USA Africa Dialogue Series - THANK YOU, "TF & JF"--Re: The 2020 Toyin Falola and Joseph Friesen Scholarship

Oloruntoyin, 

With focus currently on the outrage that is the treatment of Julian Assange, arguably the world's most important-ever contributor to taking us finally forward out of the mire of "savage infancy", I was just now viewing a TED video of a discussion with Ed Snowdon from his place of exile in Russia--not sure of the date, but fairly recent, given various incidents mentioned. 

He talked of many things, but mostly about the immense power of the Internet, and the importance and significance of its role in building through its manifold opportunities for worldwide connection and engagement, INCLUSION of huge numbers of folk in the world we ALL want to see evolve; and as he points out, IS evolving as we speak and indeed are communicating with these very ideas at this moment. It IS HAPPENING and wherever we are, in Nigeria/ UK/ USA/ Uzbekistan/ Iran/ Iraq/ Eritrea/ Oman/ China/ iraq/ Afghanistan/ Koreas/ Venezuela/ Russia/ the countries of the EU, and the list goes on, and on. 

My point, and the relevance? 

What our particular Champion of Inclusion and World-Reach, Oloruntoyin Falola, is doing, actively, is bringing to the attention of 100s of 1000s, of recipients who will have access, either direct or through fwd extension, to this latest salvo of Uplift/ Support/ Encouragement/ Great Light. What he is doing is showing, in practical terms, yet another way of taking modern civil life and all the best values that go with it; what it is can be achieved in situations and conditions that are very challenging. It is yet again, a manifestation of the range, depth of his contribution--and also of the proxmimity of both the Emere, and the brilliance of his great ancestor, Agbo, whose special contribution, and secret of his success, was that he was always already ARRIVED at the point of arrival, when ordinary folk had not yet thought of the relevant point, nor indeed of sallying forward. 

Snowden and The Great Chief Agbo, have much in common. And Falola is right there, sharing and advancing--at pace. Always at pace. With accuracy and great intensity. 

Snowden was asked one other thing It was personal. ..."But what of fear. You must have fears. How do you deal with them?" 

Snowden smiled and gently laughed. "Well, you see, this isn't about me. ...Yes, in the dark hours, sleep does not always come easily, I feel the sweat. ...But my focus is on what it is I can do to help bring things forward that can put things on a useful road for all of us. It can be done. My special privilege and advantage is that through my training and knowledge I can give practical assistance. It is this upon which I focus." 

And when I read through this latest injection of Hope, and Great Promise, via this "Toyin Falola & Joseph Friesen" (TFJF) Scholarship, one of many of recent initiation, I am aware not only of the Presence of Great Agbo, but of the wondrous brilliant and liberating Light of Snowden, of Assange. None was/ is focused on self. It was/ and is the wider world and its folk, their needs and requirements where intensity of effort, engagement of unique and vital skills and qualities are invested. 

And while it is the incendiary Spirit of Agbo that may be said to provide my late and great friend, Okon Uya's "Rocket Fuel", it is Assange, Snowden and Oloruntoyin Falola, who contribute/ apply the skills available through cyber-modernity to effect the transformations required. 

Thank you, my Friend Oloruntoyin, and indeed Thomas Friesen, for making this new step forward possible--with always the awareness that its powerful and positive and liberating message reverberates in its waves amongst ALL folk of our cyber-planet. Just as for me, preparing to put down my iPad, arise from a warm bed, and face another bone-chill Sussex day, I am uplifted, and a small smile and ignited Bright Beam within illumines my day ahead; so too will this new injection of liberating contribution, bring similar warmth and Light to the hearts and minds of many, many across the instant reaches of this our cyber-planet--and perhaps beyond our cognizance, or mental reach, our conceit of sole universe presence/ of uniqueness, or indeed even the most fertile of imaginations?

Love,  Baba m

Sent from my iPad

Sent from my iPad

On 1 Mar 2020, at 00:22, Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu> wrote:

The Toyin Falola Center

hereby announces the

2020 Toyin Falola and Joseph Friesen Scholarship

(TFJF Scholarship)

Objective of the Scholarship

 

Dr. Toyin Falola (Jr) and Joseph Friesen hereby institute a scholarship scheme to benefit young people wishing to pursue university education in the fields of science or medicine at Nigeria universities. For the 2020 competition, only students in math and software engineering at First Technical University will be considered.

 

Recognizing that many brilliant, hardworking, and deserving Nigerian young people are unable to enter or remain in university specifically due to the lack of funds to complete their studies, this scholarship award aims to help two young Nigerians over a two-year period to achieve their dreams in order to make contributions to the development and progress of the Nigerian nation.

 

Award Amount

The award will be for $3,000 per candidate, divided up into annual installments over two years ($1,500 dollars per year). There will be two scholarship winners. The goal will be to cover tuition, books, and other school related expenses.

 

Administration of the Award

The process of advertisement, evaluation of applications, selection of candidates, verification of claims and documents, monitoring of progress, disbursement of award, and sundry other related tasks shall be undertaken by the Toyin Falola Center on behalf of Dr. Toyin Falola and Joseph Friesen, the grantors.

 

Criteria for selection

The scholarship will be awarded to students who demonstrate excellence in academic achievement, promising leadership qualities, and outstanding character. Academic achievement is recognized as outstanding achievement in all of WAEC/SSCE, UTME and first year examinations already undertaken by the candidate. Consistent high achievement is important for selection and retention on the scholarship. Other abilities must be evidenced by candidate's prior record and attested to by relevant individuals in her/his community. The candidate must also clearly show evidence of indigence and inability to pay fees without the aid of the scholarship.

Note that:

• Candidates must have completed the first year of studies and fulfill all criteria as set by the Toyin Falola Center.
• A candidate whose application is successful will have the distinction of being named a Toyin Falola and Joseph Friesen (TFJF) Scholar for the duration of the award.

Requirements/Conditions of the scholarship

 

If any of the following conditions are not met, subsequent installments of the scholarship will not be granted to the student:

 

The TFJF Scholar must maintain the academic distinction at the minimum grade level of Second Class Upper Division, and character qualities identified upon the award throughout her/his studentship;

 

The TFJF Scholar must remain at the institution/university approved for the scholarship; and

 

The TFJF Scholar must complete annual reports to be sent to the Toyin Falola Center about her/his progress including updated official transcripts and current GPA.

 

Candidates must ensure that their application documents are authentic and are a true reflection of the criteria of the award. Any fraud discovered in the Scholar's application documents or in her/his claims will lead to an immediate forfeiture of the scholarship (if already awarded), formal report to the university, a public disclaimer, and the repayment of any part of the award already disbursed to the individual as at the time of the discovery.

 

Application dates

Applications this year are accepted between May 1, 2020, and July 15, 2020. The selected candidates for this year will be announced by August 15, 2020.

 

Required application documents:

o   A completed application form

o   A letter of application (5300 character maximum), convincingly setting forth the need for the scholarship and demonstrating the candidate's goals in pursuing a university education

o   Certified true copy of WAEC/NECO result, at one sitting only

o   Certified true copy of Jamb result 

o   Certified true copy of university admission letter

o   First year transcripts/results, sent directly from the University to the Center

o   Two recommendation letters attesting to the candidate's academic achievement and promise, leadership potentials, and character

 

Shortlisted candidates may be required to submit additional documents or verification.

 

 

Submission of documents

Candidates must ensure that all documents are sent in a single email as one attachment to tfjfscholarship@gmail.com between May 1, 2020, and July 15, 2020. Documents arriving late for any reason at all will not be considered.

 

Documents may be scanned and emailed to tfjfscholarship@gmail.com.

 

 

 

 

Toyin Falola

Department of History

The University of Texas at Austin

104 Inner Campus Drive

Austin, TX 78712-0220, USA

http://toyinfalolanetwork.org/