Joycee Awojoodu, just back from Addis-Ababa where she took part alongside several other young people in the World Economic Forum shares her thoughts about the forum, meetings with leaders across several fields on the continent and going forward.
Nigerian Shapers with President Jonathan
“If you educate a woman, you educate a nation. Women are most certainly Africa’s chance for success.” The President of Gabon’s convincing words were met with a resounding round of applause in the large conference room full of world leaders, business professionals all with interests in Africa.
Having participated in the World Economic Forum on Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last week, I have returned fresh with energy and a drive channeled towards making an impact on the continent. The theme of the Forum, ‘Shaping Africa’s Transformation’ brought together the world’s brightest leaders from across the globe in the public and private sectors, civil service and non-profit world. The concepts of empowering women as a vital tool for economic development and peace-making and harnessing the energy of the youth competed for the title of ‘the most talked about points.’
Not surprising considering that 60% of the Continent is considered to be youth As I spent time engaging with the brilliant minds of Aliko Dangote, Nigeria’s self-made billionaire, President Kagame of Rwanda, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and recent World Bank Presidential Candidate, my passion for creating a lasting impact on the continent was renewed. The experience further honed in my beliefs that nothing is impossible, and change is around the corner.
Nigeria has a peculiar way of sucking you dry of all of your ideologies and dreams when you experience the harsh day to day realities of a nation so far behind from where we should be. I share the feelings of frustrations and the common fits of anger that majority of Nigeria’s youth express when I think about what or what NOT our Government is doing to advance the nation. Most of the time I deliberately force myself not to think about the colossal issues and instead I apply my own method of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) while working hard to effect changes in the community around me and hopefully one day my work will be realized and I will be able to influence policy in an influential governmental role.
But as its stands I’m only one person, and transformative change for our problems requires more than just the efforts of one. This is one reason why I love the concept of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers; it emphasizes teamwork and collaboration. The ‘Shapers’ are charged with impacting their local communities and also collaborating with other hubs around the world to make a difference.
Addis Ababa did something to me that I did not anticpate. The environment was beautiful and serene with an archaic antique touch. The Sheraton where the event was hosted reminded me of an old castle from historic times. The taxi’s that covered the streets were unforgettable for their bright blue color and their clearly old age. It was confirmed that the taxi’s were remnants of the cold war and were deposited by the Russians. I perpetually commented on the stellar customer service I experienced everywhere I visited in Ethiopia.
Shapers with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda
Ethiopians are some of the nicest people I have ever met, Nigerians may be the “happiest” but Ethiopians should take the prize for being the most pleasant! Notably, the weather also provided a sharp contrast to the scorching sun rays of Abuja; I actually felt the need to leave my sunglasses in the bag and pull out a scarf; I almost forgot I was still in Africa.
I boarded the plane from Nigeria without any expectations, I simply felt honored to be given the privilege to attend the Forum on Africa and my foremost goal was to gain knowledge and most importantly to attend every session on power, electricity and energy. I
planned to come back home and apply whatever best practices I learned towards my current work on the electricity reform. During our Global Shapers introduction, I felt the energy and excitement of the other 31 Shapers from Somalia to Tunis, to Liberia. We were advised to diversify on the sessions we planned to participate in and not just attend meetings unique to our interests. Exploration was highly encouraged as a way to take the most from the experience. I quickly changed my previous goal and decided to go with the flow, I was no longer going to ascribe to the narrow path I had chosen. I met up with my wingman, for the week, fellow Global Shaper from the Abuja hub and we made sure to attend every session we deemed interesting and to set up as many bi-lateral meetings as possible. This way we could spread our tentacles and gain as much as we could soak up.
During one of the plenary sessions, comprised of an impressive panel of Presidents from Ethiopia, Nigeria, Goodluck, Angola, and Gabon, President Goodluck was asked what he believes the most important dimension of leadership is. “Honesty as well as being a problem solver'” were his response. You can be the judge if he truly reflects this. But, I must say he spoke well and articulately and captivated the audience with the anecdote he shared about leadership, the moral of the story was ” there is no prescribed path for Leadership, everyone has their unique experiences that bring out the leader in them.”
Besides His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathon, the Nigerian delegation included an array of Government and private sector executives. the team included Governors Olusegun Mimiko and Gabriel Suswam of Ondo and Benue states respectively, several ministers including the Hounourable Minister of National Planning Shamsudeen Usman and Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, and a considerable number of business tycoons like Wale Tinubu of Oando and Aliko Dangote.
One of the most impressive aspects of the Forum was the ease and ability to make contact with almost every member of the Nigerian delegation. Not only was it facile, the leaders were elated to make a connection and provide their support. I left Addis Ababa with several follow- up meetings lined up for my return to Nigeria. I was pleasantly surprised to find that after I spoke passionately about my suggestions for change in the power sector including but not limited to renewable energy implementation, during a panel discussion titled ‘Ending Energy Poverty,’ three of Nigeria’s leaders approached me expressing their desire to support my initatives.
One went so far as to leave me a handwritten note imploring me to contact her immediately upon my return; needless to say I was touched. Some of the very people we [youth] have frowned our faces at or muttered words of disdain when we see their name in a headline or hear the name come out of the mouth of a news reporter, were some of the realest personalities I engaged with while in Addis. Perhaps it was the ‘no entourage-no protocol mode’ that enabled these positive engagements, but, I made sure to tell each and every one of them that it is unfortunate that on our own soil we don’t get these opportunities to engage with them easily.
The setting of the environment naturally dictated that everyone came as human, as they are. Their PA’s were not around to hold their bags, or serve them a meal, we were all on level playing field and that was a sight to see and a moment to experience. It was easy to see Gordon Brown or Kofi Annan walk right past you without a heavy posse. The Nigerian leaders present reassured me that their offices would now be an open door and they’d be happy to ensure that the connection was lasting.
Only time will tell if the relationships birthed at the Forum will last, but I’ve undoubtedtly come back from Addis Ababa revitalized and ready to work with others who want to create the Nigeria we wish we all envision, a country we can be proud of. The closing plenary session of the World Economic Forum on Africa ended with several attendees and panelists sharing their dreams of “who in history or current times they would love to have dinner with?” The responses ranged from Steve Biko to Nigeria’s very own Chimamanda Adichie. For posterity’s sake I pray that the youth of today turn the numerous action plan’s that Nigerian’s like to create into ACTION. Let our generation produce many heroes and heroines that people seek to dine with and learn from. The world leaders at the Forum expressed that a lot of the power lies in the hands of the youth, let’s prove to them that we can indeed actuailize change. Are you ready?
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Joycee Awojoodu
Joycee Awojooduis a renewable energy advocate with five years professional experience in the energy industry. She began her career as a structuring and pricing associate at Constellation Energy, a Fortune 100 company in the United States. At the young age of 23 she created a successful energy brokerage operating in four states in the USA focused on renewable energy, natural gas and electricity. Most recently she decided to return home to pursue her ambitions to bring sustainable energy to the poor. She is currently working at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in their Renewable Energy Research and Development Team. Joycee maintains a blog on www.JoyceeAwojoodu.com and can be reached on twitter @MsCEO101
