DeBuzz: RISE NATIONAL YOUTH FORUM 2011 OPENS, REWARDS STUDENTS WITH TUITION FEES, LAPTOPS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PRIZES

The 2011 Sessions of the Longest Standing Pan-Nigerian Youth Seminar, RISE NATIONAL YOUTH FORUM opened in Calabar last Saturday 16th July at the New Theatre Auditorium of the University of Calabar. Participants described the event as nothing short of FANTASTIC and just SUPER.

The Engaging RISE STUDENTS’ QUIZ COMPETITION plus the mind blowing inspiring stories shared by two of the Guest Speakers {Bode Pedro, Founder/CEO of Veda Technology and Ferdinand Adimefe, Curator of the Avantgarde Interface Foundation} who by themselves are Made in Nigeria Super Young Stars kept the Youths excited, motivated and screaming for more. The over 5000 Participants who attended the Event comprised of Working Class young adults, representatives of Civil Society Organizations, Officers from the Cross Rivers State Ministry of Information, Ministry of Youth and Sports, students and lecturers from UNICAL, Cross Rivers State University of Technology and Youths from neighboring Cities like Port Harcourt, Uyo and Owerri.

The Program allowed the native intelligence of Cross River Youth dominate the air and the MCs, Time Keepers, Security Personnel, UNICAL's Management, Man O' war and SUG embraced and supported RISE all the way.

Josiah Diaso of UNICAL emerged winner of the Rise Student's Quiz Competition and went home with N75 000 Cash Prize Tuition Fee, 12Inch Laptop from Veda Technology, HP Deskjet Printer and an MTN Internet Modem while the 2nd Place Winner, Dorothy Chukwu Ugonma of Cross Rivers State University of Technology got N50 000 Cash Prize Tuition Fee Contribution, Blackberry Phone, Generating Set, Biography of Martin Luther King and Victory Offiong also from UNICAL who came third went home with N25 000 Cash Prize Tuition Fee Contribution, 21 Inch TV Set and DSTV Decoder with Dish.
All of them in addition to the Audience winners went home with Cash Prizes and Exotic gifts worth almost N700 000 in total.

The Program which started at 11am and ended at 6pm left the participants screaming for more.

Recently, young Nigerians especially are in dire need and desire for knowledge, inspiration and mentoring. Attention is gradually shifting from bling-bling to self discovery, actualization and an innate craving to measure up and succeed.

Obviously, RISE has come to stay and as the MC of the event excitedly stated, “…any place where RISE goes, Youths will go”. It's in the firm delivery of promises, the robust and empowering content of RISE Programs and the passion and unwavering commitment of Sponsors.

Other Nigerian Cities that will host this Event this 2011 are Benin, Kano, Abia, Abuja, Enugu, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Minna and Uyo.