Your bio:
Afolayan Oluwole Gabriel is Senior Scientific Officer at the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria; with over 12 years’ progressive work in resource mobilization, program design and execution.
Afolayan received Merit Awards for initiating and successfully executed Seven Community development projects within a year, as a member of National Youth Services Corps from the three tiers (Local, State and Federal) of Government in 2009, 2010 and 2012 respectively.
Afolayan is the Secretary, Research Committee, of the Nigerian Neglected Tropical Diseases Steering Committee. He received award in 2014 for outstanding contribution towards the Eradication of Guinea worm disease in Nigeria.
Afolayan is a Co-founder of Christian Medical Scientists and Basic Health Foundation (Cmesbahf), he leads young medical scientists towards actualization of Eden Biomedical Park Project. Afolayan is a Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Young Adult and Youth Affair, RCCG, Abuja and a Steel Circle Member of University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
Project name:
The 5 Million Gate Keepers Community
One-line project summary:
My project is aimed at promoting patriotism and citizenship among Nigerians through creation of the virtual 5 Million Gate Keepers Community
Present your project.
Over the years leadership in Nigeria has been characterized with embezzlement of public fund. Politician, public and civil servant are deep in corruption. leading to poor performance of government policies and programmes.
Some regions in the country felt shot changed leading to militancy activities in Niger Delta Region, south East Region are promoting disintegration and clamouring for Biafra Nation and Boko Haram insurgency in North East region has claimed the lives of 37,000 people with more than 2.5 Million internally displaced.
This unpatriotic attitude has marred the wheel of progress in Nigeria.
I am creating a Virtual 5 Million Gate Keepers Community (5MGKC) aimed at citizenship engagement by utilizing the symbols we all revere (the National Anthem and Pledge) to drive attitudinal change
With 5MGKC Project Millions of community members will have the platform to align forces to tackle issues in our society and contribute to national development
What specific problem are you solving?
Over the years leadership in Nigeria has been characterized with embezzlement of public fund. Politician, public and civil servant are deep in corruption. leading to poor performance of government policies and programmes
Some regions felt shot changed and militancy activities erupt in Niger Delta Region. leading to blowing up of oil pipe line and it impact on socio economic development of an average Nigerian.
The south East region are promoting disintegration and clamoring for Biafra Nation
There is unrest in the north East Region, attributing the woes of Nigeria to western Education, hence leading to Boko Haram insurgency that has claimed the lives of 37,000 people and 2.5 million internally displaced.
The unpatriotic attitude has marred the wheel of progress in Nigeria.
Hence the need for citizen engagement by utilizing the symbols we revere (the national anthem and pledge) which encapsulate unchanging ideals which if understood by every Nigerian, will alter the way we collectively view and treat our nation.
The 5MGKC project create a platform that promote attitudinal changes to the call to serve Nigeria as enshrined in the National Anthem.
What is your project?
My project is aimed at promoting citizenship and patriotism among Nigerians through the creation of virtual 5 Million Gate Keepers Community Campaign. The project brings together in one place 5 categories of people who share the value of the message in our National Anthem. This includes:
Members who Identify problems in different parts of Nigeria and present it to the virtual community in order to bring awareness of these problems to community members
Members who have expertise and past experiences in solving such problems can offer advice and provide solutions through various initiatives.
Members who have the financial capability can undertake the funding of the project as part of their corporate social responsibility and philanthropic projects
Members who bring awareness of various priorities area at different levels of government, on which 5MKGC members are to focused their initiatives and projects
Members who can spread the story of the projects, will go on to create and disseminate compelling stories for public awareness
With 5MGKC Project Millions of Vision-bearers and Agent of Change in Nigeria will have the platform to align forces with other community member to tackle issues in our society and contribute to national development.
Who does your project serve, and in what ways is the project impacting their lives?
With the aim of impacting 120 million Nigerians, who make up 60% of rural dwellers; the 5MGK community empowers its members in the following ways:
Through 5MGKC, vision-bearers and Agents of Change in Nigeria will have the opportunity to present their community development initiatives and projects on the platform and get funding support and mentorship in their quest to solve real community problems, hence contributing to societal transformation.
5MGKC also provides platform for members with expertise to offer advice and tips on possible solutions to the problem reported by community members.
5MGKC provides a platform for Individuals, corporate organizations and philanthropists to identify with, support and fund high impact projects initiated by 5MGKC members, that aligns with their organizational/individual values, as part of their corporate social responsibilities.
5MGKC also creates awareness and engagement of citizens in the implementation of development plans proposed by government at various levels including The United Nation; Sustainable Development Goals, Africa 2063 goals, Regional Goals (ECOWAS), The Nigeria Government Economic Recovery and Sustainability Plan and Various State development plans.
Which dimension of The Elevate Prize does your project most closely address?
Elevating issues and their projects by building awareness and driving action to solve the most difficult problems of our world
Explain how your project relates to The Elevate Prize and your selected dimension.
Through the virtual 5MGKC, the project brings together in one place 5 categories of people. These include people who:
- identify a problem and bring its awareness to the community
- solve the problem by initiating a project or programme,
- those who fund the project as part of corporate social responsibility,
- who create awareness of government development plans at various level for alignment
- those who tell the stories of impact.
Hence, the 5MGKC project relates to the elevate prize through elevating issues and their solution by awareness and driving action to solve the most difficult problems of the world.
How did you come up with your project?
In March 2020, l enrolled in Change Agent Academy by Apostle in Market Place Network, where for the first time in a class of about twelve students, l took a lecture on Citizenship and Patriotism by Ike Nwandiashi. Reflecting on the message in his book titled ‘’Arise Nigeria’’, I made up my mind to take the message of citizenship and patriotism to the 200 million Nigerians. Persuading them with the message of the National Anthem to arise and contribute in solving the challenges of national development facing Nigeria.
On July 4th 2020, I did a webinar for vision- bearers on resource mobilization tools and how to fund their initiatives. While preparing for the webinar, l did a study asking over 200 Presidents Honours Award Winners (a feat achieved by young patriots who had initiated and executed community development projects since 1979 to 2015) the sources of their funding, more than 80% of these Heroes got their funding from individuals within the community where they served.
It became clear that there are huge untapped resources locked within our communities and if harnessed can contribute to national development. This observation informed the creation of Virtual Community of Patriots known as 5MGKC
Why are you passionate about your project?
In 2009, l discovered purpose for living which is engraved in Isaiah 58 vs12 which reads “The people that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places, thou shall raise up foundation of many generations and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach the restorer of path to dwell in.
Since then, l have lived a conscious life, identifying gaps anywhere l am and making conscious effort to be part of solution confronting my environment.
I am passionate about this project like so many others l have done in the past because it gives me sense of life fulfillment and align with my purpose for living.
Why are you well-positioned to deliver this project?
I have over 12 years of experience in programme design and execution through a career in Government, Non-Profit and Development Organization.
As a recipient of 2012 Presidents Honours Award, l am known to have championed community developments project in the past and hold a position of influence on over 100 million Nigeria Youth whose creativity and energy can be harnessed for national development.
As a member of National NYSC Award Winners Association, l belongs to a network of national heroes whose members are drawn from all states of Nigeria. Working in partnership with every member of this association will help the project gain more regional buy-in for the common good of Nigeria
As a Federal Government Official, l have travelled to and worked in 33 out of 36 states in Nigeria and have grown a rich network of people and Co-workers across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
As a government worker, I have demonstrated competence and character and received a Recognition Award in 2014 for outstanding contribution towards Eradication of Guinea Worm Diseases in Nigeria.
As a Director of Cooperate Social Responsibility, Young Adults and Youth Affairs, RCCG, Region 10 Abuja the largest Christian organization in Nigeria, l have access to reach more than 2 million audiences.
As a Co-founder of Christian Medical Scientists and Basic Health Foundation (Cmesbahf), l have raised a community of people over the past fourteen years by providing leadership through training and mentorship through our growth centers established in nine Universities
Provide an example of your ability to overcome adversity.
In 2015, l proposed to marry a lady from the South Eastern part of Nigeria, an Igbo by tribe. Being a man from the Central Northern part of Nigeria, the bride’s father rejected my proposal and vowed never to allow her daughter marry a man from my Tribe.
In overcoming this challenge, l decided l will do the right thing at all cost to get her father’s consent before marrying her and I consulted with his kinsmen to persuade him on my behalf.
l consistently engaged and persuaded him for 5 years, assuring him of how l am different. and how important it is for him to judge me by the quality of my character and not through tribal lens.
The father finally gave his consent on the 26th of January 2020; and allowed the marriage to hold.
Due to how rare it is to see marriage between these two tribes in Nigeria, my marriage ceremony video clip was published on Facebook community by Escotts Communications on April 18th 2020 received commendations from more than 10 African countries, with over 2 million views.
Describe a past experience that demonstrates your leadership ability.
In 2009, l was posted to a new community with different socio-cultural norms from my place of birth as a member of National Youth Service Corp, for a one-year mandatory national youth service in South Eastern part of Nigeria. Being new in the community, l attended the monthly community meetings where issues regarding the community welfare were discussed.
After 4 months of observation, l initiated seven community development projects and mobilized the community as a major stakeholder in its implementation. The success story of my one year stay in that community attracted recommendations and Honourary Award from 3 tiers (Local, State and National) of the government in 2009, 2010 and 2012 respectively. Since 2012, l have mentored more than 30 Ex- Corp Members who have achieved the same feat as mine by championing community development services during their mandatory one-year national service. The recent of whom is my younger sister who mobilized resourcesto provide access to clean water to more than 50,000 school age children across 1,365 Primary Schools in Niger State. She was decorated with Merit Award by Niger State Government in June 2020
How long have you been working on your project?
2 Months
Where are you headquartered?
Abuja, Nigeria
What type of organization is your project?
Nonprofit
