The Northerner: Can we meet you?
Ruma: My name is Babangida Ruma. I am the Founder and president of Ruma Fund and i
am also a community organizer, an active Youth leader in Nigeria and I
contributed to informed youth policy dialogues in the African region. I was appointed as Commonwealth Peace
Ambassador in 2015 and also as Commonwealth Young Achiever. I was a candidate
for Vice chairperson for the Commonwealth Youth Council General Elections Malta
2015 and Member Commonwealth Youth Council Peace Ambassadors Network (CYPAN).
Also a member of the United Nation Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development’s
Working Group and Gender Equality. I’m also a Former International student ambassador
of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology Malaysia.
The Northerner: You are an ambassador for the Commonwealth;
can you tell us about it?
Ruma: Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) is the official
representative voice of more than 1.2 billion young people in the Commonwealth.
The CYC was first established in 2013 with the support of the Commonwealth
Secretariat’s and Commonwealth Youth Programme. Commonwealth Heads of
Government endorsed it at their biennial Summit in Sri Lanka as an “autonomous youth-led”
organization. Headed by a nine-member executives. The CYC acts as a coalition
of national youth councils and other youth-led civil society and private sector
bodies from across the 53 member countries of the Commonwealth. It aims to
further advance the youth development agenda by integrating young people into
the development work of the Commonwealth at national, regional, and
Pan-Commonwealth levels. It also provides a sustainable platform for unified
engagement with decision makers and youth-led development initiatives.
The Commonwealth Youth Council appointed me as Peace
Ambassador for Youth Campaign Against Election Violence(Y-CAEV) in Nigeria’s 2015 general elections where we
are assigned to kick-off events of the Y-CAEV In Nigeria and ensure wide spread
of the Y-CAEV peace message especially during the election processes through
any other possible medium and to organize zonal, state or local governments
events, rallies, functions, visits to schools etc. To raise awareness about
peace especially during election process.
The Northerner: You seems to be connected with youth initiative, why is that?
Ruma: Common Sense was what inspired me to start community events since I
was in secondary school, my hope is to see our young people engage or
participate in institutions or organization that will help them to move their
community or society forward. Wherever i go in the word i see the energy and
the optimisms of all the young people who live there. I’ve seen their desire
for prosperity through entrepreneurship, I’ve seen their interest in promoting
social harmony not by discriminating against anyone in the community but by
upholding the right of all people regardless of what they look like or what religion
they belong to. This is what inspired me to engage in Youth empowerment in
Nigeria. To me I define the Youth as
future Hope for every nation, no nation can move forward without youth. Youth
are the spring of life. It’s the age of discovery and dreams. They have the
power to transform the nation into a better place. They also have the ability
to lead their fellow citizens into the right direction. Youths are fighters
they fight for an identity in society, equality, bullying, and other problems,
which the world faces today. This is the reason why I engage in youth
empowerment to call our young people to know that they are important in
building a Nigeria for All.
The Northerner: You represented Nigeria in the World Assembly of Youth and
have been to several of such events, tell us how did this happen?
Ruma: Yes, I was a delegate during the Word Assembly of Youth and it
was indeed awesome moment for me because when ever I attended such events I meet
with fellow change makers. Although it was not the first time, I was invited
for International Conferences more than 20 times where I represented Nigeria.
And I have traveled far and wide even on my own expenses
to attend youth focused programs with the aim of equipping my self well for
leadership and betterment of the society. I’ve learned so many things while
attending such programs. The struggle is not about making money is all about
sacrifice in most cases I sponsored my self to travel for the programs but I
thank God, the experience I acquired is helping me a lot in my daily life
activities.
The Northerner: I’ve heard you are drumming about Ruma Fund our
readers will love to know what it is?
Ruma: Well, The Ruma Fund will focus on Youth Empowerment and engage
young people in sustainable development. Ruma Fund is now on the batch of officially
getting registered as a full civil society organization. Ruma Fund would serve
as a means of coming together to discuss the issues before us, plan ahead and
even proclaim our view points through the organs of the media, so the unity of
the youth under these circumstances that call for self-awareness is absolutely
necessary to combat the problems affecting us. Ruma Fund under my leadership is to give young adult increased
responsibilities in their own lives and future. However, this should not be
expected on a platter of gold. It must be fought for in a civilized and
responsible manner to prove that the youth are capable of making meaningful
contributions to the socio - economic progress and development of Nigeria and
entire Africa. Therefore Ruma Fund will focus on discussing
issues that ranges from youth empowerment, poverty alleviation, medium debate,
information sharing and networking for all youth across Nigeria and beyond. It’s
an organization of like mind that are passionate and try to shape a future that
seems bleak. The challenges that face
the Youth today are unprecedented and effort to tackles these challenges are
non - existent or at best ineffective. Thus
—Ruma Fund will strive to empower the youth through enlightenment to see a
society whose youth (and inevitably the current and future leaders) acquire
skills, knowledge and mental capability to be productive, proactive and well
prepared leaders and citizens in Nigeria and the world at large.
The Northerner: There are so many youths out there doing great things
in the little way they can, how can you motivate them?
Ruma: I will say thank you so much for their efforts and I
advice them to keep pushing the common sense messages, we
have aspiring doctors, entrepreneurs, scientists, and who knows? Maybe the next
president, so this is the right time for them for join the struggle so that when
their destiny comes they’ll know how to make difference in their communities
and our country.
The Northerner: What are your expectations for the future?
Ruma: Future is the
time or a period of time following the moment of speaking or writing time
regarded as still to come. Planning
for the future is an important step to ensure your future happiness and
success. It is about taking responsibility for yourself and your actions. Well,
I’ve so many expectations, I want see that our young people
have their own idea and start their own businesses without paying bribe, participate
in the political process without fear of retribution, and have their votes will
be counted at least most of the time.
The Northerner: Lastly, What do you have to say to the youth of this
country?
You can read more on his website at www.babangidaruma.com
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Wow, keep up the good work Mr Ambassador.
You always making us proud...God Almighty Allah shall continue to wide your wisdom and then put you in a right direction so as to be our generation president of Nigeria.