Bright Obiduru Chizoba, a media personnel, a videographer, creative photographer, a graphic designer and a promoter and graduate of Computer Science in Federal University (FUTO) has been in the media space for over 10 years. In this interview he shares his passion for youth empowerment and disability inclusion.
What led to your interest in media despite studying computer science?
What led me into Media was more like a calling for me, or let me put it this way, Media chose me, aside the passion to create visually appealing contents, all that I knew during my two years were self-taught. Also, you need some level of computer knowledge in the job too. So I am not far from what I studied.
How has the journey been after studies?
It hasn’t been easy, when you see people learning or adding a skill to their certificate or doing something that is off what they studied in school, it is basically to put food on the table and make something for themselves and their families. I am glad I learned these skills that I have. First, I started with graphic designing because all I had was a laptop after graduation from the university in 2015, I managed to buy a good phone in 2017 and that was how I started photography and videography with my phone. I started using a camera from 2020 and now in the media space as a professional in the field.
How did you embrace empowering youth in Digital Skills?
I have always believed in creative skill development and youth empowerment. Being a beneficiary of some youth empowerment programmes before entering university and after, I also believe in self-development and passing down knowledge to the younger generation. The opportunity to empower youths came just after the COVID-19 lockdown, an organization we created called Omenka Ndi Imo (which means creatives of Imo State), we saw the impact of the lockdown and how it was difficult for people who had no skill to survive but only those with skills like me were able to use the power of social media to connect with people, do jobs and get paid from the comfort of our home. After that experience, I took it as a project to teach my skills and be part of any empowerment programme that can help people be self-reliant.
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How did you contribute to youth development working in government?
Again, in 2020 after the lockdown I got the opportunity to be part of a skill empowerment programme under Omenka Ndi Imo Contemporary Arts, in collaboration with the senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Affairs.
We organized a free creative skill training of over 900 people, both old and young, I was the facilitator for graphic design and I had over 250 students. I am now working with the ministry of Digital Economy and E-government, Imo State. We are doing a programme that will last till 2026, it is called the Skillup Imo where the state is empowering 300,000 youths with digital Skills and tools required for that skill.
Also, I currently run an NGO called JABULANI, a platform I created to promote para soccer and people with disabilities in sports. An annual event that has entered the 4th year, started in 2021.
Having worked in the private and public sector, what challenges do you think youths face the most and the way out?
Speaking from my own point of view and experience, the challenges youth face is lack of enabling environment for them to thrive, creating a leveled ground where rich and poor, able and disabled are given equal opportunity. We have to be sincere, there’s little or nothing done to engage the youths into thinking and doing something positive. This is why people engage in things just to earn a living and put food on the table, surviving instead of living, competing instead of creating.
And this goes to both the public and private sectors. As youths, we should learn to identify good opportunities.
Another solution is to train at least five people who are interested in your field for free, guide them until they are strong enough, connect them to jobs until they can stand on their own, let these five people replicate what you did in training five people each, and let it continue, in the next few years, you will discover you are already solving a problem directly and before the next few years, there will be hundreds of you out there duplicating and replicating what you started. You can imagine the wealth that will be created.
How have your platform done to amplify the challenges faced by persons with disabilities?
As an entrepreneur, it is always advisable to identify your strengths, when I discovered that I have people’s attention and that I can also promote online due to my line of work, which is media, I felt like I could literally promote anything.
In 2021, life led me to meet the para soccer players, randomly on a Saturday. I saw the sincerity and energy from them, then I said to myself, these guys need to be seen out there and they deserve to be known. Few days later on the 9th October, Jabulanieveryday was born.
JABULANIEVERYDAY is a platform created to encourage persons with disability in sports, preaching inclusivity, love, hope and community. With this platform we hope to increase the awareness of para soccer to attract investors and promoters to these lovely sports of para soccer. Every 9th October, we gather to celebrate this.
Already in its 4th edition, Jabulani is entering its expansion stage where we wish to replicate what we do in Imo State every 9th October to different states that welcome this initiative. This will inspire and create a lot of opportunities for the players, there is not a lot of programmes like this, we wish to touch as many states as possible. The possibilities are endless.
What is your advice to youth in taking advantage of their environment?
My advice to my fellow youths is very simple and it is to “CHOOSE VALUE OVER MONEY”
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