Contributions needed and I want only 50 years and below. Any field of science and tech is welcome.

CELEBRATING NDI-IGBO: OUR WOMEN ARE ALSO INVOLVED...

CHINWE LUCY OZOEGWU

Chinwe is currently researching autonomous self-adapting industrial in-house built robots, and how they can be used to facilitate mass customization. Robots, she hopes, will learn from their own experiences without being restricted to pre-conceived routines. In other words robots will use their experiences to think for themselves.

Chinwe Ozoegwu received her BEng in Electrical and Electronics (4.62/5 GPA) from Moscow Power Engineering Institute, an MSc in Electronics and Information Technology (with Distinction) from Sheffield Hallam University and is currently pursuing a PhD in Industrial Automation and Robotics in Sheffield Hallam University, UK.

In line with her stellar academic credentials, Chinwe secured a Bilateral Education agreement between Nigeria and Russia including free tuition, maintenance, insurance, book and travel allowances from the Russian and Nigerian governments, at Tver State Technical University and Moscow Power Engineering Institute.

She is also currently lecturing a range of engineering subjects at the undergraduate level. She is also fervently committed to inspiring young women to study Engineering and Science disciplines, and is a member of Women in science, Engineering and Technology of Sheffield Hallam University.

View demo on youtube here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpr482KIZKU

Obinna Njakaposted toIgboville -

CELEBRATING NDI-IGBO: One to watch...

CHIDUBE EZEOZUE

MIT graduate student Chidube Ezeozue is a first class electrical engineering graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is currently pursuing dual master’s degrees in MIT’s Technology and Policy Program and in electrical engineering and computer science.

Frustrated by his nation’s erratic electrical grid, Chidube created an app, with his brother, that crowdsources information about Nigerian power outages. With the app, called NepaSituation, people living in Nigeria can report outages. This data, when merged into an algorithm developed by Ezeozue, can help Nigerians predict when power outages may strike their neighborhoods, and how long those outages might last.

After graduating from MIT in June, Ezeozue will remain in Cambridge, working as a software engineer for Google.

Read More:
MITNews - Power to the people
BellaNaija - BN Trailblazers & Tastemakers (Full Interview)

Sources: Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, Bella Naija

Profile

Ndubuisi Ekekwe holds two doctoral and four master’s degrees, including a PhD in electrical and computer engineering from the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore and MBA from University of Calabar, Nigeria, all completed by March 2009. He graduated in August 1998, from FUT Owerri, Nigeria as his class’s best student. He founded First Atlantic Semiconductors & Microelectronics Ltd (Fasmicro) – Africa’s first integrated circuit design house. Ekekwe is also the Founder of the non-profit African Institution of Technology and a full professor of engineering with Babcock University Nigeria. He last held the title of Banking Executive with Diamond Bank Lagos.

Professor Ekekwe is an inventor – he holds a US Patent on a microchip used in minimally invasive surgical robots and has authored breakthrough papers, including a roadmap on African single currency which he presented in an AU congress. He has spoken at Harvard University, the UN Summit, African Union Congress, Wharton Business School and Brown University amongst others. Ekekwe’s book on nanotechnology and microelectronics won IGI Global 2010 “Book of the Year” award. He lives in Boston and was in the team that created the XL sensor inside the iPhone and iPod. He authored Nigeria’s Vision 2020 Microelectronics thematic area and is the recipient of more than 17 academic fellowships and scholarships

Nigerian Entrepreneur Chinedu Echeruo Sells His HopStop Apps To Apple…
Posted on July 24th, 2013 at 5:12:05 PM

By af1316

Congratulations to Our very own Nigerian Apps developer Chinedu Echeruo on the massive deal and sale of his Apps to technology giant Apple. The deal from an unconfirmed source is reported to have cost up to a billion dollars was announced by Apple this week

As reported by the Wall Street Journal’s “All Things Digital” blog, HopStop empowers Apple’s map program by providing access to a portion of the mapping landscape it had yet to cover: mass transit directions. The move has been seen by many analysts as the tech-giant’s largest push to compete with the industry-leading Google Maps service. In fact, Google has been providing map data to Apple since 2007.
As an entrepreneur, Echeruo has founded both HopStop and Tripology, after stints working as an analyst for J.P. Morgan Chase. Echeruo also made his mark in the hedge fund world, working for AM Investment Partners for a time. Echeruo grew up in Eastern Nigeria and was a student at Kings College in Lagos. He later came to the States to attend Syracuse University and Harvard Business School before founding his businesses.
Although the sale of HopStop.com should be lucrative as expected, Echeruo has no intentions of becoming a boardroom fat rat. He is already at work on another small business with a focus on working with companies in his homeland.
HopStop is based in New York and provides door-to-door subway and public transit directions in 140 metropolitan areas in iOS, Android, and web formats. In 2011, it was named one of the top 100 fastest-growing software companies.

Op, so many people won't like this ....brace yourself bro

Akudo Anyanwu Ikemba

Dr Akudo Anyanwu Ikemba has been shortlisted as one of the 3 finalists for the Ogunte Women’s Social Leadership Awards in the category: Leader Charitable Organisations and Campaigns 2013.

Akudo founded Friends Africa as an African voice in support of the Global Fund and the fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Friends Africa mobilizes and builds the capacity of the African private sector, civil society and government to improve Africa’s health and is the recipient of the 2012 Stevie Award for Non-profit of the year and finalist for the 2012 ONE Africa Award.

She serves on a number of boards including Roll Back Malaria, the Global Health Council and the Nigerian arm of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). Through her leadership, Friends Africa has been able mobilize over $560 million USD to countries in Africa for the purpose of integrating family planning and HIV services.

Dr Anyanwu Ikemba is a World Economic Forum 2012 Young Global Leader, Stevie Award Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 and Stevie Award Innovator of the Year 2012. She is also a member of the Nigerian Leadership Initiative. She holds a Doctorate degree in medicine from Tufts University, a Master’s degree in International Public Health from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology from Lehigh University.

Anyanwu Ikemba is the recipient of two 2012 Stevie Awards: Female Social Entrepreneur of the year and Female Innovator of the year respectively.

Igbos are the Japan of Africas. Go to Aba and see with your two eyes. If Nigeria govt can leave the hate the have for Igbos and support Aba Guys, Nigeria will compete China come 2030.

Chris-OD:

Profile

Ndubuisi Ekekwe holds two doctoral and four master’s degrees, including a PhD in electrical and computer engineering from the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore and MBA from University of Calabar, Nigeria, all completed by March 2009. He graduated in August 1998, from FUT Owerri, Nigeria as his class’s best student. He founded First Atlantic Semiconductors & Microelectronics Ltd (Fasmicro) – Africa’s first integrated circuit design house. Ekekwe is also the Founder of the non-profit African Institution of Technology and a full professor of engineering with Babcock University Nigeria. He last held the title of Banking Executive with Diamond Bank Lagos.

Professor Ekekwe is an inventor – he holds a US Patent on a microchip used in minimally invasive surgical robots and has authored breakthrough papers, including a roadmap on African single currency which he presented in an AU congress. He has spoken at Harvard University, the UN Summit, African Union Congress, Wharton Business School and Brown University amongst others. Ekekwe’s book on nanotechnology and microelectronics won IGI Global 2010 “Book of the Year” award. He lives in Boston and was in the team that created the XL sensor inside the iPhone and iPod. He authored Nigeria’s Vision 2020 Microelectronics thematic area and is the recipient of more than 17 academic fellowships and scholarships

Ekekwe is a real prodigy, but how is he living in Boston and lecturing in Babcock of all places

Ndidi Ekubia

Ndidi Ekubia is a talented and well-read silversmith. She achieved her MA in Silversmithing at the Royal College of Arts in 1998 and has since been showcasing her beautiful and creative pieces in prestigious exhibitions. She has been growing in reputation and is well known for her imaginative style and her use of traditional techniques where she beats sheet metal over wooden and steel forms.

Using traditional silversmithing techniques that require the beating of sheet metal over steel and wooden forms, Ndidi produces a range of exquisite vessels, including wine goblets and ice buckets. For The New Craftsmen she has produced a new addition to her work – a limited number of classic household candle snuffers.

Ndidi’s inspirations stem from the patterns of everyday life; from the cityscape of London through to organic natural forms. In turn, her artistic landscape has been determined by the bold Africa shapes, textiles, food and passionate family conversation of her childhood.

Ndidi has exhibited at the Museum of Arts & Design New York; The Saatchi Gallery in London, the Pavilion of Art and Design, Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London; the Goldsmiths Hall London and Sotheby’s New Bond Street in London.

kettykin:

Ekekwe is a real prodigy, but how is he living in Boston and lecturing in Babcock of all places

He is a visiting professor to Babcock, Futo (Owerri) and American University of Rwanda. He also owns a tech company in Nigeria

Uche Orji, extra jara, not really in S&T

Uche Orji is the Managing Director/CEO of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). Mr. Orji joined the NSIA as CEO on October 2nd 2012 from UBS Securities, where he was Managing Director in the New York branch of its Equities division. Prior to his experience at UBS, Mr. Orji was a Managing Director in J.P. Morgan’s Equities division in London. Prior to JP Morgan, Mr. Orji was at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, London, as analyst/portfolio manager.

Mr. Orji holds a BEng in Chemical Engineering from the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) was set up by an Act of Nigeria’s National Assembly (the NSIA Act) in 2011. The objective of the NSIA is to promote fiscal stability, build a savings base for future generations of Nigerians.

Chris-OD:


He is a visiting professor to Babcock, Futo (Owerri) and American University of Rwanda. He also owns a tech company in Nigeria

Ok that clarifies it , I know about his tech company and ovim.

Emeka Afigbo
Emeka Afigbo is the Google Outreach Program Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa. He leads Google's efforts to discover, inspire, mobilise and support tech entrepreneurs and software developers across Africa. He is also focused on growing the internet ecosystem and enhancing locally relevant content across the region through local developers.

Emeka studied Electronic Engineering at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He has a Masters Degree in Technology Innovation Management from Carleton University, Canada.

Emeka worked for Socket Works, SW Global and Parkway before joining Google in 2011.

Justus Nwaoga


Justus Nwaoga is among ten 2013 African innovators who were nominated for developing practical solutions to some of the continent’s most intractable problems. They were chosen from more than 900 applications from 45 countries. The finalists for the Innovation Prize for Africa, IPA, 2013 provided practical examples of Africa’s investment potentials.

Nwaoga was nominated for developing a new way to collect renewable solar energy by using the mimosa pudica weed, an organic African medicinal plant. With this breakthrough, it was possible to construct a functional mimosa solar panel with the Mimosa plant extract. The solar panel is designed in such a way that the electrical potential of the cells can be restored on exposure to direct sun rays, after they have been discharged.

The Innovation Prize for Africa is an award founded by the African Innovation Foundation and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. It mobilises African innovators and entrepreneurs by providing a total of $150 000 to winners who deliver market-oriented solutions for African-led development. The prize encourages private equity investors, government and development leaders to invest across sectors and build a climate that fuels Africa’s economic growth.

Nwaogu is with the Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Francisca Okeke
Francisca Okeke is a Professor of Physics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She recently received the L’Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science Award for her significant contributions to the understanding of daily variations of the ion currents in the upper atmosphere which may further our understanding of climate change.

In a statement, UNESCO said Okeke has made the study of the ionosphere her lifetime work. The ionosphere lies between 50km and 1000km above the earth surface. “A very thick layer of charged particles, the ionosphere produces changes in the magnetic field on earth’s surface that affect the planet in a host of ways. Her research could lead to a better understanding of climate change and help pinpoint sources of dramatic phenomena like tsunamis and earthquakes”

She was also the Dean in the faculty of Physical Sciences at her University, from 2008 to 2010.

Dr Kenneth Nwabueze

Gray Davis.It was a familiar position for Kenneth Nwabueze. In the year 2000, he was named a member of the National Advisory Board for Governor George W. Bush for President. On December 12, 2001, President Bush in a ceremony held at the Roosevelt Room, appointed him to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. On the board with him are high-tech industry luminaries like Michael Dell of Dell Computer Corp.; Gordon Moore, Chairman Emeritus of Intel Corp., Carol Bartz, CEO of AutoDesk Inc., Norman Augustine, retired chairman of Lockheed Martin Corp.; and Charles Vest, President, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Members of the council are charged with the responsibilies of advising the President on issues involving science and technology and their roles in achieving national goals.The 34-year-old Kenneth Nwabueze was born in Ogidi, Anambra State, Nigeria. He came to the United States at the age of 17. He studied Engineering at the California State University at Northridge, and Management at the Pepperdine University at Malibu. In 2002, he was honored at Howard University as one of the 50-most important African Americans in Technology. He is the founder and CEO of SageMetrics Corporation, a leading outsourced business intelligence provider with offices in North Hollywood, California and European Headquarters in London.Mr. Nwabueze attributes his success in life to networking and what he called “mining” the network.

Nicholas Okoye
Nicholas Okoye (@NickyOkoye) is presently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Anabel Group Inc, the group includes Anabel Mobile Limited, Nigeria’s pioneer tier one Manufacturer of Smart Mobile Devices, online portals and data platforms, Anabel Capital, Advisor and capacity building Consultant to the Central Bank of Nigeria. Anabel Technology specializes in developing applications that allow groups, associations and corporations to share work reports off site and integrate solutions from anywhere in the World.

Nicholas Okoye is the founding Group Executive Director and the first Leader of the pioneer Executive team that set up the Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp), Nigeria’s first home grown conglomerate, involved in Oil, Gas, Hospitality and Agriculture. At Transcorp, Nicholas was responsible for rising over $1 billion USD in less than twelve months which was recorded and still is, one of Nigeria’s most successful capital raising exercises till date.


In 2005 Nicholas was nominated as one of the top forty Nigerians “under forty” by Nigeria’s leading News Papers. He was also nominated twice, first in 2006 and then 2008 as one of the top five most innovative young Executives in Nigeria by one of the Country’s leading New Papers, ThisDay, at its annual Thisday Awards ceremony.

Nicholas was educated at the Anambra State University of Technology where he gained a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Micro Biology and Genetic Engineering. He has participated in extensive higher educational programs including Executive Educational courses at Harvard Business School and London Business School. He is married with three children.

Emmanuel Ohuabunwa
Emmanuel Ohuabunwa is an incredibly intelligent 22-year-old Nigerian, who in May 2012, emerged the best graduating student of John Hopkins University in the United States.

Ohuabunwa made history when he obtained a Grade Point Average of 3.98 out of a possible 4.0 to earn a degree in Neurosciences; he also holds the highest honours conferred during the May 24, 2012 graduation ceremony.

Ohuabunwa, who hails from Abia State, was born in Okota in Lagos State. He was 13 years old when, with his family, Ohuabunwa left the hustle, bustle and familiarity of Lagos, Nigeria for Houston, Texas.

An outstanding young mind, Emmanuel recently joined the Phi Beta Kappa community, a prestigious honor group that features membership of 17 US Presidents, 37 US Supreme Court Justices and 136 Nobel Prize winners. Emmanuel Ohuabunwa is currently furthering his studies at the Yale University School of Medicine.

Chris-OD:
Nicholas Okoye
Nicholas Okoye (@NickyOkoye) is presently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Anabel Group Inc, the group includes Anabel Mobile Limited, Nigeria’s pioneer tier one Manufacturer of Smart Mobile Devices, online portals and data platforms, Anabel Capital, Advisor and capacity building Consultant to the Central Bank of Nigeria. Anabel Technology specializes in developing applications that allow groups, associations and corporations to share work reports off site and integrate solutions from anywhere in the World.

Nicholas Okoye is the founding Group Executive Director and the first Leader of the pioneer Executive team that set up the Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp), Nigeria’s first home grown conglomerate, involved in Oil, Gas, Hospitality and Agriculture. At Transcorp, Nicholas was responsible for rising over $1 billion USD in less than twelve months which was recorded and still is, one of Nigeria’s most successful capital raising exercises till date.


In 2005 Nicholas was nominated as one of the top forty Nigerians “under forty” by Nigeria’s leading News Papers. He was also nominated twice, first in 2006 and then 2008 as one of the top five most innovative young Executives in Nigeria by one of the Country’s leading New Papers, ThisDay, at its annual Thisday Awards ceremony.

Nicholas was educated at the Anambra State University of Technology where he gained a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Micro Biology and Genetic Engineering. He has participated in extensive higher educational programs including Executive Educational courses at Harvard Business School and London Business School. He is married with three children.

This is another titan I am so proud of

Not to forget our own fellow Nairalander
ZnO
MS Molecular Biology
PhD Agricultural Microbiology
Assistant Professor of Agricultural Nanotechnology.

Great compilation bro. By the way, I've not seen my name. Should I be the one blowing my trumpet?

Jason Njoku


Jason Njoku is the founder and CEO of Iroko Partners, the largest digital distributors of Nigerian music and movies, with a library of over 1600 licensed movies. Mr. Njoku’s, Iroko Partners, consist of 5 web brands; iROKOtv, iROKING, iROKtv, NollywoodLove and YorubaLove. Mr. Njoku is building a modern digital distribution infrastructure using Amazon Web Services, Ooyala and several video ad networks, to service the second largest movie industry in the world (by volume), Nollywood, or Nigerian cinema.

According to Pando Daily’s,last year Iroko did eight million YouTube streams a month, with a $1 million revenue run-rate. This traffic has soared.

Mr. Njoku holds a BSc, Chemistry from The University of Manchester, University of Manchester - Manchester Business School, 2002 – 2005. He was a speaker at TEDxEuston 2012.

Okoro2015: Great compilation bro. By the way, I've not seen my name. Should I be the one blowing my trumpet?

Just blow it bro. You do not have to show your real name if you do not want to.

Nkemdilim Uwaje
Miss Uwaje is a Director of Future Software Resources Nigeria Ltd.. She attained a BSc. Hons in Bioinformatics at the Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU), as well as the Technical University of Munich (TUM) Germany. She has worked on various research projects at the Max Planck Institute for Psychiatric Research in the department for Statistical Genetics and Proteomics, as well as for the Pharmaceutical Company Affectis Pharmaceuticals AG, Germany. These research projects encompass the development of software solutions for complex biological as well as chemical calculations and simulations, database design and administration as well as statistical analysis.

After re-locating to Nigeria in 2005 Miss Uwaje was involved in various research projects, such as the Wazobia Linux initiative, the E-Government Interoperability Framework, NITDA Open Standards Framework, as well as the deployment of e-commerce and e-portal solutions in the Nigerian public and private sector.

In early 2008 she took up her position as a Director of Future Software Resources Nigeria Ltd. and re-branded the company, thus changing its focus from stand-alone solutions to web-based educational, enterprise and business solutions.

Nkem is also a co-founder of Bake for Change, a charity baking club that is focused on empowering street children that are being catered to in 7 Lagos State run homes. Their activities span from renovation projects to educational initiatives.

I do not want to claim Jessica Matthews yet until I am sure she is of SE. She could be Delta Igbo or non Igbo former Easterner

Second photo is Jessica and President Obama displaying the socket ball in Tanzania

Millions in the developing world lack access to clean and safe electricity. Now, an innovative new football gives them a way to produce power with every kick.

Researchers in the US have built a prototype device which they say can generate electricity from waste water.

The official ball for the Euro 2012 Football Championship certainly sounds impressive. After all, it’s been developed over a two-year period and tested across eight countries.

Uefa, European football’s governing body, calls the Tango 12 "a modern interpretation of the classic design, including a coloured outline inspired by the flags of the two host nations, Poland and Ukraine”.

Wow. But I'm left with a question. After kicking it around for a couple of hours, can you use it power a lamp or charge a cell phone like the Soccket?

When I first wrote about the Soccket back in the spring of 2010, I loved their pitch; a ball that during normal game play can capture and store energy, which can then later be used to provide a charge for batteries or lights.

Four Harvard undergraduates came up with the idea during a course on innovation they took together in 2008. They wanted to solve a persistent and fundamental problem – millions around the world do not have regular, reliable access to electricity.

"We lose power all the time in Nigeria," says Jessica Matthews, one of those four Harvard students. Matthews, who was born in New York but whose parents are Nigerian, says she thought about her regular visits she to her aunt's house back in Nigeria, where a diesel generator would be cranking away. "I couldn't breathe," she says, "and I couldn't believe that this was normal."

From shared experiences, the Harvard team also knew that many children in the developing world spend their evenings studying under a single streetlight, or worse, next to dangerous, expensive and eco-unfriendly kerosene lamps.

Those same kids, they noted, often spent a great deal of their daylight hours playing football (soccer if you’re an American). They asked: could there be a way to harness some of that energy, and give those kids a more reliable source of power?

Power ball

The answer, it turned out, was a qualified "yes". They built a prototype inflatable ball in early 2009 which had an induction coil mechanism inside. It stored energy the same way a shake-to-charge flashlight does.

They tested the ball in South Africa in the summer of that year, and found that the energy output was good but not great. The kids, though, really took to the idea, despite the fact the Soccket didn't quite feel or play quite like a regular soccer ball because of the energy-harvesting mechanism inside.

Inspired, Matthews and her classmates decided to keep working on the idea. In 2010, to coincide with the World Cup in South Africa, they released a second prototype. This one didn't need to be inflated. It was built to be harder, and more durable. Inside, Matthews says, the induction coil was replaced by a gyroscopic mechanism. "We realized that the best motion you can capture is the rolling motion of the ball, not the bouncing motion. The ball is always rolling, whether it's on the air or on the ground." She says the new mechanism made the ball three times more energy-efficient per minute of play. Still, the ball had a bit of a wobble.

But the group managed to get the ball out to kids in various countries in Africa and Latin America through local NGOs and sports clubs. They even started a "buy one, give one" style program that allowed people in the developed world to get their own Soccket, while at the same time ensuring that another one would go to a kid in the developing world.

Perhaps most importantly, the project caught the eye of former US President Bill Clinton. It received a relatively small amount of money from the Clinton Global Initiative. And during a panel discussion in April of 2011, Jessica Matthews shared the stage with Clinton, who called it "extraordinary - kick a ball, turn on a light”. He went on to say that the Soccket "gives us a way to bring power, and improve the quality of life, and improve the learning and working capacity of poor families without building an expensive grid.”

This may upset a few folks, but my humble observation has been that once given the opportunity to pursue a formal education in any of the math-intensive sciences, members of the Igbo tribe soon leave all others in the dust.

In other words, there is a GENETIC advantage enjoyed by all students of Igbo descent who pursue science degrees, which enables them to excel in truly mind-boggling fashion. Sons and daughters of Igbo-land are, by virtue of inherited predisposition, intellectually gifted, particularly when it comes to performance in mathematically rigorous fields of study.

The profiles published above refer just to the current generation of Ndiigbo scholars, but this tendency to execl in the sciences stretches back over GENERATIONS of Igbo sons and daughters, such that it cannot be written off as mere statistical coincidence.

Nairaland's tribal war-mongers may not take kindly to my summation here, but it is as true as the sky is blue on a sunny day, and simply cannot be denied. Genetics favor Igbo academics today, just as they have for decades.

This was President Obama's former IT manager

Fidelis Umeh, President, SEI Corporation, Chicago....LiliacFire Reporting from Chicago


A HIGHLY SUCCESFUL COMPUTER & IT BUSINESS MAN FROM ANAMBRA WHO HELPED ELECT OBAMA .
A MAN WHO LEADS A HUMBLE , LOW PROFILE THAT SHOULD MAKE HIS PEERS WONDER IN CHICAGO AND WORLDWIDE WONDER AND THINK TWICE OF THEMSELVES
HE IS FROM AGULU IN ANAMBRA STATE OF NIGERIA, A CHICAGO RESIDENT
Election 2008
Obama votes in Chicago, with daughters at his side

Sen. Barack Obama completes casting his vote in Chicago this morning as his daughter, Malia, looks on
It wasn't just a good day for Fidelis Umeh, 68, "It's great," he said. A native of Nigeria and a computer expert, Mr. Umeh worked closely with Mr. Obama after his 2000 congressional election defeat to computerize his office.
More importantly, he believes Mr. Obama will help get "the U.S. back in tune with the world. I think we need to have a president that understands we are not alone on earth, that other countries matter and that we want to work together to achieve the world peace we're looking for."
Fidelis N. Umeh was born in Nigeria and lived there through his high school years.

Today in Chicago he values the diverisity of cultures he encounters. "One attraction for

me about Chicago is that it is a lot of little cities, a lot of little cultures. I'll never forget

when we were looking for an ethnic restaurant, and we got into a little Yugoslavian

restaurant where they spoke little English. It seemed so close to being Yugoslavia

itself. By the same token, when you walk into an Irish pub you don't see it as Chicago--

you feel you're in Ireland. ... It is essential for a person to have a cultural identity. It is

an anchor."

Fidelis Umeh grew up with strong family values consistent with the traditions of the Ibos,

a culture within Nigeria. "One thing that we Nigerians, particularly the Ibos, have

inculcated into us from youth is the value of education. It is paramount. And the drive to

succeed--my culture says that each person must work very hard and that is essential to

success, which is very important. And we have support from family that keeps us going

when things are difficult. Sometimes perseverance can make the difference between

success and failure."

Fidelis Umeh has succeeded in the business community, which some people see as a

separate culture all of its own. He is president of SEI Information Technology, a

company that employs hundreds of highly skilled individuals and that provides technical

support to major businesses. At the same time, Fidelis Umeh has maintained a

commitment to his original culture.

In 1991, he founded Enumbra (Nigeria) Foundation. "I formed a group of Nigerians to

reconstruct an anchor for them that will fit into the American society but at the same

time will give them something to fall back on in times of adversity. I feel it is a strength,

it allows us to be individuals.

I started the group in 1991. It has one specific mission, which is to bridge the gap

between our people and the people in America. The target is to build an anchor where

the Nigerians can feel their identity and at the same time become more connected to

the Chicago scene. The problem that we have with our children is that either our

children don't have an understanding of the Nigerian culture or an understanding of the

American culture. The focus is on children through adolescence. The adults get to

benefit from the network."

So far more than 300 families have registered, and the Enumbra Foundation is working

with about 500 children. We have started with story-telling. We are telling the children

the stories that our families have told for generations. Each story has a moral, an idea

that it teaches the children. The children learn the moral. They also learn more about

their own heritage.

With as many as 30,000 Nigerians in Chicago today, the potential is very great. The

vision of Enumbra is that "the Nigerian community should be able to be assimilated into

the American society with their own identity intact. They don't have to relinquish their

culture. They will in fact be able to enrich the American culture. The American culture

has benefited from this in the past. This is a building block for having another subculture
in Chicago that will integrate into the Chicago mosaic."


Fidelis Umeh, President, SEI Corporation, Chicago
IL, E-Board
Jasper is the new CEO and president for SEI
John C. Jasper, 36, has been named chief executive and president of SEI Information Technology, Chicago systems integrator and technology consultant. He replaces Fidelis N. Umeh, 59, chief executive since 1983, who is stepping down to pursue personal and philanthropic projects, especially education reform in his native Nigeria. Jasper was vice president of software, strategy and business development of EarthWatch, Inc., a provider of satellite- gathered mapping and geographical data. Previously, he was general manager of the SEI Software .

[size=13pt]another ethnic bigot on the loose [/size]

The Igbo Doll family. Hahahaha! Innovation at its finest

By Teo Kermeliotis and Ann Colwell, for CNN
updated 6:51 AM EDT, Tue March 12, 2013



London (CNN) – Raising their family in London, Nigerians Chris and Ada Ngoforo were keen for their children to stay in touch with their West African heritage. But the couple became concerned that their three young daughters didn’t speak any Igbo, one of Nigeria’s ethnic languages.

“We thought amongst ourselves what we can do to actually help them to learn Igbo more,” says Chris Ngoforo.

This desire to encourage their children to connect with their roots, coupled with an increasing frustration with the difficulty in finding black dolls that resonated with their daughters, led the entrepreneurial couple to take matters into their hands.

What started as a way of helping their daughters engage with their heritage quickly became a business opportunity. Soon after, the couple launched their own range of toys, called Rooti Dolls, programmed to speak in several native African languages and promote positive self-images.

Rooti Dolls has introduced a range of talking dolls aimed at helping African children stay in touch with their heritage. Pictured is Ama -- a "bubbling dynamic girl" whose "dream is to be a doctor someday," says the company's website. Ama speaks the Ghanaian languages of Twi, Ga, Ewe and Krobo.

“We observed that over 90% of children born or living in the diaspora and millions in Africa do not speak or understand their mother tongues,” says Ngoforo. “Our research made us understand that the reason for this is not because our children don’t want to learn their mother tongues, but more because there are not many essential tools that can easily be both educational and fun at the same time.”

So far, the couple has produced a range of 12 dolls from different African countries. Each one can speak a combination of languages, and each one has her own story.

Amongst them, there’s Nina, a “vibrant girl” with Nigerian parents, who “loves watching Nollywood” and can interact in the Nigerian languages of Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, and Ibibio; there’s Ama, a “bubbling dynamic girl” whose “dream is to be a doctor someday,” and can speak the Ghanaian languages of Twi, Ga, Ewe and Krobo; and there’s also Keza, with parents from Zimbabwe and Zambia. She “loves adventures, reading and listening to beautiful music” and can communicate in Shona, Ndebele, Bemba, and Nyanja.

Ngoforo says the toys, which come in different shades of skin color, are designed to break down stereotypes and to provide a more accurate representation of black people.

Okoya and his team developed a series of books, comics and songs based on the dolls' characters, to make positive messages accessible to Nigerian children.

“Over the years my wife and I have found it extremely hard finding real black dolls that can truly connect with our little daughters,” he says. “The dolls out there in the market are nothing close to the real image of a black child in terms of features and other attributes — they are either too thin, too light or chiseled-faced, and even the complexions of most of the dolls are kind of whitewashed,” says Ngoforo.

“The unfortunate effect of this stereotypical misrepresentation is a case of low self-esteem among black children who have been directly or indirectly made to believe less in themselves as a black child. They have been made to believe that you have to look like a white doll to be accepted as beautiful or even good.”

Debbie Behan Garrett, author of “The Definitive Guide to Collecting Black Dolls,” says that black dolls have changed a lot over the years.

In the early days of black dolls, she explains, many of them were negative characterizations with exaggerated facial features, including protruding eyes, broader-than-normal noses and accentuated lips that were often painted red. These dolls frequently maintained a posture of servitude as butlers or “mammies.”

It is imperative for African or any non-white child to possess or have access to playthings that reflect their image positively.

"The comics, books and animation stories is the medium we use to enlighten and educate children on our history and culture," says Okoya.
Debbie Behan Garrett, author

“Today’s black dolls have evolved from negative caricatures to play-scale representations of haute couture fashion models and other positive images of babies, toddlers and adult black people,” says Garrett. She adds, however, that while today’s dolls are more positive representations, “a lack of black dolls is a constant, as black-doll manufacture is often a second thought for those in the business of producing dolls in their image.”

But for Garrett, access to dolls can only achieve so much in terms of promoting a positive self image.

“In addition to a black child owning dolls and other playthings that positively reflect their image, exposure to literature, art and other positive images will aid in the development of a healthy cultural awareness and appreciation,” she says.

"Queens of Africa" is another range of dolls, launched by Nigerian entrepreneur Taofick Okoya to teach children about African heritage.

That was the inspiration behind the Queens of Africa project, an educational initiative developed by Nigerian entrepreneur Taofick Okoya. Using a mix of dolls, books, comics and music, Queens of Africa is aiming to help children in Nigeria and beyond to identify and appreciate their culture.

“The crucial part of the formative years of children is between four-nine years,” says Okoya.” This is the time to load them with valuable information that they can draw on as adults.”

Similarly to the Ngoforos, Okoya’s foray into the business was inspired by his family. Some five years ago, he went into an upmarket Lagos store to buy a doll as a birthday present for his young niece, but left disappointed.

“I wanted to buy her something that would be quite encouraging or instrumental in her development,” he says. “I realized that they had an array of different dolls but none of them were black and they were rather pricey.”

That gave Okoya food for thought and after some initial research, he decided to launch the Queens of Africa black dolls, each one representing different tribes in the continent. Later on, he decided to expand the project by launching a series of fun and educational books, songs and cartoons based on the dolls’ characters.

“The dolls will help the Nigerian/African [children] be better people because they would be proud and confident in who they are as a race,” says Okoya. “The comics, books and animation stories is the medium we use to enlighten and educate children on our history and culture.”

Garett says that exposure to this kind of information can help African children learn about their roots, as well as proudly pass on their heritage to future generations.

“It is imperative for African or any non-white child to possess or have access to playthings that reflect their image positively,” she says.



http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/12/world/africa/rooti-dolls-african/index.html
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k2039: [size=13pt]another ethnic bigot on the loose [/size]

Hey Buddie,

This is not for intellectually challenged midgets like you. So buzz offffff!!!!!

Op, I love this...keep goin bro. Drop there numbers as well so we can ask em for help when its needed