Sports Goods and counterfeiting
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>View discussions about this entry Country: Nigeria
Organization: Search and Groom Youth for Development Centre
Sport: Other
Year the initative began (yyyy) 2001
Project URL: http://www.searchandgroom-ng.org
Positioning in the Mosaic of solutions
What is your signature innovation, your new idea, in one sentence? Search And Groom is focused towards helping in building a Nigerian society with respect for qualitative life and attendant accessories and originalit
Describe your innovation. What makes your idea unique and different than others doing work in the field? Nigeria being a developing economy but with the biggest potential in Africa and just out of decades of military rule and patronage system, with the attendant social problems associated with such, facilities are however in short supply; this has not in anyway dissuaded the populace in participating in sport. Without doubt, football is unofficially the third religion after Christianity and Islam. It is the Joy, hope, faith and soul of Nigeria.
It is pertinent to note that the goods and services imported from abroad are actual imitations of the original and seemingly substandard. Despite the love and thirst for the purchase of standard and original products by Nigerians, it has been an extremely difficult exercise reducing and or curbing of activities of a few disgruntled importers who simply make the attendant gains of patronizing a structured business environment to thrive. What are the existing barriers, the biggest problem, your innovation is hoping to address/change? Counterfeit sports products which benefits an extremely few clan whilst the consumers do not gain at all from the expected naturally created business-consumer chain.
Delivery Model: How do you implement your innovation and apply it to the challenge/problem you are addressing? Setting up forums for enlightment/interaction and an agenda with the enforcement agencies in Nigeria on copyright and counterfeit to bring down the high rate on infringement on patent and intellectual right/property.
There should not be much problem organizing this programme in view of an existing partnership between Search and Groom and Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission through it’s civil society interface; “Fix Nigeria Initiative”. Further strategies involving state/regional conferences, seminars, media roundtable and specially created programmes with football as the fulcrum with arts and other social communicative components serving as a support strategy for below-the –line activities to reach the nooks and crannies of Nigeria . How do you plan to grow your innovation? With the planned get-together programmes and interactive forums, educational events centered on the essence of understanding the basics of corporate governance and belief in seeking a legitimate quality content and control.
Making this a long term plan naturally will encourage foreign investors in actively participating in the economic development of Nigeria. This no doubt will be the attraction as for sure investments in the Nigerian economy will create job opportunities and further reduce the pressure on the unemployment market. The multiplier effect is economic prosperity. In order to achieve this Herculean task, massive grassroots campaigns and below-the-line measures and routes will be adopted. Provide one sentence describing your impact/intended impact. To provide a benchmark and a rewarding and mutually gainful socio-economic rapport between the private/corporate sector and the populace.
What impact has your innovation had to date/or what is your intended impact? Exactly who are the beneficiaries? We have been able to bring confidence and self esteem to our target groups which include, homeless, young and vulnerable Nigerians.
This we have done with our campaigns in the area of AIDS/HIV awareness, citizenship responsibility and community regeneration. Our slogan; partnership for opportunities has far gone into being a religion honoured with all due and deserved commitment.
Please list any other measures reflective of the impact of your innovation? Persuasive means through constant dialogue and enforcement of the outcomes of all resolutions of the meetings and seminars.
What are the main barriers to creating or achieving your impact? Convincing and lobbying policy makers to endorse a legislation that will discourage counterfeit products and movements around the country to sensitize the populace could be a major barrier.
How is your initiative financed (or how do you expect your initiative will be financed)? The project is financed in cash and kind with voluntary work and private funding from the governing council members. Partnering with major organizations within the civil society and within the ambience of expertise has been the hallmark of the organization
What is the potential demand for your innovation? A programme of this nature is long overdue in Nigeria in view of the large population (120 million) and the attendant benefit of allowing original products sales to thrive which further rolls back social investment from such producers. Starting and sustaining the war on counterfeit sports products is a sure bet on allowing the gains of corporate governance rule over the consumers and society at large.
What are the main barriers to financial sustainability? The main barriers are sustained financial support for this programme over the vast land and people of Nigeria who are expected to gain awareness on the various attached programmes to the theme.
Impressing all stakeholders especially the government and policy makers to partner this initiative could be a big barrier that is however surmountable with a sustained campaign. One other major barrier could be the loss of faith or non belief in the workability of Nigeria by multinational corporations a What is the origin of this innovation? Tell us your story. The Project was created out of the urge to give meaning and quality life to youths in Ajegunle, a socio-economically disadvantaged community where I grew up.
The need to build a strong last long and self sustainable communities and Citizenship responsibility and the environmental factors militating against the development of the Nigerian child, including AIDS/HIV, Civic duties and community responsibility. As a T.V producer and presenter, I have learnt over the years that anyone within this field of endeavour is considered an authority either in personal opinion or facts. Touring major Nigerian cities and a few African countries while producing a magazine African Football programme (FRONTROW) in Nigeria, I found out that the game is more than a passion. It is a religion, with a large discipleship drawn from the Christian, Muslim and Traditional faiths. During football games involving the national team, the Super Eagles, you will never notice the difference in personal beliefs and cultural background of Nigerians; it is a monumental driving and uniting force. One case in hand was when Enyimba football club of Aba, was aiming to win for the first time the African Champions League; the equivalent of the UEFA Champions League. Enyimba a team from the Igbo speaking eastern part of Nigeria was playing Ismaila of Egypt in the final, but as much as Nigerians (a country of over 50 languages) know this team is “our team” and we can not go for anything less than a win. Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers marketing material. I bagged a National Diploma (Business Administration and Management) at the prestigious Yaba College of Technology, (1994) Lagos.
I was a contributor to the Sports weekly tabloid, SPORTS SPECTACULAR in 1993-1994. I had stints as an intern (Personnel & Administration) at Niger Insurance Plc, Lagos and also appointed sports editor of the Company’s quarterly magazine (1991 & 1994). I worked as a Freelance Broadcast Journalist (Sports Presenter and Producer) with Radio Nigeria, now defunct Nigeri Contact Information:
Yomi Kuku
Executive Director Search and Groom Youth for Development Centre (Charity/NGO) yomi@searchandgroom-ng.org Search and Groom Youth For Development Centre 17 Omotayo Ojo Street, Off Allen Avenue Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
Discussions about this entry |
Kevin Carroll
Changemakers Featured Commentator
Sport for a Better World Competition
Yomi, the challenges you face with bad "characters" infiltrating the talent-rich sports community in Nigeria has been well documented but, I believe that programs like yours can be a "counterattack", just like in a football match, against the sports hustlers, gangsters and those who don't have the best interest of the youth in mind. Your program and efforts are providing a value that "they" can not replicate in any way - the Authenticity of One's Intention. Your goals for the young people in your community is a loud truth and no matter what obstacles you face, I believe your efforts and actions will have be successful.
The need for more funding and municipal support are common themes in this competition but, what I have noticed from reading many of the entries is that all of the people involved in this "movement" of using sport as a developmental tool are: clever, imaginative, resourceful and full of fight.
The young people you are reaching out to in the greater Lagos area will be learning life lessons thru the game of football and they will also be learnning how to live an honorable life with high character & moral standards from all of you involved in this program, Yomi. Keep doing your good work! (Note: I have been always enjoyed the Super Eagles style of play which is all about creativity, imagination and relentless effort to score goals - you & your program seem to have similar traits.)
Hi Yomi, you allude to this link between the counterfeiting business and gangsters very quickly in your entry, could you provide some more details on how fighting the counterfeits leads to helping to resolve the related problems?
Best,
Tyler Ahn
Changemakers
Fighting the counterfeits scourge and it's gang apparently puts in some justified income into sports and youth development in Nigeria. This is by virtue of the fact that money made by this gangs goes solely into their accounts and pockets of their cronies and patrons.
This huge money a lot of times is used in the sponsorship and support of candidates vying for top sports position which invariably is mean't to feather their own nest.
A conducive environment with a thriving corporate governance encourages local and foreign investment which in the short and long term support local development.
Fighting counterfeiting also helps the local sports clubs which have a large followership to grow rapidly with a higher wages for the athletes and participants.
In a nutshell, it helps economic growth and reward for excellence.
Hello Yomi,
Could you give more description as to how you are using sports in your work?
Also, I encourage you to check out the entry below that is addressing transparency and corruption in sports. http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/2240
You can contact Merchy at merchydf@movistar.net.ve or merchydf@gmail.com
Keep up the great work!
Dana Frasz
Changemakers
We use football (for now) as a basic form of attraction in addressing basic social issues militating against development in the suburban and poor communities where we work in Lagos (Ajegunle, Abesan/Ipaja, Agege, Ikeja).
We set out curricular activities every morning of match and event days. This include social and community work which is a very strong component of the synergy. At every point, a scoring system balances up the cummulative points and during football games, participants are suspended, ejected or refused (depending on the gravity/frequency of absenteeism) participation.
Naturally, kids and young Nigerians are addicted to football and this basically gives us the room to pass on the gospel which includes AIDS/HIV awareness campaign, anti-corruption, citizenship respsonsibility and civic duties etc.
The anti-corruption agency partnered with us after some persuasions and afterwards, the story has not been the same corcerning the relationship which is quite mutual.
Meantime, i have checked out the Venezuelan entry/project and i guess we share the same thoughts!
I am in touch with Merchy, right away!
Thanks Dana!