Name: MUBARAK MIKAIL

Reviewer: Benjamin Nabaana

How would you use your CMU education to create transformative digital and economic

opportunities for African youth? (Max. 500 words)

Currently, Africa is a gold mine of opportunities but it lacks the right set of individuals to

make palpable these opportunities for the development of the continent. However, the kind of

leaders who are at the helms of affairs are doing less to nothing in this regard. It is now

paramount on young Africans to seize these opportunities and make the best of these

opportunities Having grown up in a third world country whose forte is not science and

technology, I have consistently made efforts, with the aid of the internet to gain relevant

knowledge, staying abreast of the most recent advancements in technology in other parts of

the world with a view to understanding how these can be applied to create economic

opportunities in Africa. This, coupled with a Master’s degree at CMU will offer me certain

advanced insights into how things work outside Africa thereby providing methods to replicate

these measures in my country. After my program, I hope to develop and implement cutting-

edge solutions for the Nigerian telecommunications sector and Africa at large by reducing

network failures, cyber-attacks, internet downtime to a very minimal rate. I would also love

to introduce a better-updated curriculum for students of telecommunication and networks in

Africa which will improve the ancient curriculum set in the previous years. With my lean six

sigma and ITIL training, I hope to develop better lean processes for all participants in the

Nigerian telecommunications scene. By maximizing these processes, African youths will be

exposed to the massive digital and economic opportunities out there. I would partner with

Government and private entities to create more tech hubs and Hackathons around the
continent. Conclusively, I believe the African continent should only be improving

considering the number of resources and brilliant youth it is blessed with.

Score: 5 /5

Describe the activities that you have been involved in the past or present, that

demonstrate your passion to public or community service, volunteerism or mentorship.

(Max. 500 words)

Volunteering, community service and mentorship are activities every youth should be

involved in at some point in their lives. They are noble ideals that bring us to see the other

side of life from other people’s perspective. I have participated in several public service,

mentorship and volunteering activities from my University days up until now. At the

University, I was a co-coordinator of OAU Power and Energy club where we engaged in

implementing little power projects weekly to demonstrate power theories to our fellow

students, this was a free event and we also provided attendees with snacks and drinks at no

cost. I was also a regular donor at the annual Alpha club blood donation event until I

graduated from the University, this I am proud of. I was also involved in various campus

cleanup programs. I also had the opportunity of mentoring a few junior students both at

IEEE-OAU Student board and OAU Power and Energy club. After graduating from the

University, I joined the SEED initiative, an NGO which provides basic needs to kids of less

privileged societies in the slums of Lagos, these are people whom the government have done

almost nothing for. At SEED initiative, we also partner with other NGOs to provide basic

medical amenities to people who need them. I also have the opportunity of being a member

of NYSC charity CDS(Community Development Service) group. I am also proud to have

attended an event with the Nigeria child initiative(TNCI) group. TNCI provides information

on deadly illness a child is prone to and how to mitigate against them among other activities
like organizing charity events. In conclusion, I hope to continue volunteering at Rwanda next

year. I have had the opportunity of meeting some great like minds during some of my

volunteering activities.

Score: 5/5