This is why it’s important to have the right community of friends and a supportive family – Chidinma Ibemere
Students in Chidinma Ibemere’s Biology class at Federal Government College, Enugu are definitely lucky to have her. As the Lead Volunteer at Chidinma Ibemere Foundation, Chidinma is committed to significantly contributing her quota in driving sustainable changes in the Education Sector in Nigeria. “It is acceptable to be in touch with your emotions but it is more productive when you choose to take courage to lift yourself from every form of doubt, fear and worthlessness” People self-sabotage a lot, feeling their ideas are boring, too small or useless. What’s your opinion on solving this? I honestly feel everyone has experienced this [self sabotage] at some point. I have had moments of self-doubt as well as seasons where I didn’t think much of myself and my ideas. Dwelling in such situations can be exhausting, hence, the importance of having the right community of friends and a supportive family. It is acceptable…
Patrick Ndifon: The Product Manager Championing Cross River’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Growth
“What’s the best possible state that something can be in?” is a question that constantly fills the mind of Patrick Ndifon, an entrepreneur, product manager and coach for startups, in His daily quest to solve problems with the use of technology and unlock the potential in people. He is the founder and Executive Director of PSIFON Org., a social enterprise dedicated to shaping and growing entrepreneurial ecosystems within local communities. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur for young people presently living in Calabar? For young entrepreneurs in Calabar, these top three skills are important: resourcefulness, agility and resilience. A fourth skill, to crown it, would be ambition. Calabar lacks many resources that are needed for entrepreneurial success. Resourcefulness will help an entrepreneur find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties. Agility is needed to quickly learn and adapt and grow to…
Madonna Badom: Here’s why You should always explore new things
In a world where it’s simpler to swindle people than to be honest, Madonna Badom has decided to be sincere. This is Madonna, a communication and management strategist who specialises in designing social projects for Adolescents and Young People. “Oh please! ALWAYS EXPLORE” is one thing she believes in. If you had the chance to start your recent years over again, what would you do differently? My recent years have been the most challenging and exciting because I have been juggling many things together. If I had the chance to start over knowing what I know now, I would put less pressure on myself, I would ask for help more and I would be less afraid. As a young professional, I pressure myself to strive for perfection and this often comes with overwhelming anxiety. So, If I had to do something differently, I would put less pressure on myself…
Regina Augusto Charumar: The Environmental Activist paving the way for a more environmentally conscious society
Meet Regina Augusto Charumar, a defender and lover of the environment, climate advocate, civil society volunteer, PhD student in Sustainability, professor and founder of the Environmental Movement Generation in Mozambique. My secret to success is my focus and my persistence. I am a dreamer, and the success of my dreams depend on my focus. Who’s Regina Augusto Charumar? What sparks her interests, what good does she want to see and do in the world? Regina Charumar is an environmentalist and a dreamy woman. She’s 33 years old, was born on the border but lives in Maputo, Mozambique. She is a PhD student in Sustainability, a climate advocate, civil society volunteer, award winner, TV presenter, professor and founder of the Environmental Movement Generation. Regina wants to see a more conscious and ecological Mozambique and wants an environmentally better society. What’s something you’re working on now that you want more people to…
The Talented 17 year old whose love for machines led her to learn about AI
Have you ever met a 17 year old girl who is very knowledgeable in cybersecurity? In 2019, she joined a digital summer academy program and picked interest in cybersecurity and coding. The fact that a computer system, network, or application can be hacked, and people’s credentials can be stolen remained amazing to me. After the day of the IT security class, I started researching cybersecurity, what it meant and how one can become an ethical hacker. I was 14 years old then. Here’s a great mind to watch out for. Here’s also what inspires Abigail to want to build an AI-powered wearable device, paired with a mobile application that would monitor and diagnose early stage diseases. What are the top skills anyone in the world needs to have before they can do or achieve what you’ve done? I started my cybersecurity journey while I was preparing for my senior high…
“It takes Courage to share openly about Mental Health” – Elizabeth Ita
Elizabeth Ita is many things but thankfully, with the help of mentorship, she has been able to group these things into three categories: product, health and design (PHD). Everything she does revolves around these 3 things. When she lost her father several years ago, she had a tough time processing this loss but in that process, she found purpose in her pain and Stilt Ng was born. What someone’s life might look like on the outside isn’t always an accurate depiction of how they feel on the inside. What part of your life experience would you alter if you had the chance to? Knowing how my experiences have shaped who I am as a person, I am not sure I would change a thing. I have had regrets and I have made mistakes, but I have drawn lessons from them. My guiding word for many years has been a passage…
Teenage Boy Dominates Calabar: “I don’t know when and how to give up”
Victor Eyo is a vibrant, optimistic and innovative young person who takes advantage of every opportunity to do good. He’s most resilient and never backs down from a challenge. He’s always burning with passion to see his plans come to fruition. Here’s an everyday young person doing something cool and we think you should meet him. Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula for teens to become successful tech bros or tech sis? Yes, I believe there’s a pattern or formula for teens to become successful tech bros or sis in whatever field they find themselves in. For any young person to turn out successful, they must first give themselves to learning, stay humble and respectful, no matter how skilled they are, taking into consideration that there were people in their respective fields before them. They need to put themselves and their work out there, connect…
BlankPaperz partners with the first Ibom International Art & Book Festival as sponsor
This year, we’re proud to be part of the Ibom International Art and Book Festival as one of the sponsors of the event. IBOM International Art and Book Festival will bring more than 2000 writers
Winners and long list of BlankPaperz Short Piece Contest announced
Congratulations to the winners of the BlankPaperz Short Piece Contest. We shared the prompt: “In 100-200 words only, write a short piece on ‘the person I go love be‘,” and in just over 2 weeks we received 602 entries! The contest was open to any young person living in Nigeria, as we hoped to see how creative young people can be in coming up with provocative writing of 200 words or less, while also putting thoughts into their own lives and future aspirations. Following this, all participants are invited to an exclusive morning session on the 2nd of April, 10 AM GMT+1 with renowned author and changemaker, Hammed Kayode Alabi, who is featured in Z’axis Magazine and will be sharing the lessons life has taught him in 5 years. The session will be facilitated by the inspiring young changemaker, Jemimah Jones, and is supported by Teens Going for Gold Network. Meet…
Thelma Ideozu: How the Nigerian educational system doesn’t breed confident graduates
He had smiled at me, as one might smile at a toddler, and said quite frankly, “A is for God and B is for me” ⏤ which was his witty way of saying that I’d be lucky to even get a C in the exam.
Our Z’axis Creation Story: BlankPaperz Media Launches Z’axis Magazine
The road might be long and hard, you might fail somewhere but at Z’axis Magazine, we are here to remind you that you are not alone in your changemaking journey!