The Wole Soyinka Online Project

1.0 Executive Summary

Oluwole Akinwande Soyinka was not the only student in his class – he had colleagues, and some might have been more visible than he was at that time. But in 2003 (a year ahead), the world began to sing the song of his 70th birthday.

Wole Soyinka (as he has come to be known) is a global phenomenon. He’s the subject of many success stories, controversies, studies and more. He will keep being a reference point, and may just go down in history as one of Africa’s all-time best. His 1986 award counts as one of the landmarks in his very interesting and busy life but there are many more. Wole Soyinka is more than a Nobel Laureate, he is an icon and a proof that great people – in ideas, achievements and tenacity of purpose – can come out of Nigeria.

The “WS Online” project seeks to archive as many resources as we can "tap" from this one man's life. If you noticed, most of his 70th birthday celebration days were filled with meeting with young people and we know he has a heart for the next generation. Truth is that while he can visit or speak with thousands, have millions read his book; and while millions more may look up to him, billions of people can access the proposed website and learn from the man we call WS!

2.0 Statement of the Need

An average (not in the mathematical sense) young Nigerian does not hold too much premium on his motherland. We can do a lot more with clear examples of people who live their lives not only for what they can get – but also for what they can give.

At Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, we believe in the multi-level principle of “… personal development positions you for nation building, regional cooperation and global participation. And this, in turn, helps you move closer to fulfillment in life.” These steps are emboldened when one considers the lives of heroes on whose shoulders we can stand to see farther ahead.

The need for www.wolesoyinka.org.ng can be drawn from these, and the beauty of it all is that it will be relevant for generations and people that we might never have considered while weaving this “basket of inspiration”.

3.0 Project Implementation

Project implementation will involve a group of volunteers. Already listed for the project are a diverse team of young people who live in different places, do different things and touch the soft side of the world in different ways. We will get information (from data of many sources), sort such and build the website. The entire process is better outlined below (please see Timeline, 5.0).

4.0 Resources

The needs are obvious and may not all be obvious at this time. Please be informed that this is an ambitious project. Chronicling the life of great men will usually meet with many questions and challenges but our resolution to bequeath a wealth of inspiration to a generation will keep us going.

Required resources include:

4.1 Materials: This will include presently available materials on the subject, which can be legally obtained through appropriate channels. This would also involve concentrated research, interviews (both formal and informal) and of course, some possible interaction with Kongi himself.

4.2 Resource Depository: We will need an online depository for materials and communication. Fortunately, one of the volunteers (who will also be leading the web development team) has agreed to help set up a forum to this end.

4.3 Portal: While this can be seen as the final outcome (even though the possibilities are sincerely endless), it is also a necessary resource that will drive the awareness segment of the project.

4.4 Sacrifice: This word, as used here, has nothing to do with the recent news coming from the Eastern part of Nigeria. It just goes to say that volunteers will need to make personal sacrifices during the course of this project. Time, resources and more may be expended if we must really deliver value.

As much as possible, we will keep needed resources within the minimal range, but in a situation where the need may arise, volunteers would be able to work around the need through concerted efforts.

5.0 Timeline

The project has commenced unofficially, and may not have an official take-off date (except in reference to this Working Document). The two distinct phases of the project have been discussed (in an online meeting that held…) and the following timeline will serve as a guide, based on the outcome of the meeting and recent developments in the light of reality:

5.1 Research and Content Generation: 2 months
5.2 Portal Development: 1.5 months
5.3 Project Review: 2.5 months (This may involve repeating steps 1 and 2)
5.4 Final Deployment: 1 month

The final deployment would involve final testing, and public announcements on the availability of the portal for the use of all. For the purpose of this timeline, we will (conservatively) leave commencement date as March 1 2006, and that would mean that the final deployment is expected by – or before – the end of September 2007. It is obvious that this is a conservative time-estimate, but its better to beat than to blow the deadline.

6.0 A Call to Collective Action

The need to act is obvious, the will to do is not hidden but the actualization of the project will rest on the shoulders of collective efforts. This Working Document has been put together to explain the project and set the pace for action.

What could your role be in a project that promises to deliver inspiration to a new generation of young people? This is a call to collective action, join us…