How Microsoft unlocked potentials of social entrepreneur achieve dreams

 

Despite the fact that the world is now a global village as a result of technology, the truth of the matter is that there are still so many youths in developing countries with little access to computers, or even an understanding of how it works.

Sometimes, it may not be access challenge but the manner in which science and technology was introduced to them.
At nine years, Saviour Okusenogu had already familiarised himself with the computer, and one of his pastime was reading the Microsoft Encarta Encyclopaedia.

 

This development opened up a world of possibilities to him, helping him to develop an interest on how things work, and how to make things work in a way that will positively affect the lives of those around him.

Interestingly, this year, Okusenogu, now 17-years-old, saw his dream come true when he was announced one of the grand prize winners of the Microsoft YouthSpark. Okusenogu will be representing youth from Nigeria, along with other winners representing youth from Chile, Ecuador, Greece, India, Nepal, United States and Uruguay.

“When I initially heard of the news, I was amazed, very excited, and of course happy. It’s a rare privilege for my project to be chosen out of thousands. I feel like I’ve been handed the power to make change happen. I just feel so blessed,” he said.

The Microsoft Youth Spark Challenge for Change, which started three years ago, is a contest that tasks young people from around the world to submit an idea that addresses a social issue through technology in their communities. The platform “is a global initiative that increases access for all youth to learn computer science, empowering them to achieve more for themselves, their families and their communities”.

The idea which helped Okusenogu win the Microsoft YouthSpark prize was developed as an undergraduate, using Microsoft tools like Microsoft PowerPoint and Visual Studio.

In the university, he discovered that majority of his fellow students were not too concerned about developing solutions to the world’s problems. Although, they were immersed in their academic pursuits, it was more of an act based on orders, than a decision to impact lives through a positive action.

Nursing a passion to contribute change to the world, Okusenogu started to think of ways he could contribute and make a difference in his community through technology, and this was what inspired him to develop the BISET Initiative (Become Inspired in Science and Engineering Technology) which would encourage more young people in developing countries to become interested in science and engineering. With the prize, Okusenogu would be working with two engineering students from his institution.

Initially, when he shared his dream of helping others to learn science and engineering in a fun way, many felt in a developing country it seemed unlikely that a 17-year-old like him would be too concerned with preoccupying himself with such a huge task as “developing solutions to the world’s problems, but he persisted and continued to dream.”

With the dream now certain of becoming a reality with Microsoft’s YouthSpark, Okusenogu however is quick to say, that beyond finding an opportunity to achieve a dream, he is glad that many of his friends have started growing interest in technology and how to access it to solve world problems.

“I think of technology as an ingredient to make life easier and better no matter the walk of life. I believe if more Nigerian youths could embrace technology even more, there would be a great sprout in the social development of Nigeria,” Okusenogu said.

Winners of the YouthSpark Challenge gets to visit Nicaragua to learn about social entrepreneurship, and development issues. They also get a $2, 500 cash grant and a Microsoft technology bundle (Surface Pro3, Windows Phone, and Office 365) to help them develop their projects further.

 

Source: Vanguard-By Emeka Aginam