Former Caterham School Pupil Marches Through London After Stint in Nigeria

Jay Ham in Nigeria

A former Caterham School student marched in the Lord Mayor's Show in London, in recognition of his voluntary work with young people in Nigeria.

Jay Ham, of Church Way, Hurst Green, volunteered with the UK government-funded International Citizen Service (ICS) programme from July to September last year.

In Nigeria, the 22-year-old, who is studying for a masters degree in sustainability at Southampton University, worked on projects ranging from a text message data collection initiative, to a music festival attended by 1,500 people.

He was invited to take part in the procession on November 12, on behalf of international development charity VSO, which leads the ICS programme.

"Marching in the Lord Mayor's Show was great fun, and a fantastic way to raise awareness of the challenges faced by so many children around the world," Mr Ham said.

For his stay in the west African country, Mr Ham was based in Ikorodu, in Lagos State.

The 22-year-old was based in Ikorodu

"People have big misconceptions about Nigeria with regards to issues like safety," he said. "I was nervous going there but was very pleasantly surprised."

"In many areas it's quite advanced, though of course there's poverty too. The people were fantastic, very bold in their outlook on life and very welcoming – I was always made to feel like part of the family."
Working alongside young Nigerian volunteers, Mr Ham ran youth clubs and workshops for children living in poverty, encouraging them to understand how to tackle the issues they face.
"I witnessed many barriers to education," he said. "Getting a good education is a direct route out of poverty, which is why it's so important that we change this."

Projects included organizing forums where young people could find solutions to local problems and a children's rights conference attended by 450 delegates, and working on a text message questionnaire initiative used to target development resources.

Among his most daunting tasks was organizing an anti-drugs music festival.
"Four days before the event we had nothing, but we got it all done for free – everything from free noodles to getting celebrities to attend," said Mr Ham.

In addition to his studies, Mr Ham is involved in global organisation Enactus, a student-led group that seeks to provide sustainable solutions through entrepreneurship.

Initiatives he is working on in include a major sanitation project and a non-electric refrigerator.
Looking to the future, Mr Ham hopes to take his work to another level.

"My dream is to work for the UN and manage large-scale projects in sustainable development," he said.
Felicity Morgan, director of ICS at VSO, said: "We were very proud to see our volunteers marching in the Lord Mayor's Show.

"Our ICS volunteers are living proof that young people can make a hugely positive impact on communities in some of the poorest parts of the world."

Maiduguri – The military on Monday in Maiduguri unveiled the photographs of another 55 Boko Haram terrorists it had declared wanted, bringing the number of wanted terrorists so far to 257.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/military-unveils-photographs-of-another-55-wanted-boko-haram-terrorists/

The military on Monday in Maiduguri unveiled the photographs of another 55 Boko Haram terrorists it had declared wanted, bringing the number of wanted terrorists so far to 257. It had declared 202 insurgents wanted in two batches in 2015. Unveiling the photographs at the headquarters of the Theatre Command, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, called on Nigerians to join in search for the terrorists. Olonisakin said that counter insurgency was a field operation which required adequate awareness by the stakeholders. “With this launch of additional photographs of wanted Boko Haram terrorists, it is hoped that all members of the public and other peace loving citizen will provide useful information that will aid in riding the society of these terrorists and criminal elements,’’ he said. Earlier in a remark, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, noted that many of the 202 terrorists earlier declared wanted had either been killed or arrested during operations. “We have earlier in the course of our campaigns against the insurgents from late 2015 published two editions, comprising 202 individuals that have been identified, key members of the Boko Haram insurgents. “In the course our counter insurgency operations, quite a significant number of these wanted terrorists have either been killed or arrested. “Those arrested have been providing useful information that has assisted the Nigerian army undertake successful operations,’’ he said. Buratai also called on Nigerians and the media with useful information about the suspects to provide it, saying that such information would be treated with “utmost confidentiality’’. “No item of information is too little or should be ignored,’’ he said. He said that the Nigerian Army had achieved significant progress in the fight against the terrorists by degrading their combat power as well as decimating their ranks. The army chief restated that 60 per cent of the remnants of the terrorists were not Nigerians and appealed to the citizens to contribute to the efforts to flush them out of the country. “It is very clear that the Boko Haram terrorists have been defeated. “To continue to have any doubt in this regard or to continue to re-echo or insinuate that these terrorists have not been defeated is only a way of encouraging these terrorists,’’ Buratai said. He assured the people of Kaito, Damasak, Gashiga and indeed Mallam Fatori in northern Borno that the roads leading to their communities would soon be re-opened to enable them to return before the end of 2016.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/military-unveils-photographs-of-another-55-wanted-boko-haram-terrorists/