The problems

1. The average graduate leaves school and aspires to get a job. The job he eventually gets, whether it pays him or not gets him ensnared in a series of routines. Routines in which he can see no relevance of his input to the welfare of humanity. All his previous clamour and ultimate desire to touch lives become confined into an activity that has salary as the only measurable output. The only thing that contributes to the purpose of God on earth, he has been able to assure himself in his tithe and offering. When he changes jobs, the criteria are very clear, the major differences in both companies are remuneration. For many, there is no point of contact between career and purpose. The choicest years of his life are in high demand by those who will design purpose for it. Over the years, his poise weakens, his zeal fails, he looks at things for which at a particular time he would willingly have died, and says to himself I have done all that before

2. The average African society and the world at large are littered with young ones who lack self-discovery let alone self-development. We are surrounded by gross moral decadence and decades of polluted value systems. The priorities of our societies coupled with their definitions of success are clear emblems of our need to help. The average aspiring youth does not find around him balanced role models, the unaspiring is not even enlightened enough to know what to aspire. We are surrounded with youths for whom we cannot fathom a future let alone bright. Those who have quit and stopped because they were assessed based on a trial to develop what was not discovered also surround us.

3. Despite all our proclamations about the multiple power of two, despite our clamour for synergy and that together each achieves more – team. All such attempts at it, end within the four wall of university. Over and over again we’ve been told, that our best years for friendship are in school and not latter. Surely there is power in synergism of efforts, and much of that power lies in waste because it is untapped. If we agree that a unit of influence is lost in an undiscovered person, then 10 units are lost in an ununited two. The energy waste around us is simply unfathomable.

THE SOLUTION

These problems, I have started my day with a consciousness of them in mind for days. So much has my heart pondered on these that I’m beginning to feel uncomfortable with the idea of taking up a good paying job that does not afford me the opportunity of helping to be a solution to these problems. I have prayed, thought and panned and finally I have a solution. A solution that is worth using ones entire life to pursue. A peep reveals, that a solution to these problems lies in training, synergism of efforts, entrepreneurship, solid biblical concepts, resourcing and all too much for any existing society to produce. Welcome with me however to module that answers it all, welcome ARMs – African Role Models.

ARMs The Goals * Training/Empowerment Recruit youngsters to solve the problems of society, to be responsible skilled and effective. From crafts to certs. Hence recreate the next generation of Africans. [Talent hunt, discovery and development. * Encourage Entrepreneurship, Show pattern and give support to young trusted people with good ideas * Kingdom Establishment, Exchange societal and individual values for God’s values. Live by example, giving a good reason to live better. * Drive its members from peak to peak via challenges, sharing experiences, synergysing, training

Outlet, Mediums, Channels * Publication and Manuals * Training * Seminars and Outreaches to schools * Dining and Resourcing

Coverage * Nigeria * Africa * Blacks * The World

The Structure

While considering the structure, attempt was made to make the structure as flexible as possible. It was priority also that God’s standard be the guiding principles of the system. The only reliable constitution is the Bible. All members are Christians. The only rule is the golden rule – treat others, as you would want to be treated. The concept is business, the approach business but the desired result ministry. Levels Of Membership Administrators These are directly involved with the central core of the oranisation. These are responsible for collation of info, publications and manuals, training, organization, management e.t.c. They are the ones that work with and for ARMs. Their work is to the core organization. Partners These are either entrepreneurs in their own capacities or people whose gifting do not go directly in line with the core purpose of the organization. They are very effective financial partners and they participate in seminars, outreaches, features in publications e.t.c. They are members also driven by a strong and different focus. The system encourages administrators to eventually become partners. As the structure grows partners are meant to develop from administrators Pillars These are the fathers. Those that believe in us. They consist of MDs of great companies and overseers of churches and big organizations. They supply the organization with funds annually, and are people one can run to from time to time. These constitute the board of trustees and are entitled to progress reports quarterly.

* The approach From any perspective, they are two major ways of embarking on an enormous project. One is to attack the work immediately and the other is attacking and equipping the work force that will embark on the project. The latter is very much like the Jesus’ approach, and the former the present day evangelism approach. The ARMs approach is like the latter approach. Though the plan and output are extremely enormous, enough time and resources will go into the phase of equipping, envisioning and motivating the work force. The desired output of excellence places a demand on the work force. Based on the proposed approach, 4 stages are also proposed to be operational in the process of development of ARMs. Their proposed duration are meant to be flexible to serve more like ultimatums for the desired results. The cost implication, staff, strength and probable remuneration are also placed in parallel to give an idea to the extent and scope of each stage. * Brief Phase I – Underground personal research Phase II – Network building and structuring, envisioning, motivating e.t.c. of primary work force, building of foundational structures. Phase III – low level outreach amidst other things (Nigeria as field), strengthening the Network, Communication, Resourcing. Phase IV – Africa, Black, World, Pronounced Outreach.

1999…Obafemi Awolowo University.

It is very interesting, that 7yrs ago, these things were on my heart. I also recently stumbled on the summary of a meeting we had 2yrs after this, still in line with the same vision. Today, ARMs exists in 9 tertiary institutions, with people eager to move things forward. A skeletal site exists at www.arms-ng.org . This is how visions are birthed, sometimes they are set for a particular time. But do yourself the honour of writing it down, for when it is supposed to happen there will not be the time to linger. Hold on to your dreams, it might not happen tomorrow, but don’t give up. Hold on tight, time may tick, but keep mission unchanged!!!
Minutes of ARMs Meeting 2001

Before you read on, be aware, that your name is on this list because we believe that tomorrow, you will be a person that the world, beginning from Africa, can look up to as a role model. If you agree with the vision, stay hooked. All was written painstakingly, please read as such.

Hi All,

How are you all doing? Merry Xmas in advance, we should see before the New Year, so I’ll say that when we see.

I will want to give us all a brief overview of the last meeting we had. Tope Oke of SITA will send in a more comprehensive minute very soon. I would also want to give detailed perspectives and expectations for the next meeting.

The Previous Meeting

There were 11 People in Attendance.

The meeting lasted from 3pm – 6pm, we couldn’t start by 2, Quorum was not formed.

The agenda was adhered to, 80%

We were able to discuss and successfully realign ourselves to the overall Objectives

: -To redefine societal values, create and showcase ideal role models for the youth (11-21)

We were able to initiate a process for fine-tuning our mission statement. Adeolu Ashaye of VIP consulting is presently collating inputs from different members; a deadline of 21^st December 2001 was also given to submit our Profiles to deoluashaye@yahoo.com (All that were absent should please comply)

Deji Okanlawon (A seasoned BT systems engineer, with CCNP in view) was again saddled with the responsibilities of designing a Website for the Organization. He was also give a shared responsibility of getting us Access to some Lagos Schools. This responsibility was shared with Feyipitan Kolade, and ingenious hat designer/maker and Dinner/Party Manageress. Feyi assumed the responsibility of getting us access to 5 Baptist Missionary schools.

Funmi Sosanya of Consular Travels and Blessing Olubunmi (production manager) of a construction company were saddled with the responsibilities of designing the questionnaires to be used for feedback at the target schools.

Ogemdi Ike of Andersen was asked to merge with Laanu Ogungbesan (Million cadre Businessman) who was unavoidably absent, in the responsibility of logistics of registration of an NGO.

Issues of our 1-year goals were deliberated inconclusively, but a rough target of 16 schools by the end of Dec 2002 seemed feasible.

Gbenga Sesan of JAN (ITU fellow, Certified HTML expert) volunteered to help with avenues within JAN to achieve our objectives. He also volunteered to assist with the Questionnaires.

Adeolu Ashaye braced up to compile the Mission Statement and together with Adeolu Akinyemi of P&G (Recruiting and Training Manager), design the proposal and work on the materials for the bulletin.

We also fixed an event for Mid February in one of the secondary schools; we then went on to discuss how much it would cost us to have a moderate event. We highlighted the need for handbills, and some basic materials, we came down to an estimate of 25,000 for the event cost implications of our next meeting. Contributions were made, with an average contribution of about 3,000 from each person. Contributions are still welcome, as subsequent events might not require much preplanning. We also agreed on a date and probable venue for the next meeting. We agreed for Dec 30 1pm, Gbagada Phase 2 ICSL,

Wolex Polytechnic Building, just before Mobil Petrol Station (Mobil B/S) opp General oil. And of course we Ate.

The following were in Attendance for the meeting

1. Kunle Ogunbayo
2. Akin-Tepede Dipo
3. Temitope Ogunsusi
4. Feyipitan Kolade
5. Gbenga Sesan
6. Okanlawon Ayodeji
7. Ogemdi Ike
8. Adeolu Ashaye
9. Tope Oke
10. Adeolu Akinyemi
11. Funmi Sosanya

The NEXT Meeting

Purpose: To create a sense of urgency and to collect and collate final inputs for the Bulletin and Proposal for our first Identified Project.

Objectives:

1. Reappraise our levels of commitment and further define the goals.
2. Share Resources and tangible stuff for Bulletin
3. Agree on content of Bulletin and empower someone to be owner.
4. Re-energize the entire team to reactivate individual visions.
5. Collate feedback from Assignments Given.

Order of Meeting

Meeting will start by 2:00pm prompt, those of us who have one-hour biases should think of this as 1:00pm. Every excuse for lateness is just another excuse

Opening Prayer

Introduction + Profile+ Intentions

Session I

Objectives 1&2

Break- Light refreshment

Session II

Objectives 3&5

Break- Item 7

Session III

Objective 4

AOB

Closing Prayer

Prework for meeting.

Any un-notified failure to come for this meeting will be regarded as inconsistency and subtle withdrawal of interest. If you must be unavoidably absent please notify , by replying all. Also ensure that your excuse is not just another excuse.

In coming for this meeting, lets come with the following.

A printed copy of the initial ARMS document

A copy of personal Life Mission statement, stating who you want to be and what you want to do. Also outlining your various roles, husband, son, friend, engineer, and e.t.c.

Photocopies of materials you deem fit to be on our bulletin should also be brought, everyone should ensure he/she comes with something we can work on, and thorough

Perspectives. Everybody intending to come or not to come should notify me by mail. Item 7 will prepared targeting the number of such notifications.

To define values, we must first have values, to give examples, examples we must be.

You are blessed (Empowered to succeed)

Regards,

Adeolu Akinyemi