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Kuukua Eshun breaks new ground …seals $1 billion partnership deal with Rise Foundation
● Kuukua Eshun
In July last year, our profiling lenses fell on Ghanaian Filmmaker, Kuukua Eshun, whose works had gained international recognition. She had released “Artist, Act of Love”, in 2019, and won an award at the Worldwide Women’s Film Festival for ‘Best Visual Effect’.
She was selected by the European Union for the 2020 European Film Festival and in 2022, she had her film, ‘Born of the Earth’ premiered at Norwest Gallery in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
All of these recognitions notwithstanding, the young filmmaker continues to break new grounds as she aspires to rope in more youth to the creative industry.
In a recent interaction with The Spectator, the multiple award winning film director delved into details of her new partnership deal with Rise Foundation, as she becomes the first Ghanaian to seal the partnership which seeks to support brilliant but needy young people.
Kuukua, expressing excitement about the latest recognition disclosed all there is to know about the programme, and encouraged young people to sign up to the initiative as soon as possible.
“Rise, is looking for 15-17 year-olds who are working to solve difficult problems in society. It does not matter what country you live in, background or your academic experience,” she explained.
About Rise
Rise is a programme that funds brilliant people who need opportunity and support them for life as they work to serve others. It operates as an initiative of Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust.
In 2019, Eric and Wendy Schmidt, co-founders of the organisation made a $1 billion philanthropic commitment to identify and support global talent.
The programme offers scholarships, mentorship, funding for winners as they work towards solving humanity’s most pressing problems.
According to the Foundation, “the world’s most important problems will be solved by the next generation of leaders. Yet, too often the most brilliant people never realise their full potential for global impact,” hence the move to identify talented people, connect them to one another, and provide them with the opportunities they need to solve hard problems in society.
The opportunity is for young people interested in science, innovation, technology, art, policy, community organising, or any other interest.
“Everyone who applies to Rise, from anywhere in the world, gains access to free online courses, a network of peers, and a specially curated offering of opportunities from Rise’s partners around the world.
“The specific benefits will vary from year to year as new opportunities become available. Rise finalists will receive access to resources for career development, and will have the opportunity over time to compete for additional support offered by Schmidt Futures and its partner,” it indicated.
In 2021, 500 Rise finalists selected courses on leadership, youth advocacy, entrepreneurship, networking, critical thinking, among others.
Target
Considered one of the largest award programmes for individuals in the world, the Foundation hunts for “hidden brilliance, in whatever form it takes, wherever it is in the world.”
“From high school classrooms, to refugee camps, to science fairs, we believe that brilliance is equally distributed, but opportunity is not. We’re on a mission to change the odds for the world’s most brilliant people from a young age and throughout their lives,” Kukua explained referring to documents from the foundation.
The benefactors added that young people were “full of creative ideas and more willing to work collaboratively hence the age limit of 15-17.
“We need a new generation of leaders that can deal with the growing complexity of the world—and that can use the power of new tools and technologies to solve our greatest challenges.”
“We believe Rise can find exceptional people at this critical moment in their lives and empower them to build a better world. But we don’t just give them support once—we offer it over time, throughout their careers,” it says.
Selection
The application process is in three stages: Applicants introduce themselves through videos, create an individual project that demonstrates their talents and how it benefits their communities.
The programme selects 500 Finalists to advance to the final stage where they demonstrate their motivations, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork skills in an innovative interview format. From the 500 finalists, 100 Global Winners are selected to receive a lifetime of benefits as they work to serve others.
Rise Global Winners hail from around the world and demonstrate brilliance in a range of disciplines. Some may excel in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) fields. Some may show outstanding artistic ability while others may have a gift for community service and other interests.
Applications are open until January 25, 2022 at www.risefortheworld.org.
Benefits
Winners receive access to benefits such as invitation to attend fully-funded, three-week residential summit with other members of the Rise Global Winner cohort.
It again comes with mentorship and career services where mentors are paired with each Global Winner to provide personal, academic, or professional guidance, and specialised career services for internships and jobs.
Beneficiaries also get a four-year, post-secondary scholarship at any accredited university, including tuition and a living stipend, based on their need.
By Ernest Nutsugah
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
