HER beauty is enchanting, her smiles infectious. And her words are full of wisdom and grace. Twenty-two-year-old Adaeze Udom is one of those rare breeds who do not allow their beauty to dim their focus. A graduate of Policy and Strategic Studies from Covenant University, Udom is set to help the youths of her generation re-create their dreams through her magazine, Green Hope Magazine and her non-governmental organisation, Green Hope Youth Empowerment Initiative. She now publishes everything related to youth empowerment in her magazine.Above all, however, she stresses parental love:. Love is the key word here. Love the people you brought to earth. No matter the challenge, financial or otherwise, it does not stop you from loving your children. Your career goals should not stop you either. Guide them, help them with homework among others, get to know them and see them through their challenges, she saysPointing out that 80% of intelligent students have very engaging parents, She says parents should encourage their children to discover their innate talents. They will operate from that level and it will continue to boost their self-esteem because they know that somebody appreciates them. Depending on their age, buy them good books. A child with a supportive parent ends up with very high esteem, which is the Number One key to a childs education and future success. Get interested, reprimand them when they go wrong, appreciate them when they do well and motivate them to succeed, she counselled.The young publisher and youth empowerment enthusiast, who is the third in a family of five children, was born and bred in Lagos. Her parents Mr. Nnamdi and Mrs. Ngozi Udom are from Oguta in Imo State. The third and the first daughter (as indicated by her name) in a family of three girls and two boys is grateful that she was brought up by loving parents and so want to bestow love on others.She had her secondary school education at Queens College, Yaba, before she went to Covenant University to study Policy and Strategic Studies. Udom later did her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) last year with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Abuja. Instead of joining the team of the countrys unemployed graduates, she set up the Green Hope Magazine because of her love for writing and empowering the youths.She recalled that she was able to garner the fund to start her magazine through her business acumen. I did business in school and during my service year, I used to travel to Ghana to buy jewellery and other stuff to sell. I efficiently combined academics with business and I enjoyed it. I did not depend wholly on my parents for my education; instead, I helped to take care of my younger ones. The money I saved, I used to start the green hope magazine. I am working hard to see that the magazine becomes a success so that I can use it to fund the Green Hope Youth Empowerment Initiative.I have passion for writing and empowering people and so I started the Green Hope Magazine immediately after my youth service. It is a dream come true. I want to use that platform to inform and empower the Nigerian youths.She described the magazine as a symbol of Nigerias colours. Green symbolizes life and prosperity. Hopehope in Nigeria. Hope that it shall be well with Nigeria. The hope and the future of Nigeria are the youths. The magazine is a message of hope, that the future is green for the Nigerian youth.She also hopes to register her non-governmental organisation (Green Hope Youth Empowerment Initiative) with the government soon, to further empower the youths. It is going to be a more practical means of empowering the youths. We shall organize seminars and call great minds to talk to the youths. We shall have a kind of public fund from which, youths can be sponsored and helped to actualize their dreams. I have realised that most youths have a passion for something, a dream, which they want to realize but have no fund to actualize it.Once every youth can turn his dream into reality, Nigeria will be a prosperous nation, she declares. There should be new and upcoming industrialists. We shall deal with the psychology of the youths to strengthen, and encourage them to have great dreams and actualize them.She believes strongly that people should be close to God for guidance and inspiration. God will guide your paths and expose to you your talents to serve the purpose He has created you for and you will walk in it with much ease.She insists that upbringing should not affect the youth nagatively. There is this story about two boys who happened to be twins. One was a drunk and the other successful. The drunk was asked why he was like that and he said it is because of his upbringing. My father was an uncaring drunk who always beat my mum, I took after him and there is nothing I can do about it. Its innate. However, the successful one has a different story to tell: My father was a drunk, uncaring and always beating my mum. Definitely, I cannot live that kind of life. His life inspired me to work hard and have a better life than his. Some youths give such excuses as the drunk guy but the fact is that it is basically your fault when you do not do well. Your family background, whether negative or positive should be used to your advantage. It should act for you as a stepping-stone to success, she saysThe stress of producing the magazine is her major challenge. My graphic artist is not reliable. I hope to sign a contract with another one soon. In my 100 level at the university, I really experienced God. I got to know Him as a friend. It was the highest point in my life and I am still relishing the feelings.Her plan is to make the magazine a success, a brand name. She would use the proceeds to finance the NGO. I hate an NGO that depends 100% on peoples donation. I believe that if you do not have the fund, you should not start an NGO. Else, it will be as if it is a business and you are trying to exploit the public. I am hopeful that the magazine will do very well, become a brand name, and finance the NGO so I will not go from home to home asking for money.She believes God will give her a husband at the appointed time. Her major preoccupation now, she says, is her magazine, her NGO and service to humanity.She a fashionable and she counsels: Your dressing will determine how you are addressed and the type of people you attract to yourself. Do not jump from one relationship to the other. I think the parents have a role to play in this regard. They should sit their children down, talk to them, and pray with them. Sooner or later they will retrace their steps and realize that they dont have to be naked to be noticed.She urged youths not to porn on the internet, because it is a terrible thing. At the rate we are going, even a child of five can browse and watch anything. Parents may restrict the use of internet use at home, but will you restrict the use of mobile phones as well The parents have to let their children and the youths know the danger of going to bad sites. For those who are already in it, especially those to whom it has become a stronghold, let them open up and discuss with their pastors, parents or counsellors for help. It is a problem and you definitely cannot do it alone.To overcome exam malpractices, the youths she said have to work hard. Realize that it is on what they are taught that they are tested during exams. The questions do not come from space. Work hard, be determined and study with intelligent colleagues. With a few hours of reading daily, you will overcome exam malpractice. It takes only determination. The teachers should sit up to their responsibilities too and do not push the youths to evil because of their apathy to work.Youths, according to Adaeze, should get positively involved in politics. They should strive to vote and seek elective offices too. This is a democratic dispensation. We are part of the people and we should be given a chance to contribute our own quota in the government of our nation. The youths have so much to offer if given the opportunity. The youths should not allow themselves to be used by politicians to destroy our nascent democracy...She believes the money and effort spent on security can be halved if government can create jobs and empower the youths, especially through adequate infrastructure.Udom laments that corruption is fuelled by greed and selfishness. It has permeated all levels of the Nigerian society and the whole system has been infected. People should be content with what they have and work hard. With determination, we can overcome corruption in Nigeria.
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