just scrapped.

Though the poor weather is the only down side, most other things just seems to wonderful (to me).

Finally, it really seems you are a gifted person, how can you share your experience and expertise with other young people all over the world?

Well for me, the world is the people around me, I have come to realize the fact that I might never have an opportunity of speaking to the whole world, however in every way I can, I try to learn and teach from young people I meet (from day to day). However, if I get any opportunity to impact more people in the world, then I would happy to do that.

You are actually part of the generation of young leaders, what are your dreams for the nowadays youth? What could you tell or advise to next generation? What are your future project and ambitions?

I hope to see the realization of all the objectives of my current Biotech project and to be honest that’s my major ambition. However, I other projects up my sleeves as well, such as developing a social platform (which will be appealable to youths), which should will allow youth to be effectively involved in skills development and knowledge sharing in an interactive manner (it’s obvious many youths are finding reading boring!). Though this project will demand a lot of resources (time, knowledge and financial), but it’s something I have been working on and keen to get it realized once I can create enough time in my (busy) schedule.

Interviewed by SHK, August 2007

Interview withJean-Pierre N'ZIYA (Congo RDC)

Let’s Talk about you… you are Congolese from RDC living in Canada (Toronto)

I am from the Congo. I was a lecturer in Human Rights and Philosophy. I was also a Director of a local NGO aiming at raising awareness for democracy and human rights among citizens for peaceful coexistence between various ethnic groups . It is because of this involvement in building humanity that I had to quit my own country. I left my country saving my own life and feeling defeated.

Could you tell us more about your coming in Canada, in which conditions did you come there?

I came in Canada in despair for safety and security, running from my country and searching for peace and security.

You left your country in war…what did you learn of this hard experience? Was it a personal choice to establish in Canada or the fate which make you live in this country?

War is a negation of dignity in people. It deprives people from ther own ability of being reliable. It creates fear, insecurity and leaves people in a feeling of self-destruction. It creates emptiness in someone's selfesteem and terror in life. And a life full of terror, destruction cannot rebuild a positive society. That is why, I thing that it is important to have a lot of social workers or counsellors to places affected by war so that they can talk to victims of war. I find this will help more than sending material aid.

My establishment in Canada is both an act of fate and personal choice, because I could have also established in the USA.

Which issues you are interested in or that affected you as a young person?

Political violence, youth violence and self-reliance are issues that I am interested in. Political violence creates a state of terrorism in today's world and that destroys our chances of moving forward in solving problems of hunger, environment...I find that political violence turned to wars in every corner of the planet is unfortunate when our world has suffered already through the two World Wars.

Youth violence also erodes our youth from having social skills related to peaceful coexistence so important in building today's society. It creates culture of gangs relying on guns to solve problems, instead of dialogue and tolerance.

Tell us about your studies, your expertise….

I have earned a MA in political philosophy which I am proud of. I have also studied business management, peace studies and Religion studies. And Computer hardware and networking. I am researching in Peace education.

My expertise! I don't consider myself as expert because my philosophical studies have taught me that an intellectual should always seek truth and sense for peace and progress in humanity. And it is difficult to be expert in that!

You seem to be really a determinated and strongly motivated individual…. A good profile of leader? Where is your vision of leadership ? What are your short term projects?

I am convinced that good leaders make a lifetime change in people, society. Being a leader takes both natural gifts and social skills which can be learned by attentive listening to peers, attentive observation of history and society. But mostly, a good leader lives for a vision and he is able to loose every thing for that vision.A vision is in simple word “where do you as a leader wants to take the society?”.That step has to be left as a legacy for all and something any society can be inspired by and build upon.

My short term project is to continue teaching in the Toronto District School Board and to make a difference in the students by inspiring them.

You are francophone….Why did you choose to live in an anglophone region?

I have chosen Toronto because of its cosmopolitan environment. I wanted to learn from others cultures. And me being francophone and living in an anglophone environment I learn not only the english language but also I will broad my view of the world.This decision enriches my life.

What are your feelings about francophone integration in Anglophone regions?

I think it is a gain for a francophone to live in Anglophone regions. Vice versa. But it takes the determination to learn the other language and value in its culture.

Can you describe a funny, comic or tragic situation that you lived as immigrant?

I have a couple of them. The funniest is when I was invited to Ottawa to give a presentation. It was a contest. Luckily, no one was introduced before the talks. At the end, I was elected the best presenter of the day. And Students were conviced that I went to school here at University of Toronto or in Northen America. And I had to convice them that I had my education from the war torn Congo in Africa.

What are the challenges for immigrants to build a career in Canada?

Patience and networking are very important to build career in Canada. It is not impossible but it takes patience and networking.

Did you encounter obstacles, barriers to find a job ?

I stayed 4 months without a job. But for a new comer who did not know anyone here, I take it easy.

What kind of advices can you give to a new immigrant or a young person which seek a job?

It depends on his past. If he had a career before, I will advice him to be patient and to continue searching or better his education to get back to his career. Otherwise, iwill ask him to go to school and to get a paper.

Now, you found a good job, can you describe your current activities and tell us how?

For now, I am teaching. And it is the first time I am teaching elementary school. But I enjoy because those kids are like a new garden where the teachers have to plant the good seed so that those students florish later. I try to instillate in them a sense of excellence in whatever they do, be it academic or social. I try to create a sense of team spirit in the classroom and responsibility, valuing every student and raising his selfesteem and selfconfidence.

What did you observe in Anglophone community that you did not in Francophone? Could you give us a example of differences, lacks or common points you found in the both communities?

In a country where there is a certain animosity between the two regions, I would not prefer to talk about differences but similarities and complementarities. I think the two communities will gain a lot by promoting the spirit of multiculturalism in the country.