Local2Global with Ada Africa: Secrets and Tips To Getting Into Global Opportunities

Two amazing entrepreneurs, Emma and Sam applied for same global opportunities including grants to help grow their separate enterprising ventures. Sam got the World Bank scholarship to study Entrepreneurship Management at Pan Atlantic University; got $10,000 grant to expand his business; got another certificate course worth N750,000 scholarship from Oxfam. He later got selected to participate in two trainings and one fellowship program outside the country.

Meanwhile, Emma who is very passionate and creative with his business and had applied for same opportunities like Sam, couldn’t get selected for any of the programs. He only managed to get to the interview stage for two opportunities. Why do you think two incredible entrepreneurs apply for same opportunities, one keeps been selected, getting grants while the other doesn’t?

There are few ‘secrets’ and tips in preparing astounding applications, coupled with basic foundation one ought to build to aid make solid application.

As a proud local African sister who has gone global with participation in over 26 global opportunities which includes 4 Professional Fellowships programs; 9 grants; 7 scholarships for scientific paper presentations at international conferences; 4 scholarships for advanced certificate courses; 3 certified online development programs, international volunteer opportunities among others, this column exists to prepare you tap into similar opportunities.

Some youths are giving up because they have applied several times and weren’t selected. They shouldn’t give up, L2G is here to expose tips on how to prepare winning applications.

For over eight years, I have worked across the globe, promoting global opportunities for young people. I have mentored and aided few who benefitted too. Many of these opportunities are wasting out there and our youth are not tapping into them.

This column, ‘Local2Global’ (L2G) lists current relevant grants and scholarship opportunities, explaining guidelines and tips to making a successful application. Those applying have the opportunity to ask all burning questions and/or have their applications professionally reviewed (fee is attached to one-on-one assistance) and as well follow a designated social media page for details. Do you have a business idea you are so passionate about; you’ve been working on it and no money to start up the business;

or you have started the business and need more capital to expand?

Are you done with your university first degree and desire to further to Master’s program but lack funds?

Are you a creative writer and haven’t been making money from writing?

You desire to attend international conferences or make paper presentations based on your job experience?

Etc. There are various opportunities waiting for you to grab. There are more I will be bringing in the course of this L2G so that you would not be left out in participating in global opportunities.

As a beneficiary of many of the opportunities, I am here to reveal the best practices in applying for opportunities so that you too could benefit. Your application should be a self-portrait of whom you are; what you do; so, autograph it with excellence. Subscribe to this column and always follow us on social meldia. I would be available to answer all your burning questions and walk you through for those who signed up on premium though.

Udegboka Tessie Nkechi +2348174120686; local2global4@gmail.com

Opportunities for the Week: 1. FAOU Internship & Ambassadorship Program 2022: 3 months free program for youth around the world. It’s an opportunity that offers professional experience within an international team. Deadline: August 14. Apply here: www.alfihri.org/jobs 2. Access Bank Womenpreneur Pitch-a-Ton Africa program: It is for women-owned businesses to obtain financing, top-notch business training, and mentoring opportunities. Deadline: 19/08/22. www.womenpreneur.ng/ 3. Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI): YALI Regional Leadership Center West Africa is merit-based and open to youths 18-35. It is a US sponsored program holds in Accra, Ghana. Deadline: 21/08/22. www.yaliwestafrica.org/ 4. Quest Fellowship Program on Entrepreneurship: For students and recent graduates that seek to tackle challenges through innovation driven entrepreneurship. Deadline: 21/08/22. https://airtable.com/shrE9PS8Xre8wzorp 5. Stellenbosch University DeepMind Scholarships: Want to do MSc in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence? You have a strong mathematical and computational background? There is a scholarship for you. Deadline: 31/08/22. www.mlai.sun.ac.za/

WHAI Team

Airtel NIGERIA IN OUR SLUMS TODAY: WHY?

WHAIafrica is one of the latest beneficiaries of Airtel Touching Lives. Airtel Nigeria today, 29 June 2022 handed over equipment worth millions of naira to WHAIafrica In a brief ceremony held at WHAIafrica Creative Hub in Obosi, Idemili North LGA, Airtel Senior Business Manager, Njoku Chigozie stated that the telecom giant is happy to gift the equipment to the NGO to support their humanitarian efforts of impacting lives in local communities. According to him, Airtel chose to make a difference in the lives of the underprivileged women and youths living in the slums by supplying equipment that will both improve and monetize their skills after seeing and understudying the efforts of WHAIafrica over the years.

While thanking Airtel NG, the ecstatic Executive Director of WHAIAfrica, Ada Africa Udegboka said that the machines and other equipment will enhance the craft work of turning trash and waste materials into fashion accessories while the laptops and other tech devices will increase the intake of students and youths in digital skill training. Airtel also donated a cash of one million naira to be use to offset school fees of indigent students in slum/rural communities at the verge of dropping out from school.

WHAIAfrica is a non-profit organization that specializes in building the capacities of indigent and slum residents, improving their skills, and helping them to monetize their talents.

L2G with Ada Africa: YOUR ATM CARD COULD BE CLONED NEXT TIME YOU USE IT – READ THIS

It happened to my neighbor, she lost over 400k in her account. I interviewed her to get all the details and to learn the possibility of such. She was at her bank ATM to make a transfer to another account. She tried a few times and the transaction didn’t go through. She withdrew her card and returned home. Late in the evening of the same day, she started getting a debit alert which I told her will be reversed. It was the weekend, so she waited till the next weekday to report to the bank. At the bank, she was shown on the system that the transactions actually occurred, that the 400k was actually withdrawn from her account. The bank tracked the location where the transaction happened. ATM was not used in withdrawing the money, rather it was via POS.

I put a call across to a Nigerian ATM installer and IT personnel I met in the US to enquire about the possibility of such. He affirmed that it is possible. That the bad guys have developed a master card for cloning any ATM card. All they need is the last 4 digits of one’s card or they insert the master card immediately when an innocent person finishes using the machine.

I mourned with my neighbor for she has lost a lot. Bit by bit, she started paying back the amount to the owner. In less than one month, the same thing happened to me. I’m usually a cashless person. Most of my transactions are cashless. I was to refund 10k to a bedridden client who doesn’t have access to the bank. One evening in April 2022, I went to the bank ATM to withdraw the money. On getting to the ATM, a guy was answering an unending call, the other rounding off his transaction at the ATM. As he left, I mounted and slot in my card, I withdrew 10k and walking out, I saw him chatting with the security guy and the other guy still on his unending call. I trekked a distance to buy some fruits, came back and drove back home. It was almost late evening.

The next morning, I started getting debit alerts. I rushed to search for my ATM card, maybe I misplaced it the previous day after usage. Lo and behold my card was with me. How come the debit alert? Within minutes, another debit alert came in. Then it dawned on me, my ATM card had been cloned.

I called my bank officer and asked him to block my card which he immediately did. I wept bitterly that the little I’ve been saving since February 2022 to invest in our upcoming project since I couldn't get a loan or support, the criminals have taken. It hurts me deeply. Few weeks later, I was at the bank for a transaction. I watched as bank customers troop in to complain of getting debit alerts they never initiated and others requesting for new ATM cards because the one they had was cloned. Ah! So this is now becoming a trend, I said to a bank officer who affirmed they get many of such reports on a daily basis. Let everyone be wary of this. You could be the next victim. And if it happens, it is your loss and not that of the bank. The bank shows no remorse and continues their business as usual. I am yet to get out of the shock of my loss and have refused to request for a new ATM.

© Udegboka Tessie Nkechi

empower@whisperinghopeafrica.com

WhatsApp https://bit.ly/Adaafrica