The managing partner of RED and co-founder of The Future Project, Chude Jideonwo has been announced as one of the speakers at the first meeting of the Africa Philanthropy Forum (APF) – which holds on 24 and 25 February 2014 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The first planning meeting of the African Philanthropy Forum will bring together such leaders to examine how the twin goals of expanding access and promoting equity will lead to increased opportunity throughout the continent, and how building a community of African philanthropists can contribute to Africa meeting its own development goals.

Said the conveners:

 This is a moment of opportunity for philanthropy in Africa; it can be a catalyst for the promotion of new ideas, collaboration and the cross-fertilization of practices across sectors. The continent’s philanthropists and social investors are already seeding promising enterprises and supporting effective NGOs, building a robust civil society able to advance Africa’s development goals. In the process, they are testing and demonstrating innovative solutions to festering social and environmental problems; helping to spur economic activity at the base of the pyramid, a step toward growing the middle class; and advancing transparency, accountability, and competence in the public, private and social sectors.

The APF is part of the Global Philantrophy Forum, which is committed to “Building a Community of Donors and Social Investors Committed to International Causes”

Speakers include Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, chairperson of the African Union Commission; Malik Fal, Africa Managing Director Omidyar Network; Jammie Drummound, co-founder ONE; Darlington Mandivenga, CEO Econet Services; Fred Swaniker, co-founder, Arican Leadership Academy; Reeta Roy, president and CEO, The MasterCard Foundation, James Manhi, CEO of Equity Bank, Ashish J. Thakkar, Founder of the Mara Group and Mara Foundation; Kesetebirhan Admasu, Minister of Health Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, amongst others. Toyin Saraki, president of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa will also be speaking.

For more information, please visit philanthropyforum.org.

Chude Jideonwo, managing partner of RED will be keynote speaker at a forum hosted by Studio Magazine focused on Nigeria and the media. The talkshop, held in partnership with Calligaris, holds at the Calligaris Flagship Store in Milan on Thursday, 13 February 2014.

The event, themed ‘Smart Attitude’ will host conversations around the prospects for media enterprises in Italy, Nigeria and across the world. Jideonwo will be sharing his experiences as a young, successful media entrepreneur in a fast-growing economy.

He will be interviewed by Anna Momigliano, the senior editor and by Federico Sarica, the chief editor, who is also former chief editor of Vice. The event will be attended by Milanese journalists, writers and influencers.

The event will also highlight Studio Magazine’s latest print issue themed ‘Cool Nigeria’.

RED Founding Partner; Adebola Williams is currently in South Africa with winners of the just ended Blackberry Big Sean Competition “X_Family Crew’

The competition had entrants between the ages of 18 and 23 upload their audio track under categories of rap, singing and spoken word between 15 November and 15 of December 2013. Winners of the competition “X_Family Crew” won a 3 day-trip all-expense paid tour with International Star Big Sean to South Africa, one on one time with him, plus VIP all access aasses to the Big Sean concert and private shows courtesy of BlackBerry.

Adebola Williams who has been in charge of the project and Blackberry Campus infilterations accompanied the winners to ensure they have a great time as promised by the brand.

Italy’s Studio magazine, in its latest print issue, has profiled our  Managing Director; Chude Jideonwo; christening him ‘The Poster Boy of Nigeria’. The story appears in the magazine’s ‘Cool Nigeria’ issue released this week.

In his interview with international journalist, Anna Momigliano; Chude speaks about the inspiration behind Africa’s leading youth event, The Future Awards Africa and building an innovative business with brands across print, television and online. He also shares his views on youth, the idea of ‘Africa Rising’ and his stand on the anti-modern elements that are still heavily present in Nigeria.

“Something is beginning to work these days,” says Chude Jideonwo about the new possibilities with Nigeria – across business, technology and the prospects of social change.

Also featured are co-founder of Jumia, Tunde Kehinde and international publisher, Uzoamaka Maduka.

To read more, visit HERE.

coverstoryENG

Being a speech delivered by Chude Jideonwo, Executive Director of The Future Project, at The Future Awards Africa Best 100 ceremony at the State House Abuja on Sunday, 15 December to commemorate Nigeria’s centenary

“You are a widow? Go and die!”

You could imagine the shock that coursed through an entire nation when a sitting governor –incidentally a popular, performing one– spoke those words to a poor, widowed hawker. It was a singular and definitive moment—for her, for him, for me and for Nigeria.

While the nation screeched over that dreadful moment, I was stunned into a silence. That video yet depresses me for the frustration and the despair it reveals from both sides.

On the one hand was a frustrated governor weighted down by an uphill battle to improve the condition of his state, and on the other, a woman only trying to make ends meet because of a poverty ensured by leaders before him. Both with valid motivations and both caught in a vicious cycle that must be broken.

Of course, that governor – who is actually a man of the people – has done the right thing and apologised – but that statement continues to ring; capturing, as it did, the ethos, and pathos, of what it means to be a citizen in Nigeria for many of us.

Many people are frustrated. I too am frustrated. Exhausted by the sheer effort it takes to be Nigerians; going downstairs in the middle of the night to put on the generator, giving pocket money to your younger brother at home from a 5-month ASUU strike that just has to end, having a policeman harass you while you earn a honest living in your dutiful ‘danfo’, reading the newspapers on a daily basis. Frustrated by what seems like a systemic disregard for citizens – the legacy of leadership for us for many years.

And this is why people are so angry. That is why they can’t even isolate the good and celebrate it. And this is why when governments, or even corporates, speak of the good that they have done, and of course there is plenty of good across the states of the country, that agenda is lost in the din.

For many young people, this anger continues to rise, though that’s not necessary a bad thing, because it is better to be children of anger, than children of apathy.

But those same young people have given Nigeria so many reasons to celebrate; a huge part of the silver lining that still gives hope in our country.

I am so, so proud of my generation – and even prouder that The Future Awards Africa has continued to achieve its goal of profiling, creating, building, cheerleading or simply presenting a huge percentage of the young Nigerians that rule the world presently. And we have proven – especially with those gathered today, icons and influencers who are not necessarily celebrities, but who make things happen across they country across, technology, governance and advocacy – that much is possible in Nigeria, by Nigerians.

I am proud of our 2007 advocacy award winner Gbenga Sesan, who, has built lives and hands with Ajegunle.org, proud of our Young Person of the Year 2007, Tara Fela-Durotoye, who single-handedly built and fuelled the make-up industry in Nigeria with branches across 28 states and thousands of representatives.

It is easy these days to forget that Ndidi Nwuneli, whose LEAP Africa was NGO of the Year 2006 and who has built one of the continent’s most enduring non-government organisations, is barely 35.

There is Alkassim Abdulkadir, who has broken boundaries in international journalism and was Journalist of the Year 2012. I am proud of Tolu Sangosanya who won for advocacy in 2008 and subsequently raised millions of naira to help children be fed and educated at the Dustbin Estate in Lagos, and our Excellence in Public Service winner in 2011, Fatima Zara Modibbo, who has committed her skills to helping underprivileged children in the North.

I am proud of my team, including my partner Adebola Williams, the RED brain trust Mfon Ekpo, Aziza Uko, Alexander Yangs, Debie Magnut, Tolu Orekoya and our those who make it happen daily – Isime, Bukonla, Seun, Blessing, Tobi, Sola, Daphne, Hycinth, Samson, Samuel, Taye and everyone else – who have taken this group from a borrowed one-bedroom office in 2005 founded by three teenagers and built it into a 50-staff movement with offices in three countries, project chapters in eight and its founders named this year by Forbes as two of Africa’s best entrepreneurs under 30.

I am proud of Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, nominated for Actor of the Year 2006 and one of the awards strongest ambassadors, who was this year named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World.

I am proud of her and all the other young people joined her in making history, answering when we called in April 2010, marching on the streets of this same capital city to ensure the rule of law was obeyed. I am proud of those who came out in record numbers to Register, Select, Vote and Protect in 2011, and the young people who held the continent’s first youth-centred presidential debate moderated by our host today, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.

And I am proud, sir, of those who stepped out to demand accountability in 2012, and those – led by ‘Yemi Adamolekun, Executive Director of EnoughisEnough Nigeria – who, in October this year, protested the deeply worrisome cost of running #OurNASS.

I am proud of my friends who are set to make a once-in-a-generation statement about the strength and impact of our numbers at the 100,000 Voices event in January 2014. And I am so proud of the guys at the Co—Creation Hub, who are incubating Nigeria’s next generation of ceiling crashers and businesses that just might take over the world.

We are a generation that has done a lot with so little, that has blossomed like roses amongst thorns. What we have asked for in return is not much – not shallow requests like ‘a youth minister who is below 30’, but something most important. We want the environment and the empowerment to keep expanding the value we are adding – amongst others, power solved once and for all, connectivity that is at par with the rest of the world, ministers who will actually do the needful.

Mr. President, some will say you are perhaps the first president in my lifetime to take young people seriously as a demographic, even if politically: I am excited when I see your communications technology minister take young Nigerian businessmen to Silicon Valley to broaden their impact or when your coordinating minister of the economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala name-checks e-commerce giants Konga and Jumia in important policy pronouncements or when you show off creative industry frontrunners in trips outside Nigeria.

And then there is agriculture, for which your very impressive minister – who is driving a revolution across the nation – just got rewarded as Africa’s Person of the Year.

Many are glad for these, especially when they look beyond the sound and the fury. What we are asking for is more. Because, as a generation, we deserve more.

And we know that we can do more if we get more.

That has been our mission at RED, to expand the opportunities and the space to build and create – through the jobs portal Aiki.ng launched last month in collaboration with Microsoft, through the m-Hub collaboration space for young people in the media, through Red Media SME Support and others.

This year, The Future Awards Africa has traversed the country. In Ekiti, we engaged directly and honestly with young leaders, in Lagos where we have continued our agenda of building through events with the United States government, the Tony Elumelu Foundation and the British Council, in Edo to build the capacity of young Nigerians, and in Addis Ababa working with the African Union to spread this message of possibility. That journey will continue, to Bayelsa, to Ondo, to Rivers to Akwa Ibom, to Osun, and across Africa. We are determined to sustain this change that we seek; determined to continue working as builders, cementing bridges that can drive change across the country, moving past our comfort zones and going beyond our anger – showing a better way for a new generation.

Because we are Nigerians. And we because we belong to this generation. It is in our character to keep walking, to keep moving, to keep pushing.

Born in a land blessed beyond comparison; we have struggled, we have been afraid, we have even failed, but we have risen time and again, because we are unified by hope, inspired by the possibilities. So here we are standing tall, through adversity, we will stand, we will shine, we will blossom; we will never stop.

I thank you Mr. President, for hosting our Best 100; I thank everyone who has helped to make today possible.

God bless you, God bless us all, and God bless Nigeria.

END.

RED Managing Partner Chude Jideonwo has been invited to speak at the Lipton Tea Party Flavoured tea launch happening on Friday, November 08, 2013.

Mr Jideonwo will be speaking to guests and encouraging them to develop their various skills/talents because the world today requires diversity and innovation.

RED Managing Partner Chude Jideonwo has been invited to join the panel at the CSR-in-Action seminar sub-themed – Policy, Affirmative Action and Sustained Growth is scheduled to hold on the 7th of November, 2013 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria between 8am and 4pm.

The seminar this year will gather key stakeholders to discuss and assimilate best practice and challenges in these industries with a view to finding solutions. The sub-theme for this year is aimed at addressing current challenges concerning implementation of policies to promote long term unity and development, by stimulating a meaningful exchange of ideas and best practices among key stakeholder groups and industry experts with a view to identifying effective strategies for improved development within the industries and local communities.

Other expected guests will include, H.E Diezani Alison Madueke, Minister of Petroleum, Nigeria; H.E Musa Mohammed Sada, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Nigeria; Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Former Vice President of the World Bank, Africa Region; Caroline Kende-Robb, Executive Director, Africa Progress Panel; George Abiodun Osahon, Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR); Frank Nweke Jr, Director General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and other notable personalities.

It is expected this year’s seminar will provide a fresh outlook in terms of innovation and stimulating debates; through a series of social media platforms and collectively involved interactions including the youth, media, regulators and experienced veterans within the extractive industries, the event is expected to address the inter-link between appropriate policy, collective commitment and sustainable growth.

GENERAL MANAGER

We are focused on finding the best experienced hands to manage the Administration of an innovative media company – supervising Operations, Finance & People. Are you ready for a challenge?  If you are then the spot for General Manager is yours, email your CV to [email protected]

Duties and Functions

• Manage the integrated planning, negotiation and analysis for all online and offline media vehicles and driving cross collaboration among all external partners
• Determine effective media usage and media mix through the utilization of media research, performance metrics and standard industry measurement tools
• Provide guidance on planning parameters and budget allocations
• Review all media plans prior to presentation to senior management, assuring they are financially sound and meet the intended marketing objectives
• Work closely with Line Heads to ensure key learnings are reflected in target market engagement
• Build and manage media practices that complement the PR, marketing and advertising strategies of the company
• Remain up-to-date on Client/Competition/Agency/Industry business through trade publications, newspaper articles, textbooks, literature
• Manage a team of junior to mid-level staff
• Work with Human Resource Unit to schedule and implement training programmes for staff member and monitor Learning and Development curve for each member of staff

Skills / Requirements

• Proven leadership skills, a strategic mindset, a passion for innovation and agile responsiveness
• A Bachelors degree in business, advertising, marketing or mass communications
• A minimum of seven years media/agency/client experience
• Superior knowledge of media theory, principles and media terminology, including traditional and social media references
• Decisive & effective problem-solving ability
• Sound analytical skills; both qualitative & quantitative
• Detail orientation, strong organizational skills
• Proven communication and presentation skills: advanced ability to present & sell recommendations and to adjust presentations accordingly based on feedback
• Strong interpersonal skills that encourage team cooperation, promote enthusiasm & foster strategic thinking
• Understanding of creative development and the importance of creativity in marketing communications
• Proven experience in dealing directly with senior personnel
• Ability to train and manage a team of mid to junior level personnel
• Perform all other duties as assigned
• Skills: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Power Point, social media analytics tools etc 

FINANCE ASSOCIATE

Are you ready for a challenge? Are you an accountant or finance professional who is fastidious about keeping records, understand the latest technologies and solutions and can create order and simplicity from potential chaos, you’re our man for Finance Associate. Email your CV to [email protected]

Duties and Functions

• Ensure the timely and accurate preparation of compliance and statutory returns.
• The preparation of monthly management reports for Management.
• Identify and enact cost efficiencies and process improvement opportunities throughout the company.
• Oversee and monitor payment of accounts and payroll
• Oversee the preparation of annual invoicing.
• Oversee the debt collection process, including liaison with clients and stakeholders.
• Prepare Annual Budgets and cash flow forecasts.
• Monitoring accounting records and internal controls.
• Oversee and ensure accuracy of bank reconciliations
• Coding of financial transactions to appropriate accounts.
• Ensure monthly reconciliations are performed for general ledger accounts.
• Preparation of monthly expenditure reports for Management.
• Preparation of financial accounts as at year end for external audit including preparation of draft accounts.
• Oversees the management of external contracts.
• Prepare monthly analysis of cost of services rendered and operational expenses  against prior month and budget, providing explanations and business solutions to help mitigate the risks.

• Perform all other duties as assigned

Skills/ Requirements:

• Minimum of bachelors degree in Accounting
• Trained as bookkeeper, accountant, banker or related relevant fields;
• Sound work experience with book-keeping, accounting, financial management, financial control and applied statistics;
• Very good communication skills including internet, email and bank related financial software;
• Accurate, reliable, well-organised, self-motivated. Service minded and problem-solving oriented. Strong interpersonal negotiation and inter-personal communication skills, and a fair team player.

HUMAN RESOURCE ASSOCIATE

Are you ready for a challenge? Are you passionate – and experienced – about the processes and systems that attract the best talent, rewards them, and grows them into superstars? You may be the candidate for our HR Associate, email your CV to [email protected]

Duties and Functions

• Providing confidential ad hoc advice and assistance to all employees
• Assisting with preparations for disciplinary and grievance hearings and management as necessary
• Administration, co-ordination and support of recruitment exercises
• Managing and maintaining contracts, personnel files and other employee information
• Coordinating an induction programme for new employees
• Coordinating and administering company training and development programmesand liaising with external training bodies as required. This includes providing supportin relation to Health and Safety training records for employees
• Administration and co-ordination of internal training programmes
• Developing and managing company employee-related programmes, such as work
• experience and internships
• Providing administrative support as required, including in respect of company benefits and eligibility to work records and audits
• Fulfilment of additional duties as required

Skills and Requirements

• At least one year experience of working in a generalist HR environment, to includeadministration of recruitment and training at all levels
• Experience of supporting managers across a variety of departments at different levelsin all aspects of HR and training
• Experience of volunteer recruitment, retention and development is desirable
• Qualified to degree level in a relevant subject
• Understanding and practical knowledge of employment law and employer bestpractice
• CIPD desirable
• Organised and methodical approach to administration and record keeping
• Excellent IT Skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential
• Team working & personal impact
• Attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal skills and relationship management
• Communication & influencing

IT ASSOCIATE

Are you ready for a challenge? Are you in the front of the latest solutions in Technology, understand how to apply them in a high-pressure environment and can implement in record time, then you are our candidate for Tech Associate,. Email your CV to [email protected]

Duties and Functions

• Maintain advanced technology system as needed; manage updates and repairs, etc.
• Provide system administration; determine requirements and asses programs and equipment (including Antivirus), update and repair as needed
• Handle all data recovery; ensure that servers and documents are secure and backed-up at all times. Security and discretion is high priority
• Maintain printers, internet network hardware, and desktop / workstation hardware as necessary
• Oversee and perform all system upgrades and product installations. Research and implement troubleshooting solutions and improvements in efficiency, solve complex technological issues as needed
• Assist with basic office / administrative tasks relevant to IT / technology; order supplies and maintain / document inventory, prepare reports, etc.
• Assist with additional electronics / technology in the office as needed
• Liaise directly with staff members to ensure everything is running smoothly at all times
• Installing and configuring computer hardware operating systems and applications.
• Monitoring and maintaining the company’s computer systems and networks.
• Replacing parts as required or liaising with a third party for replacement of components that requires special skill
• Providing support, including procedural documentation and relevant reports where needed
• Supporting the roll-out of new applications;
• Setting up new users’ accounts and profiles and dealing with password issues;
• Testing and evaluating new technology adopted by the company 

Skills/Requirements

• A first degree in computer science or any related courses.
• 1-3 years relevant experience.
• Desired skills: website design/administration, graphics design with Corel Draw/Photo Shop, Social media navigation, Networking and General IT support skills.

Associate Producer; Programming and Strategy

We are looking for a talented producer who gets the art of turning footage into productions that match a director’s vision and make everyone glued to their TV screens. If you’re that hard working and up for the challenge, we want you. Email your CV to [email protected]

Job Description

• Identify and select stories for films and programmes in a way which demonstrates strong journalistic skills and editorial judgement.
• To creatively define the mood and personality of a programme, carefully crafting stories that will resonate with a wider audience.
• Provides strategic direction on marketing and publicity strategies for major programmes.
• Visually drive the films, both in terms of style and structure, encouraging innovation and creative audience engagement
• Lead and motivate Assistant Producers and Researchers, ensuring they have clear and realistic objectives, consistent with company Values. Give clear briefings, monitor performance, give constructive feedback, lead by example.
• Documentation and record keeping for all programmes and personnel.
• Work closely with presenters where appropriate, ensuring they are properly briefed, and involving them in the editorial process, including scripting shows.
• Working closely with the Executive Producer to ensure every aspect of production is carefully planned so that filming and editing schedules ensure maximum productivity and programmes come in on budget.
• Fulfilment of additional duties as required

Skills and Requirements

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degrees in Mass Communication or any other relevant coursein the creative industry.
• Wide ranging knowledge of television production processes and a track record of creative programming, including film making, and experience of helping to shape other peoples’ films in editing. Experience of working on popular and primetime shows is essential.
• Substantial experience of self-shooting desirable, making 30 minute programmes and working with a range of DV cameras. A technical and editorial understanding of lighting and sound issues would be useful.
• Effective negotiating and management skills; experience of leading and motivating teams, and encouraging and developing production staff.
• Evidence of interpersonal and communication skills strong enough to establish credibility with colleagues and top flight presenters and to foster strong working relationships with a wide range of people in the industry.
• Proven qualities of adaptability and flexibility in coping with rapidly changing circumstances and ability to prioritize and exercise excellent editorial judgement as circumstances change.
• Ability to generate creative ideas and to think strategically about new programme ideas and an innovative approach to programme making. Awareness of popular factual output across all channels.
• Experience of reconciling artistic aspiration with production budget; planning and revising production budgets and schedules and delivering programmes on time and to budget.
• Able to direct to a high standard and fast turnaround.
• Excellent scripting and narrative skills

The Managing Partner of Red Media Group, Chude Jideonwo has been invited as a panelist at the Social Media Week Lagos in London “Africa: Open & Connected” which will take place at Ravensbourne located at 6 Penrose Way, Greenwich Peninsula on Friday, September 27 from 12pm to 8pm.

Mr Jideonwo will be joining the panel by 4:30pm at The Big Space, Level 4 to moderate on the topic “E!Africa… How social is driving entertainment in Africa” and will be setting the tone of the conversation, guiding the panel discussion and facilitate the Q+A segment.

Other panellists at the event are: Obi Asika of Storm 360 Entertainment, Lanre Davies of Factory 78, Ike Onuorah of Strictly Entertainment Music, DJ Abass of DJA Media and Digger Elias of Wyld Pitch Records / The Orchard and Ropo Akin of Coko Bar.

Following the overwhelming success of the inaugural SMW Lagos February 18 – 22, 2013, the SMW Lagos team has been invited to participate in Social Media Week London (SMWLDN). SMWLDN, part of the larger Social Media Week global conference, is now in its fifth year and attended by close to 10,000 people. Taking place in 18 cities around the world, Social Media Week explores the social, cultural and economic impact of social media.

Social Media Week Lagos (SMW Lagos) is co-produced by Dragon Africa and AFRIKA21 in partnership with world-class higher education institution Ravensbourne.

To RSVP for the event, click here.