Activise is enabling young people to get politically and socially active in Nigeria, read on!
Tell us all about you and your organization!
I am Aisha Mohammed, a Nigerian currently studying Psychology and Human Biology at the University of Kansas. I started Activise on February 1st 2020. Activise is a non profit organization aimed to increase political and social consciousness of the members of generation Z in Nigeria. At Activise, we focus on creating a space for young people to learn about the political structures of our country and how they can take action to make a difference. We also provide information on how people can get involved in volunteer work for issues they are passionate about.
Why do you think it’s important for your generation to let their voices be heard?
At Activise, we believe that it is important for our generation to be heard because we are the next set of leaders. We need to set a precedent through our platforms to ensure that we grow together as a community and are on the same page when it is time to make laws, start NGOs, and govern the country.
Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future?
I think this is an interesting question because I go through this debate in my head, where I see all the positive work being done in our country and realize that it will be of benefit to our future but also see all the corruption and mismanagement that will also affect our future as well. So, to subvert I will say I am more realistic, in the sense that I see how negative and positive actions can and will affect our future but try to focus on the best I can do with others to be part of a more positive change.
What are the most important issues facing our world right now? And in the future?
There are currently so many important issues that we face right now from climate change to LGBTQ+ rights and I think they weirdly have some common denominators such as lack of compassion or lack of awareness from not only people in power but also the regular public. I believe that attacking these core denominators will make a significant difference in not only the issues we face but also how we address them.
What does your organization offer that helps the world be a better place?
Activise focuses on making the youth aware of these issues and it creates spaces for people to discuss on how they hope to take action, this is important because people need to understand how these issues manifest in the Nigerian scene and how other people their age see and feel about the issues, so that there are more clearer and nuanced perspectives on what we as individuals can do.
Will you be voting in the next election?
Yes, I will be voting in the next Nigerian elections which come up in 2023!
Please tell us all about your current campaigns, projects and endeavors.
Activise is still quite young, so we as a team are still working on larger projects that can be measured by impact. I am taking this time to learn more about the social issues that I am passionate about such as: women’s issues, animal cruelty, and mental health and how I can volunteer with organizations who advocate for policy change in these areas.
Tell everyone where to find you online and on social platforms.
For Activise:
Instagram: @activiseng
Twitter: @Activiseng
Website: https://www.activise.org
E-mail: activiseng@gmail.com
For me:
Instagram: @layomohammed
Twitter: @aishaomolayo
If there is anything else you would like to say, please do!
Every positive step you take for a societal issue matters! Also Activise is always looking for volunteers and you can reach out to us through e-mail and our website.