NGO empowers Youth Activists with Animation Skills for Activism

Posted by Mariam Ileyemi, March 2, 2020

A youth focused NGO, Inspired Youth Network (IYN), funded by CIVICUS, held a 3-day workshop tagged ‘Voice of the Voiceless’, for youth activists and media personalities to promote human rights through digital media and also equipped them with the use of video animations as a tool to advocate for human rights, from Thursday, February 27 to Saturday, February 29, 2020, at Inspired Youth Hub, Gbagada, Lagos.

The workshop which was themed “Empowering Youth Activists to Promote Activism through Digital Media” featured different advocacy and capacity building session from the first day of the workshop to the last day, making sure all participants, attempts a Pre-Test and a Post-Test after the training to ascertain their capacity.

Day 1

The first day of the training featured four sessions. The first session was facilitated by the Founder of Inspired Youth Network, Ayomikun Olugbode on the Nigeria Civic Space, using CIVICUS People Power Attack Report 2019 as a case study, he explained according to Civic Space Watch, that Civic Space is the political, legislative, social and economic environment which enables citizens to come together, share their interests and concerns, and act individually and collectively to influence and shape policy-making. He also gave the three pillars of civic space, which are; freedom of association, freedom of assembly and freedom of expression.

Founder of Inspired Youth Network, Ayomikun Olugbode

Furthering his presentation, he highlighted ten violations to civic freedoms, ranging from, censorship, harassment, intimidation, protest disruption, excessive force, protesters detained, restrictive law, attack on journalist, journalist detained and criminal defamation. Giving his recommendations, he said “Activists and policymakers should develop novel ways to strengthen cooperation beynd consultations, dialogue sessions, validation workshops and capacity development programs. Cooperation should be pragmatic, moving beyond contractual, participatory contributions and confrontation toward complementarity”.

The second session was on Advocacy for Inclusion and the Promotion of the rights of People with Disabilities (PWDs) at the grassroots, this was facilitated by the founder of Autism Awareness Foundation, Omotoke Olowo, who noted in her presentation the importance of inclusion, equality and respect for People with Disabilities.

Founder, Autism Awareness Foundation, Omotoke Olowo

“Inclusion means that all people, regardless of their abilities or health care needs the right to be respected and appreciated as valuable member of the community, learn with their peers in a regular classroom setting and belong in the workplace to achieve self-independence and build relationships”, she explained. Omotoke also gave tips on how to become voice for People with Disabilities, which includes, the use of policy and implementation, direct involvement, lobbying and so on.

Oluwagbenga Ajongbolo, the Executive Director of Open Sunshine Initiative ably facilitated the third session on Activism in the Social Media Age, where he highlighted the benefits of social media activism, which includes; influencing policies and politics, creating awareness about certain issues and connecting with people of the same ideology.

Oluwagbenga Ajongbolo, the Executive Director of Open Sunshine Initiative

Oluwagbenga in his presentation extensively shared his experiences as a social media activist, how he has successfully use social media to make impacts and advocated for human rights, the challenges of an activists and how he overcame them. He said, “To become a social media activist, you have to study and set out your targets, you have to observe the differences in races, gender, class and status, you also have to understand your audiences, ignore trolls, have real and genuine friends and families out of social media and don’t ever feel disappointed at any point in time”. While the last session was on Freedom of Expression, the Constitution and the People by Chineye Nwevo, who was ably represented by Ayomikun Olugbode.

The practical class on Animated Video Production came up the second day of the workshop. Participants were trained by an Animation Expert, Ganiyu Idris on how to use animations to create characters as an innovative tool to promote human rights.

Animation Expert, Ganiyu Idris

Also, the Manager of Civic Hive, Iyanuoluwa Bolarinwa trained participants on Community Mobilization and Non-Violent Activism as a Tactic for Social Change, he explained the benefits of Community Mobilization skills, and he further emphasized that activism doesn’t have to be violent, to substantiate his stand, he gave examples of some Violent Activism and their consequences. The Project Assistant for Voice of the Voiceless, Ridwan Adebosin also led a discussion titled ‘My Experience as an Activist’, where he shared his experiences as an activist and gave room for participants such as the 29th Speaker of Lagos State University, Student Union to share their experiences as activists.

Manager, Civic Hive, Iyanuoluwa Bolarinwa

On the last day of the workshop, participants were asked to present their Animated Video, showcasing their acquired skills and knowledge in the areas of advocacy and activism. This assignment was given to them by Ayomikun Olugbode the previous day after they have been empowered with the skills.

Speaking to YOSSY INFO, participants shared their experiences on how they have benefitted from the 3-day workshop. According to a female program assistant at NOPRIN Foundation, Omodara Oluwatomisin, “My experience at the voice of the voiceless workshop was an insightful one that I will never forget in a hurry as it made me better off. I met with amazing people with great and like minds. Before the workshop I never had any idea of animated videos but now I can boldly say I’m skilled in it which will help me in advocacy by being a voice of the voiceless”.

Female Program Assistant, NOPRIN Foundation, Omodara Oluwatomisin

Another female student of Lagos State College of Health Technology, Yaba; Health Information Management Department, Ademulegun Grace said “I had a great experience during the 3-day workshop. I don’t have any knowledge about advocacy or activism before, I can boldly say that I can and will stand as an advocate and an activist in my school and the capacity building session of the workshop was amazing. I learnt about video animations and now I can make videos to create an awareness and become voice for the voiceless”.

Ademulegun Grace, student of Lagos State College of Health Technology

Ashiru Ajibola, 400 level students of Lagos State University, Faculty of Education and the President of the Student’s Anti-corruption Vanguard LASU, said “It was a glamorous experience for me at the just concluded Voice of the Voiceless workshop. I was able to gain more experiences and new ways of advocacy and activism without violence. The presentations and facilitators were awesome. Dynamic skills and knowledge were acquired during the course of the training”.

Ashiru Ajibola, 400 level students of Lagos State University, Faculty of Education and the President of the Student’s Anti-corruption Vanguard LASU

An event Host and Youth advocate, Waheed Nurudeen Oluwaseun also noted that he learnt new skills, met people with like minds.

Event Host and Youth advocate, Waheed Nurudeen Oluwaseun

” I was made to understand how to easily solve difficult issues as an advocate, the workshop was engaging in areas of capacity building, non-violence activism and the use of digital media to promote the fundamental human rights and to advocate for an open civic space”, he added.

TRAVAILS OF THE AVERAGE LASUITE

Sotubo Ayomide

Some memories will always be evergreen, they are stuck with you and you are stuck with them till the end of time. One of such memories is my first day in the Lagos State University School of communication new building. I had just gained admission into the Lagos State University and in my choice course, mass communication. The prospect of studying my choice course in the best state University in the land and the premier school of communication in Nigeria was really exhilarating. I felt proud of being a lasuite even without prior knowledge of the axiom, “we are Lasu, we are proud.”

I donned my new blue long sleeve shirt with my 3/4 pant trouser and set out of my hostel to meet my course mates (I couldn’t wait!🙃). And about my apartment, it was in the most dreaded area around campus, Poor people’s land(PPL) as it is commonly identified among lasuites. I knew the land I was threading had consumed a lot of people with great potentials, evidenced by more recent killings in my short stint in the area. But I was unscathed by the dangers of walking in the same pathways. I knew what I had to do, watch my steps, remain indoors at night and always trusting my judgement of when to leave the apartment. At least, things were not as bad as they used too. “Boys don calm down” so I heard again and again. But I still used this opportunity to pay special tributes to those who couldn’t survive like I did and also admonish residents of the area to embrace my modus operandi in and around the area.
Back to my first day in school, I went into the faculty building, unaware of the school’s dressing regulations. No short pants, no slippers, no ragged jean, and some frugal dressing. I was consumed by my excitement and didn’t take cognizance of this. That’s normal, you’ll think. Instead, what arrested my interest was a discovery that brought my feet down to earth. Yes, I was high flying in my daydreaming but seeing Mathematics in my course allocation forced the excitement out of me. My frustrations became double fold on seeing that I had to offer two maths courses in one semester. I was downcasted and knew I had my work caught out for me. It was not just a mountain to climb; it was two. I thought I was done scaling mountains in my secondary school days and this is the same with every lasuite. The reality that our first semester is a make or break semester was always demoralizing. But the same can be said to be a motivation for some (The scholars dem🌚).
I went back to my apartment downcasted after this earshaking revelation, coupled with the knowledge that I won’t be allowed to wear shorts around, (My love for shorts ehnn👌). The thought itself was hell. No shorts, no slippers, a threat to my long hair I kept for over a year and two maths courses, even as a communicator. What can be more distracting as a student in your first day in school.
It all reminded me of the torrid time I had during my clearance day. I had to return home because I wore a pair of slippers and incomplete documents. Even on the second day, I still had to lobby for footwear as the marshalls won’t allow me into the building without wearing one. Such is what lasuites go through. Subtle debilitation of momentum within and outside the school is the order of the day. If it’s not the campus marshalls, then it is the dubious SARS officials. However, some of us still posses the ingenuity to breach their watchful strongholds. Most times, I am caught in between respecting the rules or doing what please me but like many, I resort to doing the former to avoid reducing my self esteem. (Ever reasonable Lasuites, I hail thee).
Settling into the environment was also an uphill task for most of us; considering we have to buy ‘materials’ and reading aids, plus we have to keep up with maintaining ourselves. Not everyone has what it takes to be studentpreneurs but the few that do are valiant and commendable. Guarding matriculation numbers with all our lives is very important as we are wary of the threat posed to our academic profiles and studentship as a whole. What’s more, keeping seats for pals and friends and also struggling to fill our names in the lecturer’s attendance list can curse an outburst among us. How hilarious it can be watching such instances at times! But believe me it is not so funny with you involved.
Some Lasuites like Olayiwola Idris, a 400 level student of mass communication popularly known as Babyface are not intrigued about the school as the others do. The creative free verse writer says, “adapting to school life was depressing and tiring, my schedule everyday is back to back classes most times. The multiple award winner for the Communication students association (COSA) who would rather live alone and stay within Campus, a luxury the university will not be able to afford until at least 2021. He also thinks the school is not really organised in some or most things.” You may want to reckon with this statement coming from a multi award winner of the most handsome male category of COSA. You can follow him on Instagram @mbabyface_.
Awobanjo Mary, a 400 level student from the department of history and international relations and Omoregba Tolulope Olamide, a 300 level student from the department of music has better recommendations of the university. Olamide, who runs a consulting firm for small businesses and student entrepreneurship joys in the peace enjoyed in the institution in the last few years. Both of them also share the same view about the university, rating them high in standards and in excellence. Also, they recommend living with roommates, stating that no man is an island and will need a companion to share daily ordeals with.
All the same, the trio shares the same complaints. Their schedule is really demanding and schooling is not easy. Mary says, “adapting to the school was kind of tough and my schedule is always tight and stressful.” Olamide also shares similar experiences as he is always busy with class, church and business.
A lot of us are like Olamide as only fellowship grounds could take us out of class for a protected period of time, being the alternative to the dour atmosphere in school. Unionism and school politics was meant to be a good alternative but the controversial nature of politics and the students perceived intervention by the school management prompts us to look elsewhere.
Despite this, the lofty heights of our alumnus societies and the milestones recorded by our generation of ever reasonable Lasuites 💪 in spite of our dirty past as a university is enough motivation to be a Lasuite. So whether we know the school anthem or not (please learn it),

We are Lasu
And we are proud
We are Lasu and we are proud 🎶