RIPPLES from Lagos …Nigerian Youth Choose to Lead Action in the Information Society ‘Gbenga Sesan Program Manager / Team Leader Lagos Digital Village / Paradigm Initiative Nigeria | WSIS Nigeria Youth Caucus’ Post-Accra Forum. Heinrich Boll Foundation, Nigeria. Friday, 04 March 2005

From Bamako to Accra Young people are the bridge between policy and action – the proof of sustainability for any effort During Africa’s first regional meeting for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), young people lobbied and recorded major success as the plenary threw a lot of support behind the clamour for youth empowerment and inclusion Nigerian youth input to the WSIS Youth Caucus has been consistent, even in the face of limitations Between Bamako and Accra, young Nigerians continued to extend the frontiers of the Information Society through the National Information Society Youth Campaigns (“Policy Train”) and other ICT4D consultations

Day Accra was Nigeria’s Capital Selected from a pool of applicants, 20 young women and men were sponsored by Heinrich Boll Foundation to the second African regional meeting for the WSIS Advocacy. Presence. Networking. Fun. Action. Dedication. Experiences… these words express what young Nigerians did in Accra between January 29 and February The dramatic exit is worthy of note! Bearing national symbols around their necks and waists – and nation building on their minds – young Nigerians led discussions, facilitated meetings, produced newsletters, met with dignitaries, resolved issues, matched words with action, stayed up late… in order to help meet Africa’s Information Society needs There’s much more that can be done by young Nigerians!

To Geneva with Hope WSIS II PrepCom II discussed Internet Governance (IG), Financial Mechanisms (FM), and set the Tunis agenda… The focus on IG and FM – with more success recorded with the latter – heightened fears that WSIS may be more of an Internet than an Information Society summit The endorsement on the Digital Solidarity Fund (after lengthy and intense negotiations between the African countries and the European Union and supported by other countries as a compromise decision) comes as a possible plus to efforts seeking to bridge digital divides Youth (though few) contributed to the process. We produced newsletters, blogged, and launched the Phase II National Youth Campaigns, World Summit Youth Awards and WSYA Radio

Global Thought… Local Action The Accra Experience suggests what can be achieved by a group of networked and supported youth We can create positive change from our respective locations, starting a ripple that will reach rural areas and the relevant spaces within the Information Society There is need to establish a Nigerian Youth ICT4D Network (NYIN), led by youth and for youth (ranging from secondary school students to young professionals) NYIN will require support from government, private sector, civil society and development partners (e.g. HBF) Nigeria must make good use of the positive energies projected by its youth into the development space A New Nigeria, built on ICT (and other) opportunities, will need youth energy!

RIPPLES from Lagos …Nigerian Youth Choose to Lead Action in the Information Society ‘Gbenga Sesan Program Manager / Team Leader Lagos Digital Village / Paradigm Initiative Nigeria | WSIS Nigeria Youth Caucus’ Post-Accra Forum. Heinrich Boll Foundation, Nigeria. Friday, 04 March 2005