The Smiles of A Wounded HOPE Initiave - Nenye Umeugo

ething that drew her to what she is into today. Speaking in fellowships, seminars, departmental meetings placed a greater burden on her to aim for the top by venturing into school politics in 2006 starting from the Student Union Government as a Parliamentarian (Chairman Public Petitions & Ethics) at the same time the Vice President of FLF (Female Leadership Forum), also a representative of one of the major ethnic groups on campus, a faculty & Departmental Rep. This really exposed her for a whole year to challenges faced by young people (esp. cultism & other extreme social vices). In 2008, she decided to render services to the fellowships and clubs on campus, in the midst of this, a strong passion to be a CEO of an organization that is in charge of campus media was nurtured and by the mid of that year, she came up with her first publication ‘A New Dawn has come’. This publication brought a lot of recognition that motivated her to start-up something small, the organization started with 11 members that were students from the 7 faculties of the institutions. The organization which was given a French name, ‘Oeil D’ Aigle Communications’ known as ‘The Eagle’s Eye’ came up with its first in-house seminar which was attended by ten members of the organization due to the loss of one of her member at its inception, the team went further to push ahead until 2009 when the organization was fully registered in CAC. At this point, greater responsibilities were already given to the visionary to handle both in her department & campus fellowships (JCCF & NIFES) which left the organization at the mercy of the other team mates. While the institution was on strike in 2009, she decided to work with a foundation in order to improve her skills known as Ken Katas Youth Foundation (KKYF) precisely in August, worked as a tutor during their summer classes, handled & organized seminars in different secondary schools, became a team leader, handled the finance & sales records of the organization and finally helped in organizing the foundation’s annual conference that same year in the city of Onitsha. After the strike was over, She had to continue from where she stopped in these capacities below (till graduation).
• JCCF/NIFES— Ass. Gen;
• NABAFS Study Group— Co-coordinator/Researcher (2009-2010);
• Class Representative & Seminar Presenter;
• Secretary of an editorial board. After graduation in 2010, she realized that all she wanted to do in her life was to live a legacy in the lives of young people but didn’t know where to start from until November of that same year when she decided to work for her Dad, who owns a business outlet that was in crisis. She decided to use her financial & sales skills to help him revive one of the branches she managed. She passionately took the business as hers till December 2011 (with the hope that someday she would be in-charge of an organization). In 2012, January precisely, her flare for the media pushed her fully into the Technical Unit of her church (RHGIC), she had to undergo a one month compulsory training in video coverage/video-editing, which was an exciting experience for her, at the same time she was in charge of the sales department of the unit until the 6th of March 2012 when she left for Osun State to serve her fatherland. Served in different capacities:
3-weeks Orientation Camp
• Worked in OBS as a presenter, writer & reporter;
• Hostel/Room Leader ;
• Participated in key areas during Platoons Competitions;
• Participated during CDS programs- MDGs (Group Leader);
• Active during religious programs. From 18th April of that year to 14th of Feburary2013 was a time to learn and grow, it became a time of planting seeds without bothering much about the harvest
• Served in Oduduwa University for 7months; during those months I worked in different departments—Bursary, Finance & Accounting, Entrepreneurial Studies and Hilton Hotels. While serving in this institution, she mentored & counseled most of the students, formed a study team among the students, spoke in major programs held by the students;
• She had a major project to build young minds for greatness during her year of service which led her to reach out to the secondary schools in the Local Government she was posted into, held several educative seminars that are on records;
• She was saddled with great responsibilities among Corp members—the Vice President & President of MDG (Ife North), Ass. Gen NCCF, Coordinator/Presenter of programs held by Corp members in the community;
• Served as a teacher in the Teens/Children department & as a Sanctuary Keeper respectively in the Church she worshiped from 8th July 2012- 3rd March 2013 at Ife Central—Sanctuary of Hope;
• In September, she had to venture into a project that has really contributed to her success in achieving the vision. Her flare for media pushed her to the broadcasting station in the State capital (Osogbo), after several appearances in OSBC on the platform of Ajuwaya.Com. this motivated her to meet with the Director of TV & Radio to see if slots could be given to her to carry out the 13weeks program she intended to air as a ‘Live Show’ but luck smiled on her face when she was granted the opportunity to record her programs in the station’s studio, it was really a miracle, it didn’t stop there, she went further to reach out to schools in the Capital to use their Students as Guest Speakers during the show through the support of TV Director & good friends/Supporters, even though the talk shows were not aired Live as planned but it triggered new doors in her life. She also went to NTA (Ife) to do the same program which she paid to have a pilot edition, in order to achieve a huge success rate, she decided to make the program her NYSC project, although the success rate was minimal but she never gave up on the vision;
• By November, she initiated another idea to host a one day conference for young minds in the State from the 30 local government areas in the State’s Capital. Which was also coined into the NYSC project, although, the project wasn’t visible but it exposed her to key leaders in the Government;
• Fate took her to work in a Private secondary school during the end of her service year from the 1st of Nov 2012-14th Feb. 2013. This became a new experience for her being in the midst of these teens exposed her to the challenges faced by kids in the rural area, she taught Home Economics from JSS1-3 & Lit. in English to SS1 but most especially she spent most of her time training and mentoring the students because her time in the school was so short;
• In the midst of all these activities she decided to engage herself in skills development & enhancement, she enrolled into three key Professional bodies (ISMN, NIM & CIS respectively), she also took an interest in SPSS a computer package to help enhance her skills in numeric interpretation. These activities also contributed in helping her reach-out & render services to her fellow Corp Members esp. in NIM, she served as a Corp Member Rep. for Ife Zone & other zones attached to it;
• With the baking skills she acquired, she was able to participate in the Skills Acquisition handled by the inspectors in the LGA she was posted. She taught her Corp Members how to bake cakes locally, this was really a plus for her;
• To wrap-up the one-year service, during the Debriefing of Corp Members in Ife Zone, she represented four LGAs’ as a speaker in an area that matters more to Corp Members—Corp Members’ Welfare. This brought a lot of applause & admiration from her colleagues. Participating actively during service year exposed her to hidden talents, she never knew she had within her, she realized she had a flare to write and speak especially when it has to do with fighting for a cause. She nurtured this flare & guarded it jealously until she left Osun on March 3, 2013. Few days before 14th Feb. 2013, she kept asking herself What Next after Service? Because of the fear of the Unknown and back to Port Harcourt on the 3rd of March became a clear indicator that Life has just begun for her. This fear resulted into restlessness that brought her back to Osun State after 2weeks. By April 1st, it became clear to her that she has to turn around her destiny by taking risks that would cost her, her comfort zones, the search for peace within her soul drove her to take some trips within & outside Port Harcourt, until early hours of 8th May, 2013, when she caught a clear vision of where she should be & what she should be doing there, at first it was like dream until when it began to display itself in form of her responses to issues & the people around her. She realized she was getting great ideas that would trigger the vision and bring it to the point it is today. Events that have occurred from the 8th of May till date
• She began to do a lot of writings with the new personality concept that cropped-up within my Spirit—The Mobile Market Concepts;
• She made arrangements to go back to Osun State to speak with Out-going NYSC Corp Members about the Nigerian Labour Market & the truth about it at the same time sharing my little experience after service;
• She decided to do a recording of the Mobile Market Concept, with the aid of a friend in Church (who is the director of her productions) that was achieved;
• She decided to consult friends and family before deciding to take the biggest decision she has ever made, to leave her home & comfort zone to pursue her passion which has developed into a ‘Global Vision’, it was really a hard nut to crack especially when it has to do with her parents consent but when she looks back at that early hours of May 21, it was worth taken the risk, it brought hope alive & kept fulfillment intact;
• On the 27th of May 2013 she left her home with the consent & the blessings of her parent, with no clue of where this journey would lead her into but having hopes that in 3months she would find her grounds. From that day till today she has travelled more than she has ever bargained for, which gave her the nick name ‘Missionary’;
• In the month of June & July, she spoke with Corp Members, students & young People, encouraging them on the use of their hand skills which has really opened doors for greater opportunities; this motivated her to embark on a government project that deals with the Youths in Osun State. This brought a lot of hopes and it became clear that she would be based in the Western part of the country and Lagos was the best option for her. All through the 3months stay in Lagos a week in & a week out) was another experience that built her strengths morally, spiritually, emotionally & socially. Also she attended seminars that made her meet wonderful friends that have supported the vision.
• On the 26th of July by 11:45pm became a turning point for her, it brought a sense of relief after getting directions from the Spirit of God concerning what to in the remaining part of the year, all through that moment till daybreak of the next morning, she was wake listening and writing in one of the rooms of the Girls’ Hostels in NYSC Orientation Camp Shagamu, Ogun State till she dozed off;
• By August 13, she was made a guest speaker in the first International Teens/Youths Convention of RHGIC to speak on ‘Life & Attitude’, it was really a privilege & an honour but fate made it that she couldn’t utilize this opportunity due to some uncontrollable challenges. Within the same period, she applied for a M.Sc. Course in University of Lagos in the area of development due to the projects she intends to embark on;
• Towards the end of August, it became clear that she needed to start a Non-Governmental Organization that would project the vision, by September, the moves for registration & formation of team members have been on the top agenda of the Visionary. This has made her travel more than ever, trying to lay the foundation for the vision to be brought into reality.
• In the midst of all these, have found new strategies and ways in keeping Hopes alive, today, she has projects that keep her busy more than those who work in formal organizations, which are Community Development Services, traveling trips, books & recording projects, seminars/conferences etc. A lot of persons out there, would ask her why she had to take this path? But from the on-set she knew she wanted to do something different by reaching out & rendering services in areas young people (esp. fresh Graduates) are afraid of venturing. Right from time, she has always wanted to set the pace for others to follow. NENYE UMEUGO has numerous write-ups to her credits- The Mobile Marketer, The Nigerian Labour Market & the truth about it, The Secret of Love, The Software & The Programmer etc.