TEDx will be launched in Plateau State
Nigeria with the theme, “Shifting
Paradigms” powered by a movement with the hashtag #Josshift whose aim is to push for an aligned narrative of a
Forward Mental, Physical, Economic and Social Shift in Plateau State and the
country at large. See press statement below…
PRESS RELEASE OF
THE MAIDEN EDITION OF TEDxRAYFIELD 2017 WITH THE THEME SHIFTING PARADIGMS HELD
AT 9AM AT THE JOS BUSINESS SCHOOL, RAYFIELD ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017.
All Protocols duly observed.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, Good Morning.
The TEDx Program is a globally recognized brand created in the spirit
of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading.” It supports independent
organizers who want to create a TED event in their own community. The TEDx
Program is designed to help communities, organizations and individuals to spark
conversation and connection. This maiden edition of TEDx in Plateau State
Nigeria with the theme, “Shifting
Paradigms” is powered by a movement with the hashtag #Josshift whose aim is to push for an aligned narrative of a
Forward Mental, Physical, Economic and Social Shift in Plateau State and the
country at large. TEDxRayfield will be held in Rayfield, the traditional Seat of
Power in Plateau State and the Home of Jos Business School.
Our theme “Shifting Paradigms”
is designed to motivate young people to activate their leadership potentials as
positive change agents of their immediate environment by engaging them in intellectually
stimulating conversations that spur positive action. The aim is to challenge
their commitment to issues that responsibly address questions and solutions
which affect their community, their country Nigeria and the world at large. Our
most important objective is to further the cause of Peace Building as a Panacea for Economic Development in Plateau State
and Nigeria in general and there is no better stage to spark these
discussions than here in Jos Plateau State. The #Josshift believes these ideals
and virtues Plateau state is known for has been threatened by unnecessary ethno
religious tensions and this event seeks to ‘shift’ the Plateau State narrative
to its glorious reputation as the Home of Peace and Tourism.
TEDxRayfield will open opportunities to engage the local audience in
Jos Plateau State with vibrant and insightful messages designed to inspire them
into positive actions and to also increase the profile of the Plateau state
nationally and internationally against the backdrop of a globally recognized brand.
At the moment Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, no stone is left
unturned as we are mobilizing social influencers especially youth across the
state for this august event. Most notable is the massive media campaign
nationwide on all traditional and social platforms and the responses from
potential guests to the event have been immensely positive so far as this event promises to be one of Nigeria’s most intellectually
engaging event in recent times. Amongst other levels of preparations, is the
assemblage of an indigenously exceptional and experienced team that are
confident to meet TED’s outstanding standards and experience in design and
production. The team has engaged and are in conversation with vendors and associates
for the required partnership to bring an event of this magnitude to reality.
In the light of the objective for this TEDxTalks, the following array
of speakers who are excelling in their various fields are billed to speak on
various topics at the event. They include;
Phillip Shuaibu: Keynote Speaker
Accountant, Activist, Deputy Governor of Edo State, and former NANS President
will be speaking on the topic ‘’Not Too Young To Run – Why we need more
young people in politics’’ His wealth of experience and epic rise in
politics from student to mainstream politics holds lessons in early engagement,
tenacity and focus for young aspiring politicians.
Imam Muhammed Ashafa and Pastor
James Wuye
This team have a profound story of reconciliation and peace building,
reminds us of our shared humanity and the base ingredients that is needed for a
lasting peace process. In all their engagements, they aim to find common
grounds in what binds us than what separates us as a people. They co-founded
and are co-directors of the Muslim-Christian Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC)
in Kaduna state Nigeria. They are receipients of a number of awards for their
work and have also been the subject of two documentary films: The Imam and the Pastor (2006) and An African Answer (2010).
Ezekiel Gomos OFR
Director General of the Jos Business School and a mentor to many young
minds who through his vast experience is determined to accelerate the economic
and social development of youth and anyone who seeks to be economically
empowered. Mr. Gomos is the recipient of several honors and awards, which
includes the award of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria (OFR).
Troy Zenret Pyelshak
Former NFL Pro athlete and super Bowl champion turned Investment Guru,
a successful Businessman and Serial Entrepreneur in different continents of the
world. He is an avid traveler with a penchant for adventure. At every
opportunity he gets with young people, Troy is eager to share his story fame,
fortune and everything we all don’t see in between like discipline and
tenacity. He will share his profound concept on Building a Deep Sense of Self in these changing times where it seems
there are less opportunities and prospects.
Ufuoma Ejenenobor Mcdermott
Ufuoma McDermott is an award winning Nollywood star and an accomplished
Actress, Producer and Director will be speaking on the need for Beauty to keep up with Brains in today’s
flaky world. She holds certificates from the New York Film Academy,
Hollywood Film Institute and the London Business School. She is married and a
proud mother of two children.
AbdulRazaq Bello Barkindo.
Veteran Journalist & Press Director – Nigerian Governor’s Forum:
Abdulrazaq Bello Barkindo brings a refreshing in-depth perspective on The Role of the Media in Keeping the Peace
in a Time of Escalating Global Conflict.
Fauno B Nadah
Is a Systems Engineer and Social Entrepreneur with a passion for
transformational change. Nadah will be
bringing his insightful knowledge of Business and Technology to the talks with
the witty topic ‘’How to Tame Neat Ninjas
in Wicked Mermaids’’.
Dr Chinnan Mclean Dikwal
Dr. Mclean is an Oil & Gas Strategy Consultant and Director IHS
VANTAGE Middle East & Africa. He seeks to rattle our collective
consciousness in an age of ‘’selfism’’ in
his talk. Dr Mclean makes a call to a life of impact and communal engagement in
the era of selfism.
Solomon Chikan
A global motivational speaker and driving force for entreupeurship in
Nigeria. He will be distilling his wealth of experience in the profound talk on
‘’The Concept of Becoming’’
Pastor Yusuf Akila
A connoisseur of words will take us on a journey into the world of
‘shifts’ with his brilliant topic The Anatomy
of a Paradigm Shift. He is an international motivational speaker at
business meetings across the globe.
The event will also have poetry performances by Uwanna Udobang,
Ruddapoet and Semshak Deshi.
TEDxRayfield is convened by Delmwa
Deshi-Kura, a Media Professional from Plateau State with a deep passion for
propagating Storytelling & Conversations as a means to engaging and
mobilizing consensus that can accelerate positive actions at a community level,
which inturn yields and scales visible & measurable economic and social
impact for the country at large. The Co-convener of the event is Kate Pam a business strategist and
community activist who like, Delmwa has a burning desire for the advancement of
plateau State and the country as a whole. They hope that the talks will add to
the current narrative of unbiased, non-political Peace and Economic
conversations.
TED talks have been hosted in more than 20 countries worldwide and
here in Nigeria, the independent TEDx talks have so far been hosted in Port
Harcourt, Abuja, Ogun and Lagos state respectively. It is worthy of note that
this TEDxRayfield is the first of its kind in Jos, Plateau State and is scheduled
to take place as follows:
Date: December 9, 2017
Time: 9:00 Am
Venue: Jos Business School,
Rayfield- Jos, Plateau State. Nigeria
Ladies and Gentlemen, we are so humbled and amazingly honoured to
receive all the support and confidence from the resilient Plateau people, our
partners, volunteers, associates, ladies and gentlemen of the Press and the state
government. For us, this highlights one impression. i.e everyone on the Plateau
welcomes any cause that promises an accelerated pace to peace and development
of Plateau state. This gives this historic occasion a significant mileage as it
promises to push Plateau State and Nigeria rightly on the global map as the
home of youth vanguard, vigour and promise. On that note we say Thank you.
Delmwa Deshi- Kura
For: TEDxRAYFIELD TEAM