i.

In less than 250 words, explain your motivation for applying to join
the Academy, and how you will utilize the skills and knowledge
acquired to improve governance in your community?

I am from the Northeast of Nigeria, a region that has been made more
popular by activities of the insurgents Boko Haram since 2009. About
9.1 million people are said to be affected and we live with the effect of
the violent attacks on towns and villages within the and 4.5 Million
families in desperate need of assistance. I believe the best form of help
is the one that comes from within where the people that are gradually
going back to their settlements improve the reputation of the areas
especially within Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states, so that it can
encourage increase in economic activities. Other areas in the
Northeast such as Wukari and Takum in Taraba state have been
affected by series of communal crisis as well that have dwindled
economic activities. I have been working with youth organisations such
as the National Youth Council of Nigeria, _---and several others. My
work so far has earned me an award by the_________ on________. I am
confident that with the knowledge acquired from this academy, I can
be able to mobilise especially youths to firstly establish the need for
peace, and create models that would encourage SMEs in those areas.

ii. List four (4) strategies you believe organizations like IRI should use
to attract young Nigerians and/or women interested in effectively
participating in politics?

1. Education: For women in particular to be interested in politics in the first

place, they need to be encouraged to seek education. It is especially
challenging in the Northeast especially because 2 years ago, some girls
were abducted from a school in Chibok and many of them are still
missing. This has affected girls drive to go to school. There is a need for
psychological readjustment iin the North for girls to be realigned with the
importance of education
2. Cluster Coordination Approach: there are countless NGOs all rushing
to offer help in the region but they are unfortunately in some cases
coming to render the same or similar form of help which leaves other
areas vulnerable. While other NGOs focus on rendering help, IRI can focus
on teaching the people themselves on how they can render help to others;
in terms of teaching the vulnerable children. Let them be trained to give
hygiene advice to resettling communities, dieting plan and farming tips.
When women from the communities are involved in such schemes, they
are already empowered and made politically relevant which will make
them step up for the community
3. Rural Communication Development: IRI should use individuals of the
areas to pass messages across so that language and cultural barriers can
be broken.
4. Vocational Training
iii. What programs do you intend to embark on in your state/community
following the end of the Academy?

I intend to embark on Women Empowerment Leadership Initiative called the

Ripple and the program is categorized as follows:

1. Identifying Mentors: I will identify women who have succeeded through life in
different areas of business, public service and politics who can serve as
shining example to upcoming girls and partner with them
2. Mentorship: Girls are grouped under renown women leaders in the society
and a line of communication is established so that they can ask life
challenging questions, and be guided by the experiences of their mentors.
3. Implementation: after the mentorship, the girls are monitored based on the
progress they have made and how they have effectively channeled what they
have learnt through the program, to better their lives and then;
4. Re-Mentorship: those girls that have done exceptionally well through the
program undergo further leadership training and are made to mentor other
girls within their communities