Nigeria: British Council Partners Bank PHB for IYCE
June 10, 2008 by Bunmi Awolusi
L–R: Peter Upton – Country Director British Council, Sam Harvey – Director programmes, British Council, Emma Abugu Executive Director, Bank PHB, Charles Odibo, Group Head, Corporate Communications Bank PHB
Finalists from Bank PHB sponsored IYCE Awards (2007) L-R: Seyi Taylor(Design), Audu Maikori (Global Award – Music), Mak Kusare (Screen)
The British Council Nigeria held a press launch on June 3rd, 2008 at 2pm to announce its partnership with Bank PHB for its International Young Creative Entrepreneurs (IYCE) project for 2008.
The IYCE project, now in its 5th year, is an initiative of the British Council, designed to recognise young, talented creative entrepreneurs and help boost the creative industries of emerging economies.
The project reinforces the British Council’s existing activities in the area of continuous professional development and creating and enhancing learning opportunities.
The partnership marks the second year of collaboration with Bank PHB on the IYCE project and ties in neatly with the youth-centric focus of the bank and its passion to inspire the entrepreneurial skills of Nigerian youths.
Each year the IYCE recognises outstanding young individuals, under 35 years-old, showing leadership initiatives and proposing innovative entrepreneurial solutions in the fields of design, music and film.
In 2007, Audu Maikori, Seyi Taylor and Mak Kusare represented Nigeria in the music, design and screen sectors respectively. Maikori, who was the finalist in the music category, emerged the global winner of the award, which was held on 30 June 2007. He runs Chocolate City, a record label and artist management company based in Nigeria.
The partnership in 2008 also covers a legacy project for sustainability and long-term impact. The finalists provide a valuable resource for mentoring and developmental work in their various sectors of the creative industry in Nigeria. And to that effect, all three finalists will embark on a collaborative project that will put to use their various skills. They will work jointly on the production of a full length film, with Kusare producing, Taylor art directing and Maikori creating the sound track.
Finalists are selected through a national competition, by a jury of leading figures in their industry. All international finalists visit the UK on a two-week tour during which the British Council organises group and individual meetings to introduce them to fellow entrepreneurs and to exemplary creative initiatives. This also provides invaluable international networking opportunities for the finalists.
In previous years awards have been given out in the fields of publishing, design, music, fashion, film and television. It is planned that there will be at least nine sectors eligible for the awards by 2009, with the inclusion of the performing arts, communications, interactive and visual arts.
Speaking at the event, Francis Atuche, Managing Director Bank PHB emphasized that the bank’s involvement with the IYCE is line with integrating its business operations to meet the expectations of stakeholders. “We recognize that our social, economic and environmental responsibility to the society is integral to our business, and aim to demonstrate these responsibilities through our actions and within our corporate responsibilities.”
“It is in this light, that Bank PHB alliance with the British Council with regard to the IYCE is well aligned to Bank PHB’s “inspired brilliance” outlook, which aims to, not just inspire, but also celebrate brilliance by supporting initiatives and programmes that extend the frontiers of education, leadership and innovation.”
Also commenting, Sam Harvey, the Director of Programmes, British Council Nigeria, said the Council is committed to celebrating and supporting young, creative entrepreneurs in Nigeria. “We have been doing this through IYCE and are delighted to be in partnership with Bank PHB. This is just one element of our commitment to developing the creative industry in Nigeria.”
The British Council is the United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. It operates in 220 towns and cities in 109 countries and territories worldwide. In Nigeria, its offices are located in Abuja, Kano, Lagos, and Port Harcourt. It builds enduring relationships and mutual understanding between people in the United Kingdom and Nigeria, and increase appreciation of the UK’s ideas and achievements overseas.
The areas BC focus on are creativity, education and civil society. It develops and implements programmes and services that create and enhance learning opportunities and build access and understanding between Africa, the UK, and the global community. The broad sectors in which it operates are Arts, Development Services, Governance, Knowledge and Information Services, Science and Sport. BC is a non-political organisation which operates at arm’s length from government.
