When I was selected as an Ashoka Fellow and informed of my monthly stipend, the first thought that ran through my mind was: thankfully, I won't have to resist the lure of corruption in order to give myself and my family a decent life. This may be taken lightly by anyone who doesn't live and work in Nigeria, but anyone who does will tell you that my experiences of walking away from controversial (and some outrightly corrupt) support for our work at Paradigm Initiative Nigeria takes being sure of a consistent source for your daily needs and wants.
But this is the least the Ashoka fellowship has blessed me with! It has given me the opportunity to ask myself if I was really serious about committing my entire lifetime to the pursuit of the not-so-sexy area of the ICT. Also, the Ashoka interview process renewed my passion for - and commitment to - using ICTs for development.
What can one say about the network and respect that Ashoka brings to the table? A quick introduction as an Ashoka Fellow in the community tells the story of your passion, tested model, (dare I say it), integrity and potential to scale. The network of immensely talented Fellows continues to both inspire and keep you on your toes.
I won't be here today but for the many shoulders I've the chance to stand on, and Ashoka in particular. As the institution turns 30, I say congratulations and thank you! Congratulations for being able to do so much in a world that had little respect for anything not quite capitalist, and thank you for helping this young man deliver his promise to the world - beginning with Nigeria!
Like this story? Send your birthday message to happy30thbirthday at ashoka dot org.
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