The Young & Cerebral annual Essay Competition

Deadline: 12th November, 2015

The Young & Cerebral annual Essay Competitions is here again! Commemorative of Nigeria’s Independence Celebrations, the Y&C Essay Competition holds in the month of October to showcase and reward the creative writing skills of young people across the country, providing a platform for them to compete with their peers in the different parts of Nigeria. The Essay Competition is in line with Young & Cerebral’s mission, which essentially is to inspire, empower and to provide opportunities for the youth segment. 

 

Over 400 entries across Nigeria have been received in the previous 2 competitions with 18 winners emerging in 3 categories. Guest judges have been some of the country's finest including the likes of Seun Salami, Ayo Sogunro, Sally Kenneth Dadzie, Oyin Braithwaite, Rayo Adebayo, Rufai Keyede and Tomi Adesina. Competition only gets exciting! Prizes are even more rewarding! 

 

And now, for this year’s competition, the topic is “THE ROLE OF INNOVATION IN CREATING THE NIGERIA OF OUR DREAMS” and is open to 18-35 year olds. 3 winners will emerge and walk away with fabulous prizes like laptops, printers, trendy mobile phones, a writing workshop and more. Essentially, the Young & Cerebral Essay Competitions are usually judged on grammar, creativity, adherence to topic, wow-factor along with other regular skills of standard writing.

The Rules:

1. The competition is open to citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

2. All candidates must be legal residents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

3. The candidate must be aged between 18-35 years 

4. The essay must be typed in Microsoft Word 

5. The essay submitted must not be more than five hundred and Fifty words (550 Words). Failure to comply with this shall lead to automatic disqualification. 

6. All entries must be written in English language. 

7. The candidate must only apply based on the topic that should be submitted electronically. 

8. Multiple applications will be disqualified. 

9. The candidate’s bio-data shall be used by Young & Cerebral for publicity purposes. 

10. Plagiarism will not be permitted. All entries must be properly referenced. 

Please note that information from Wikipedia or any wiki links websites are not allowed as forms of reference for this competition: The research must reflect appropriate and relevant reviewed journals as well as legitimate websites. 

How to Apply:

All applications should be sent to ec2015@youngandcerebral.com in MSWord using “Book Antiqua” fonts/size 12 with the applicant’s full details (Full Names, Age, Gender, Email Addresses, Phone Contact, School/Institution, State of Residence). 

Only Successful candidates will be contacted. 

Winners will be announced in December, on our radio programme, social media platforms and the winning articles will be published in a major print publication and across several websites, blogs and more. 

Entry Opens: 12th October, 2015 Deadline: 12th November, 2015

Source: http://youngandcerebral.com/essay/#

Become A New Voices Fellow - Washington DC

Deadline: November 1, 2015

The Aspen Institute’s New Voices Fellowship is a year-long media skills, communication and leadership program designed for standout development professionals from the developing world. Candidates for the Fellowship are expected to have both a record of significant professional achievement and a desire to share their perspectives on global development with a broader international audience. The Fellowship is open by nomination only.

While the fellowship is non-resident and not full-time, it does require a significant and sustained time commitment as fellows write opinion articles, participate in interviews with local and international media, and speak at international conferences. All expenses related to the fellowship are paid, including certain media-related travel costs.

Please note, this is not a fellowship for journalists or others trained and working in communications.

Process:

1	Ask someone to nominate you. This person could be a mentor, supervisor or professor. We ask that this person know you and your work well.
2	We will review your nomination. If you pass through the first round, we’ll be in touch with you directly, asking you to submit an application. This application involves two essays and a series of questions.
3	Once the New Voices team has reviewed applications, we will ask a small group of finalists to participate in an interview via Skype or phone. From this group, we will choose the final class of Fellows.

Visit http://www.aspennewvoices.org/Nominations for details. 

Source: http://www.aspennewvoices.org

Microsoft Imagine Cup Global Student Competition ($USD 50,000 Prize) – 2016

Imagine Cup is Microsoft’s global student technology competition that provides opportunities for students across all disciplines to team up and create applications, games and integrated solutions that can change the way we live, work and play.
Eligible student teams will once again compete with thousands of others from across the globe by developing a technology project from start to finish in the following categories:

• Games Competition
  The Imagine Cup Games Competition is your opportunity to be part of the global games revolution. It’s a global contest for the best new student games and the winning team will take home $50,000 (US).
• Innovation Competition
  The Imagine Cup Innovation Competition is here to help you take the first steps. It’s a global contest for the most original student applications, and the winning team will take home $50,000 (US).
• World Citizenship Competition
  The Imagine Cup World Citizenship Competition is a global contest for the best new software to address social issues, and the winning team will take home $50,000 (US).
• Big Idea: Pitch Challenge
  The Big Idea challenges are online competitions intended to help you develop your project from an idea into a reality.
• Big Idea: Plan Challenge
• Big Idea: Design Challenge
• Hello Cloud Challenge
  Master cloud computing with Microsoft Azure and you could win $1,000!
  Every month, one student will win in the $1,000 sweepstakes. To compete, you just complete one or more of our Hello Cloud activities. Each activity you complete gives you another chance to win!
• Imagine Cup Earth Challenge
  Imagine Cup Earth is a new contest for students ages 6-18 in which you’ll use computer programming to create a game, simulation, or story inspired by the kinds of earth science that NASA and other researchers do every day. 18 winning students will win prizes totaling $36,000!

Eligibility Requirements

• You are at least 16 years of age as of July 31 2015 and are actively enrolled as a student at an accredited educational institution that grants high-school or college/university (or equivalent) degrees (including home schools) at any time between 1 January 2015 and 31 May 2016; and
• If you are considered a minor in your place of residence, then you should ask your parent’s or legal guardian’s permission prior to submitting an entry into this Competition.
• You are NOT a resident of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria; and
  o U.S. export regulations prohibit the export of goods and services to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria. Therefore residents of these countries/regions are not eligible to participate.
• You are not an employee or intern of Microsoft Corporation, or an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary, at any time between 1 January 2016 and 31 July 2016; and
• You are not involved in any part of the execution or administration of this Competition; and
• You are not an immediate family member of (parent, sibling, spouse/domestic partner, child) or household member of a Microsoft employee, an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary, or a person involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Competition between 1 January 2016 and 31 July 2016.

Benefits:
Each World Finalist will be awarded a trip to World Finals. Trip includes round trip coach airfare from major airport closest to Finalist’s home, standard hotel accommodations, and select meals during the World Finals.
How to enter:
To participate in Imagine Cup 2016, you must first create an account at www.imaginecup.com. Once you have registered you can sign up for the competition categories you would like to compete in and start building your team.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the 2016 Microsoft Imagine Cup Global Student Competition

Standard Chartered Bank International Graduate Internship Programme 2016

As one of the world’s most international banks, one of the key differentiators of the Standard Chartered Bank International Graduate Programme is the opportunities offered across SCB's footprint of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Right from the start of the programme SCB host the five week International Induction Programme in Shanghai to connect with global network of International Graduates with their peers from the 30+ countries SCB recruit for.
The International Graduate Programme is comprised of six business streams, aligned to each of our business banking areas. Each stream is focused on a unique part of the Bank, allowing you to select a business area based on your interests. The streamed programme is designed to help you develop specialist experience right from the start of your career.
After completing your first year as part of the International Graduate Programme you might take a role in one of our local, regional or global teams. You might choose an amazing position in your home country, or like 50% of the Graduates, your first role with the Bank may include an international move.
Choosing the right graduate opportunity can be tough, and the truth is there are no easy answers, but there are lots of great questions. Ask as many questions as possible to get details and clues to point you in the right direction and help you figure out what type of role, business and industry is right for you.
NIGERIA

• Commercial Banking – Nigeria Requisition ID: IGCBNG16
• Corporate & Institutional Banking Clients & Corporate Finance – Nigeria
  Requisition ID: IGCING16
• Financial Markets – Nigeria Requisition ID: IGFMNG16
• Retail Clients – Nigeria Requisition ID: IGRCNG16
• Wealth Management – Nigeria Requisition ID: IGWMNG16
• Commercial Banking – Nigeria
  Requisition ID: INCBNG16
• Corporate & Institutional Banking Clients & Corporate Finance – Nigeria
  Requisition ID: INCING16
• Financial Markets – Nigeria
  Requisition ID: INFMNG16
• Retail Clients – Nigeria
  Requisition ID: INRCNG16
• Transaction Banking – Nigeria
  Requisition ID: INTBNG16
• Wealth Management – Nigeria
  Requisition ID: INWMNG16

KENYA

• Commercial Banking – Kenya
  Requisition ID: IGCBKE16
• Retail Clients – Kenya
  Requisition ID: IGRCKE16
• Wealth Management – Kenya
  Requisition ID: IGWMKE16
• Commercial Banking – Kenya
  Requisition ID: INCBKE16
• Retail Clients – Kenya
  Requisition ID: INRCKE16
• Wealth Management – Kenya
  Requisition ID: INWMKE16

GHANA

• Corporate & Institutional Banking Clients & Corporate Finance – Ghana
  Requisition ID: IGCIGH16
• Corporate & Institutional Banking Clients & Corporate Finance – Ghana
  Requisition ID: INCIGH16
• Financial Markets – Ghana
  Requisition ID: INFMGH16

TANZANIA

• Transaction Banking – Tanzania
  Requisition ID: IGTBTZ16
• Transaction Banking – Tanzania
  Requisition ID: INTBTZ16

Apply Now for the Standard Chartered Bank International Graduate Programme 2016
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Standard Chartered Bank International Graduate Programme 2016

CALL FOR COUNTRY MEMBERSHIP/COORDINATOR OF THE AFRICAN NETWORK OF YOUTH POLICY EXPERTS (AFRINYPE)

DEADLINE: 16th NOVEMBER 2015
The African Network of Youth Policy Experts have the pleasure to announce that Youth Policy experts across 54 African countries can now apply for -Country membership / coordinator of the African Network of Youth Policy Experts.
The Network was launched on 30th October, 2014 in Baku, Azerbaijan at the closing session of the United Nations backed first Global Forum for Youth Policy.

Eligibility Requirements:
Eligible applicants in 54 African countries include:
• Youth policy practitioners;
• Youth activists and members of youth movements working on youth policy;
• Representatives/experts of youth-led organizations, civil society organizations, and networks
working on youth policy;
• Research experts from institutes, universities and think tanks with a focus on youth policy;
• Development experts from organizations, agencies and institutions in the youth sector;
• Programming experts from donors active in supporting policy change in the youth field.
Applicants should:
• Preferably be aged 18-35;
• Be experienced in formulation, implementation and/or monitoring of youth policy at the
national, regional or global level.
The selection of applicants will take into consideration the following criteria:

• Interest: The applicant is highly motivated and will substantively contribute to the Network;
  • Exposure: The applicant has shown past experience of minimum 2 years related to youth policy formulation, implementation and/or research;
  • Impact: The applicant and his/her organization have the capacity to disseminate the results of the Forum back to the youth community;
  • Gender and geographical balance;

Young people from under represented and marginalized groups and youth policy practitioners working with underrepresented and marginalized groups (such as young people with disabilities, indigenous youth, youth from rural communities/young farmers, young people from conflict affected areas, marginalized ethnic and cultural groups, young people from low social and economic backgrounds, migrants and refugees, young people not in education, employment and training) are encouraged to apply.

All applicants will be notified by December 15 2015.
E-Mail: membershipship@afrinype.org
Apply Now to become a COUNTRY MEMBER/COORDINATOR

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the AFRICAN NETWORK OF YOUTH POLICY EXPERTS

Call for Articles: African Youth Journal of Democracy

Submission Deadline: October 31st 2015
The African Governance Architecture (AGA), Department of Political Affairs, African Union, Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement (YIAGA) and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) invites researchers, academics, civil society actors, to submit articles or papers for publication in the maiden edition of the African Youth Journal of Democracy.
The journal is published in furtherance of the African Union Agenda 2063 which promotes intellectual debates and knowledge sharing as key drivers of continental integration, prosperity and democratic development. The Agenda seeks to establish platforms for Africans especially young people to engage intellectual discussions that deepen democratization, rule of law, human rights, civic participation and development.
The maiden edition of the journal focuses on institutionalizing the participation of women and youth in political processes in Africa.

Interested contributors are invited to submit manuscripts in the following sub- themes;

1. Party systems and electoral systems
2. Young women and political rights
3. Legal architecture of youth and women political participation
4. Youth leagues or young wings of political parties
5. God-fatherism and money politics in Africa
6. Social media and political socialization
7. Youth leadership and intergenerational dialogue
8. Youth, Electoral violence and radicalization
9. Civil society and political society relationship
10. Innovation in Political Governance
11. Youth, Elections and Constitutionalism

Submission Requirements:

• All submissions will be subjected to a review and selection process.
• Manuscripts must be typed, double-spacing with a minimum of 4000 words and maximum of 5000 words with references.
• References must be in numbered endnotes. Full-length papers must include an abstract of no more than 200 words and a brief biography of no more than 100 words.
• All submissions should be sent electronically to [email protected] as email attachment formatted in Microsoft word.
• All papers must be submitted in English or French. Research papers or articles submitted by young researchers of African descent will be given priority consideration.

Deadline for submission of manuscripts is October 31, 2015.
Benefits:

• Authors of selected papers will receive logistic support to attend the Youth Consultation to the High Level Dialogue and the High Level Dialogue on Democracy and Governance in Kigali, Rwanda in November 2015.

Submission:
All questions on this call should be forwarded to;
Ibraheem Sanusi
Youth Engagement Lead
African Union Commission

sanusii@africa-union.org
 
Or
Samson Itodo
Head of Research, Policy & Advocacy
Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement

sitodo@yiaga.org


For More Information:
Visit the Official Official Webpage of the African Youth Journal on Democracy

Announcing the 2016 I4A Competition

Application Deadline: January 31st, 2016

Ideas for Action is an ideas competition on financing for sustainable development for youth sponsored by the World Bank Group and the Zicklin Center,Wharton School.

Today’s youth will be responsible for delivering the post-2015 development agenda, also known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) when they expire at the end of 2015. The SDGs will be more ambitious than the MDGs, covering a broad range of interconnected issues, from sustainable economic growth, to social issues, to global public goods. To realize this vision, a just-as-ambitious plan for financing and implementation is needed.

Youth engagement throughout the design and implementation process is critical for success. The Ideas for Action (I4A) competition engages young people around the world to encourage them to develop and share their ideas for financing solutions to deliver the post-2015 development agenda.

Submission Requirements

Submissions that do not meet the format requirements listed below will be disqualified.

Format:

• Proposals should be between 1,500 and 3,000 words, with proper citations and references. The word count does not include the appendix, footnotes/citations, or any charts/graphs. Teams should use the template at the end of this document and include a 200-word abstract summarizing the key points of the proposal.
• The submission must be in Times New Roman, 12 pt font.
• All appropriate information must be cited.
• The submission should be sent in PDF or Microsoft Word format in English

Solution Areas:

The expectation for teams is to focus on one of the issues below and develop a creative yet

realistic and implementable solution that will increase the financing available and/or improve the efficiency and effectiveness of existing funds. Another possibility is to select more than one issue, and develop a solution that is based on blended sources of finance

1. Domestic Resource Mobilization: improving the ability of countries to collect and
   direct public resources generated from taxes and/or improve efficiency of public
   spending.
2. Better and Smarter Aid: improving how aid is structured and disbursed in light of a
   rapidly changing donor environment.
3. International Private Finance: improving business environments to attract investment.

   Domestic Private Sector: mobilizing domestic private capital

   Business and Development Innovations: improving business environments in developing economies via innovative private/public partnership models.

Awards

Winners of the competition will be given an opportunity to influence the post-2015 financing discussions and its implementation, including:

• Present winning proposal at the IMF/World Bank Spring and/or Annual Meetings in April and October 2016, respectively.
• Engagement with experts from development organizations, academia, and business on finance for development post-2015.
• Participation in a boot camp, where the winners will visit a company, organization or university to take part in specific project implementation and get hands on experience.
• Participation in the Wharton School Knowledge Exchange Activities and Global Classroom.

Timeline:

• Informational session: January 8, 2016; 2:00–3:00 PM EST at World Bank Headquarters. The session can also be accessed online. Details will be sent out through the distribution list.
• Deadline for submissions: January 31, 2016
• Announcement of submissions selected for final round: February 22, 2016*
• Deadline for final submissions (incl. comments received, if applicable): March 20, 2016
• Announcement of winner(s): April 5, 2016

For More Information, visit:

http://www.zicklincenter.org/#!ideascompetition/ccl3

 

The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition

Submission Deadline: 1st May 2016
The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2016 is now open for entries; submissions can be made until 1^st May 2016.

This year’s theme invites young people to think about whether or not it is possible to be living responsibly and tolerantly in an increasingly interconnected Commonwealth.

Through the world’s oldest schools’ international writing competition, the Royal Commonwealth Society provides an opportunity for young people to share their stories and have their voices heard.

The overarching theme for 2016 is ‘An Inclusive Commonwealth’, which is also the 2016 Commonwealth Year theme, and a topical theme for today’s youth. Both Senior and Junior topics give young people the opportunity to think about aspects of the theme such as: the significance of community; the importance of diversity and difference; the question of belonging; the values of tolerance, respect and understanding; and the sense of shared responsibility that exists within the Commonwealth today.
The topics are a chance to develop critical thinking and to express views in a creative manner.

JUNIOR CATEGORY

Born after 1st May 2002 (under 14 years)

1 Imagine inviting a stranger to your country. How would you welcome them?

2 My ideal community.

3 Are we really so different?

4 Tales of an ‘insider/outsider’.

SENIOR CATEGORY

Born between 2nd May 1997 and 1st May 2002 (14-18 years)

1 Let them in.

2 How can you balance the needs of the individual with the needs of the crowd?

3 The wealth we have in common.

4 Is it possible to have an inclusive and tolerant society?

Submission Requirements:

• The Competition is open to nationals or residents of all Commonwealth countries and territories.
• Entrants must select a Senior or Junior topic depending on their age on 1st May 2016.
• Only one essay per entrant is allowed.
• Entries must be written in English.
• The maximum word counts are 1500 words for Senior entries and 750 words for Junior entries. These word limits apply to all topics and all formats (essay, poem, letter, etc). Exceeding the word count will result in automatic disqualification.
• Plagiarism: Every year a number of students are disqualified because they are suspected of plagiarism.
• The final copy submitted for the competition MUST be the entrant’s own work, and cannot be unduly corrected or improved by another person.
• Essays can only be uploaded in either word doc. or pdf format.

Prize:

• Prizes have traditionally been awarded only to the first prize winners in the Senior and Junior categories and also vary year by year. This means RCS is not able to confirm what the prizes will be until after the winners are announced in September 2016.
• Past prizes have included certificates, resources for winner’s school, visits to Cambridge University, a trip to London and a week of activities, work experience at international organisations, and having your entry featured in worldwide media.

For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the 2016 Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition

Compete for the St. Gallen Wings of Excellence Award Essay Competition

Deadline: February 1, 2016
Compete for the St. Gallen Wings of Excellence Award and qualify for participation as a Leader of Tomorrow in the world’s premier opportunity for intergenerational debates: The St. Gallen Symposium.

• Join the debate with 600 top global leaders and decision makers
• Share your thoughts, ideas and visions with the global elite
• Expenses for travel, board and lodging covered, travel service provided
• Meet 200 of the world’s brightest young minds
• Small and intimate gatherings with world leaders, exclusively for the Leaders of Tomorrow
• CHF 20,000.– prize money shared by the three winners
• Broad media coverage
• Become member of a truly unique and strong global community

Qualify with an excellent essay.

Your essay must answer the following question: What are alternatives to economic growth? Leaders of Tomorrow have expressed scepticism towards economic growth as it stands today. We challenge you to develop your alternative guidelines to the concept of growth. Present your own idea to convince the jury. We expect a professional, creative and thought-provoking essay. Be bold and unconventional! The following criteria must be met:

Form	Essay (max. 2,100 words)
Language	English
Deadline	1 February 2016, 11:59 p.m. last time zone (UTC-12)
Anonymity	Your name must not be mentioned anywhere in the contribution file
Individuality	Individual work expected, no group work allowed. The essay must be written exclusively for this contest
Citation	All sources must be cited and referred to the respective part in the essay

Check your eligibility and prepare documents.

To be eligible, you must fulfil all of the following criteria:

• Enrolled in a graduate or postgraduate program (master level or higher) in any field of study at a regular university
• Born in 1986 or later

Make sure you can provide the following documents:

• Copy of passport or other identification (in English for non-Roman languages)
• Confirmation of matriculation/enrolment from your university which proves your enrolment in a graduate/postgraduate level programme as of 1 February 2016 (download sample document here)
• Your contribution file with no indication of your name in the file name, the file metadata or the file itself

Impress the Jury.

All contributions will be evaluated according to specific criteria by an independent jury composed of professors, corporate executives and entrepreneurs. The authors of the best 100 contributions qualify as Leaders of Tomorrow and will be invited by the ISC to the next St. Gallen Symposium. You qualify as a semi-finalist to compete for the prestigious award 2016 if your essay makes it in the top 20. You will be asked by mid-March the very latest to pitch the essence of your essay in a 3-minute video presentation. Based upon the quality of both the essay and the video pitch, the jury selects the six finalists who will compete for the award against each other on the symposium’s big stage. The award will be bestowed to those finalists who show the very best performances both on the essay and on the stage in St. Gallen.

Click here to apply for the St. Gallen Wings of Excellence Award Essay Competition.

 Source: http://opportunitiesforyouths.com

2015 UBA FOUNDATION NATIONAL ESSAY COMPETITION FOR SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NIGERIA

UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced the opening of entries for the 2015 edition of its annual National Essay Competition. 

ESSAY TOPIC “What matters most to you in life and why” UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced the opening of entries for the 2015 edition of its annual National Essay Competition. 

The competition is part of the Foundation’s initiative to promote creative and analytical thinking in senior secondary students in Nigeria and is a follow up on the Foundation’s Read Africa initiative, which promotes reading culture among students through the reading and free distribution of Africa literary classics in secondary schools. 

The national essay competition is also held in Ghana and Senegal. 

PRIZES 

1st Prize: N1 Million Educational grant for the winner to study in any African university of his or her choice. 

2nd Prize: N750,000 Educational grant. 

3rd Prize: N500,000 Educational grant. 

Entries received for the competition will be reviewed by a distinguished panel of judges made up of professors from reputable Nigerian Universities, who will then shortlist 12 best essays for further assessment. A second round of the competition will involve the 12 finalist who will write a second supervised essay from which three best essays will be selected. 

“Three best essays will be selected as the overall winners from 12 finalists that will emerge from the first round of the competition. 

ENTRIES SUBMISSION 

Entries should be sent to: 

UBA Foundation, 

Marketing & Corporate Relations Division, 

United Bank for Africa Plc | UBA House (3rd FLoor), 

57 Marina, Lagos, Nigeria. 

Deadline for Submission is on November 13th, 2015.

Apply to attend The Global Youth Entrepreneurs Summit 2015 in Bangladesh

Deadline: October 10, 2015

Global Youth Entrepreneurs Summit 2015 Bangladesh is an event of Global Entrepreneurship Week, which is going to be the world’s biggest platform for entrepreneurs this year. Global Youth Entrepreneurs Summit 2015 Bangladesh (GYES) aims to focus and support the innovative ideas of the youth Entrepreneurs.

The summit is the first of its kind to be organized in this coastal region. It will not only lead to encourage youth to be change makers, but will also lead to positive socio-economic development. Bangladesh is a land of opportunity, however many don’t get a chance to showcase their ideas due to the lack of opportunities available. GYES aims to bring out the actual gems from all over the country, and provide a platform to the youth entrepreneurs, so that they can show the world their ideas, struggles and achievements.

It will not only be a platform for the collaboration of youth entrepreneurs, but it will also be a light of hope to many, who have it all-the dreams, ideas and determination-but just don’t get a chance to make their dreams into a reality. Together with the summit being a stepping stone to achieve the MDG goals and Vision 2021, it will also help raise awareness against the hurdles that we have to face. The summit will promote leadership and will encourage many youth entrepreneurs to take the next step towards realizing their dream.

500 Young Entrepreneurs, between 18 to 35 years of age, from around the world are going to join as delegate in the summit.

*Peace Rally
*500 Youth Entrepreneurs (All over the world)
*Innovation Fair (Three Days- Open for all)
*Business to Business (B2B) Discussion
*Entrepreneurship Night
*8 panels with experts on different issues
*Industrial Tour
*Cultural Night

**Delegates with top 10 innovative ideas and projects will be REWARDED by DYDF in Entrepreneurship Night.
**Every delegate will receive a participation CERTIFICATE.
**Accommodation from 19th November 12:00pm to 23rd November 12:00pm will be provided only for INTERNATIONAL DELEGATES (Non Bangladeshi) at a renowned hotel in Dhaka covered by DYDF

Register for free here

Bright Ideas from a Young Commonwealth

Welcome to the Bright Ideas community! Bright Ideas from a Young Commonwealth showcases the ideas and activities of young people aged 15-29 from Commonwealth countries who are leading positive change in their community, country or region through their own innovative solutions to challenges large and small. Bright Ideas events and videos are a great way to generate discussion about challenges facing the Commonwealth and solutions already coming to fruition. 

Supported by the Commonwealth Youth Programme, our hope is to inspire and motivate young people to see how they can put their ideas into action to make a better world. Interested in hosting your own Bright Ideas event? Check out our Bright Ideas ‘how-to guide’ for information about how you can be involved. The toolkit provides tips and guidance on hosting a successful Bright Ideas event and how you can showcase, record and present your Bright Ideas talk. See: How Bright Ideas works.

Send us your Bright Ideas talk For your chance to be in the running to attend the Commonwealth Youth Forum in Malta this November, send your Bright Ideas talk to youth@commonwealth.int by 30 September 2015 (5pm London time) and we will let you know if you’ve been selected. 

For full terms and conditions for this competition see: Bright Ideas T&Cs and Recording your Bright Idea. Recordings can be submitted in either audio or video format. Watch other Bright Ideas talks below. Please note that hosting a Bright Ideas event is optional; it will not affect your eligibility to be in the running to attend the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Forum. 

For more info, visit: http://www.yourcommonwealth.org/brightideas/

Call For Projects: Global African Investment Summit 2015

Seeking direct foreign investment for your African business project?

 

Secure your project investments at the Global African Investment Summit – attended by qualified global investors in control of US$235Billion.

The Summit is bringing together 6 African heads of state and over 20 ministers to transact on bankable projects requiring investment in Sub-Saharan Africa.We have lined up a host of bankable projects requiring investment from these delegations and now we welcome additional submissions from the private sector.

This is your opportunity to submit your project and attract legitimate funds directly from the investment community. We invite you to submit your projects today in the areas of agribusiness, infrastructure, natural resources, and power.

Sourcing well-structured and audited bankable projects continues to be a serious challenge for investors in Africa.  Take the opportunity to secure investment for your projects by making your online submission by Monday 5th October.

Please complete the below information as accurately as possible as this information will be used in the Project Guide at the Summit.

Visit here for more

2014/2015 SPDC Joint Venture University Scholarship Award Scheme

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (Operator of the NNPC/SHELL /TEPN/AGIP Joint Venture) Scholarship Scheme offers first year students in all Nigerian universities the opportunity to study with an annual grant from the SPDC JV for the full duration of their course.
  

WHO CAN APPLY?

The merit-based scholarship is in two categories - the National Merit Award (NM) and the Areas of Operation Merit Award, East or West (OE or OW).

• National Merit Award (NM) Open to all Nigerians.
• Areas of Operation Merit Award, East (OE) For Nigerians who are indigenes of SPDC’s operational area in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Rivers and Bayelsa states (excluding indigenes of Ekeremor and Sagbama local government areas).
• Areas of Operation Merit Award, West (OW) For Nigerians who are indigenes of SPDC’s operational area in Bayelsa (i.e. of Ekeremor and Sagbama local government areas) and Delta States.

Eligible Applicants must:

• Be citizens of Nigeria, currently enrolled in an accredited and approved university in Nigeria.
• Have gained admission during the 2013/2014 academic session, and pursuing a first degree programme.
• Have a minimum of seven O/Levels credits, including Mathematics and English.
• Be enrolled full‐time, in a university in Nigeria at the undergraduate level with a minimum grade point average of 3.5 at the time of application (attach transcripts or official records)

 HOW TO APPLY

1. All applicants should have their personal valid email accounts (for consistent communication).
2. Candidates who meet the above entry qualifications should apply online, and to provide the required personal and educational details, and load scanned copies of the following:
   • A recent passport-sized photograph of the applicant (i.e. jpeg format, not more than 200kilobytes);
   • University or JAMB (UTME or D/E) Admission Letter;
   • Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) Scores;
   • ‘O’ Level Result(s); and ‘A’ Level /OND /NCE Result(s) as applicable; and
   • Letter of Identification from State (showing Local Government) of Origin.
3. Scanned copies of letters of identification, (which must be duly stamped and signed) by:
   • The Paramount Ruler of the Community; and
   • The Chairman of the Community Development or Executive Council (CDC or CEC) is also required of applicants for the Operational Area Awards (OE & OW). The letters should be addressed to The Manager, Sustainable Development (UIO/G/NRS), Shell Petroleum Development Company, Port Harcourt.

Document size must not exceed 200KB and the image format must be JPG.
Please Note:-

• Shell does not demand payment from applicants. The application is FREE of charge.
• Shell does not assign ‘Representatives’/‘Agents’ to assist applicants’ process applications.
• Applications should be submitted online before 18th of September 2015.
• Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

 

CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR 2014/2015 SHELL (SPDC) SCHOLARSHIP

Microsoft Lumia 540 Dual SIM

Network  Technology:     GSM / HSDPA
Launch    
Announced: April 2015
Status Available: Released May 2015
Body
Dimensions:   144 x 73.7 x 8.6 mm (5.67 x 2.90 x 0.34 in)
Weight:    152 g (5.36 oz)
SIM: Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by)
Display 
Type:     IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Size:     5.0 inches (~64.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution:     720 x 1280 pixels (~294 ppi pixel density)
Multitouch:    Yes    
Platform
OS:     Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim
Chipset:    Qualcomm Snapdragon 200
CPU:     Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7
GPU:     Adreno 302
Memory  
Card slot:    microSD, up to 128 GB
Internal:     8 GB, 1 GB RAM
Camera  
Primary:     8 MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Features:     1/4'' sensor size, geo-tagging
Video:     480p@30fps
Secondary camera:     5 MP, 480p
Sound  
Alert types:     Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones
Loudspeaker:     Yes
3.5mm jack:     Yes
Comms  
WLAN:     Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot
Bluetooth:     v4.0, A2DP
GPS:     Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS
Radio:     FM radio
USB:     microUSB v2.0
Features:     Sensors Accelerometer, proximity
Messaging:     SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM
Browser:    HTML5
Java:     No
     - Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
    - MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player
    - MP4/H.264 player
    - OneDrive (15 GB cloud storage)
    - Document viewer
    - Video/photo editor
Battery:      Li-Ion 2200 mAh battery
Stand-by:     Up to 576 h (2G) / Up to 576 h (3G)
Talk time:     Up to 26 h (2G) / Up to 15 h (3G)
Music play:     Up to 81 h
Colours:     Orange, white, black, gray, blue

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Apply for the AR-CSR Sustainable Solutions Showcase Challenge

Deadline:October 30, 2015
Take Your Business to the Next Level! Register for the Sustainable Solutions 3.0 Showcase
Challenge Get ready for the Sustainable Solutions Showcase challenge!
As part of the 2015 edition of the Africa CEO Round-table & Conference on Corporate Sustainability & Responsibility (AR-CSR™);
ThistlePraxisConsulting is pleased to announce the 3rd edition of the Sustainable Solutions Showcase; an initiative that seeks to promote, expose and connect innovations and inventions of social entrepreneurs with potential investors, partners, clients, customers and collaborators. This exhibition will showcase ideas, goods, services and inventions of various types that are original and creative, ecologically friendly, capable of meeting specific social and economic needs and having potential for enterprise and return on investment.
The best three entries will be selected to participate at the 2015 AR-CSR™ with the theme: ‘From Corporate Governance to Sustainable Governance’.
If your innovation or business fits these descriptions and can readily be presented to business leaders for possible investment opportunities and collaborations, then this opportunity is for you.
Interested individuals are encouraged to enter for the challenge.
For your product, idea or innovation to be selected for this challenge, it must:
1. Be original and creative.
2. Meet a social, economic or environmental need.
3. Be practical, environmentally safe and benefiting to any community.
4. Show potential for enterprise and return on investment.
Format of Entry The entries should contain:
Product description: Please submit a detailed description of your product and explain how it meets the criteria stated above.
Company description: Please submit a brief profile of your company, detailing the structure and size.
Video: Please submit a short video (5 minutes maximum) of the process of creating your product (if available)
Application Process
Interested individuals are required to submit their entries before Midnight (GMT) on Friday 30th October 2015 to sss@ar-csr.com
The entries will be screened by a project team of experts from ThistlePraxis Consulting and only successful candidates will be notified by Monday 9th November 2015.
NB: Details of applicants’ intellectual property will be treated with utmost confidentiality and respect for any legal implications. However, organizers are not liable for consequences which may arise after the presentations, exhibition and subsequent interaction with potential funders and/or partners. Date: December 3-4, 2015
Venue: Eko Hotel & Suites, Plot 1415 Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos Nigeria

Click here to visit official page and apply

Apply for Innovation Prize for Africa 2015

Deadline:October 31, 2015
The IPA is an initiative of the African Innovation Foundation (AIF) started in 2011. IPA honors and encourages innovative achievements that contribute toward developing new products, increasing efficiency or saving cost in Africa. Specifically, the award targets technological breakthroughs in 5 main areas: manufacturing & service industry, health & well-being, agriculture & agribusiness, environment, energy & water and ICTs. To date, there have been four (4) rounds of competition.
The IPA is focused on:

• Mobilizing leaders from all sectors to fuel African innovation ecosystem
• Promoting innovation across Africa in key sectors through the competition
• Promoting science, technology and engineering as a rewarding career path among African youth.
• Encouraging entrepreneurs, innovators, funding bodies and business development service providers to exchange ideas and explore innovative business opportunities.

The winning innovations are determined based on the products’ uniqueness and their potential contribution to socio-economic development in Africa through increased efficiency and cost savings. Five criteria to be considered:

1. Originality: The uniqueness of the product and its superiority in comparison with similar or alternative products in the market;
2. Marketability: The extent to which the innovation sufficiently addresses the problem it seeks to solve at a price or model that is accessible to the target market;
3. Scalability: The extent to which the solution can be easily applied to other similar markets beyond the applicant’s immediate or local environment;
4. Social impact: The ability of the innovation to create or effect positive or desirable changes within the target community and beyond;
5. Scientific/Technical aspects: For tangible technical/scientific innovations; this refers to extent to which the technical specifications of the innovation are grounded on established science and sufficiently address any anticipated product risks.

Below is a summary of the IPA 2016 process timeline:

1. Pre-screening (August – Nov 2015): Pre-screening commences immediately applications are received and continues on an ongoing basis until the competition is closed. The IPA secretariat assesses that the received applications meet the minimum requirements: that the applicant is a person of African citizenship or origin; that all the mandatory fields are completed and the innovation is developed beyond being just an idea.
2. Screening (October – December 2015): PhD students from reputable institutions evaluate the applications to assess and assign scores based on the following considerations; has the applicant identified a clear problem they are solving; does the solution they are proposing to address the problem sound plausible; can the solution be deemed innovative when assessed against similar solutions existing in the market globally. Based on the scores received, a shortlist is prepared and submitted to the judges.
3. Preliminary Assessment by Judges (Dec 2015 – Jan 2016): Each application is independently reviewed by at least two judges who are members of the Selection Panel. The key issues being assessed are: whether the problem being addressed is a major challenge on the continent; is the solution better than globally existing solutions; is the solution commercially viable or self-sustaining.
4. Selection Panel meeting (Early Feb 2016): The Selection Panel members meet to deliberate on the innovations reviewed during the preliminary assessment. They reconcile the scores and create a shortlist of top 25 applications.
5. Technical Validation (Feb- March 2016): Technical experts from reputable institutions will carry out validation on selected applications. They seek to determine whether the technical claims made are valid and whether the idea is new.
6. Phone Interviews (March – April 2016): The Selection Panel will conduct phone interviews with the applicant and which shall include the validator. The phone interviews will allow the Panel to resolve any questions raised by the validator. The Selection Panel will select 10 nominees after the phone interviews.
7. Face-to-Face interviews (June 2016 and exact dates and place TBA): The selection panel will conduct face-to-face interviews with the nominees. The interviews will be conducted just before the awards ceremony. The winners would be chosen after the interviews and announced during the awards ceremony.
8. Awards Ceremony (June 2016 and exact date and place TBA): IPA 2016 winners will be announced and awarded at a special ceremony. Venue and exact date will be announced by mid-March 2015 and will be posted on IPA website and other social media channels.

 Click here to visit site