MDGs: Uwaje challenges youths on using IT

By Emeka Aginam
AS the World leaders from all over the globe convened in New York city recently  to discuss the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs,  the Nigerian IT youth ambassador, Nkemdilim Uwaje has challenged Nigerian youths on Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, using IT.

The world leaders from all over the globe including policy makers, UN officials and the youth had  convened in New York city recently to discuss the MDGs, which according to the summit   should be implemented by 2015.

Nkem Uwaje who spoke to IT journalists shortly after her return from Austria and the USA as part  of the winners events of the World Summit Youth Award (WSYA), a programme supported by the UN General Alliance for Information Technology and Development, UN GAID, said that she  truly inspired by the young leaders of tomorrow who have decided to take action today by developing high quality and interactive e-content focused on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Nkem Uwaje

The WSYA events in New York , according to her, consisted of visits to demonstrations like Stand Up New York, panel discussions with UN GAID officials, the Minister for ICT of Macedonia, Executives from the Internet Society, Intel, Bloomberg and Wunderman, as well as presentations of all winning projects.

Taking action and standing up for the implementations of the MDGs, she sited what  Leung Chun San from China did with his project ANTI HIVIRUS  in the WSYA Category “Fight Hunger Poverty and Disease”.

“This is my all time favorite project and even though I have looked at it a million times I still get excited about the quality and the innovation behind this amazing project.

“What is sad is that the project is from China and not from Africa or more specifically Nigeria. I wish the Nigerian and African youth would take more action, stand up for their rights and show the world what they are capable of, that they too have skills and access to the tools needed to create fabulous local content.

“As an ambassador of the WSYA I have made it my quest to do more than my usual call for submissions and awareness campaign when the 2011 WSYA approach us. I will try my best to share my knowledge and experience with Nigerian youth and equip them with the knowledge, skills and most of all tools (which are mainly open source and freely available).

“I hope to see more Winners from Nigeria in 2011 (this year there were 2 Winners from Nigeria – Mr. NnaemekaIkegwuonu and Mr. DotunAdewunmi). Let us take the MDGs into our own hands today” she said.