As the spirit of the new dawn in Africa beckons on Africa and her people to awaken to the possibilities within; to effectively harness the continent’s inherent human and material resources and deservedly earn respect and recognition from the rest of the world, the time has come to end the negative perception of Africa and re-educate the world on the fact that Africa is not and has never been a “dark uncertain continent.”

Rather, Africa is a Colourful and Vibrant Continent that is blessed with abundant resources and Beaming with limitless opportunities and a wonderful array of resourceful and energetic people, desirous to make earnest and worthy contributions towards a promising future and a better world order.

Africa is and has always been open for business and prosperity and is poised to enhance and harness the process of globalization.

TheGoodinAfrica.org is an Initiative aimed at accentuating the positive in Africa. It is guided and driven by the Development Visions articulated by the Stakeholder Bodies in Africa and is focussed on accelerated investment and job creation that will enhance the quality of life and social justice of all people in Africa.
TheGoodinAfrica.org, through its “Source it Africa Campaign” will project Africa in a positive light globally and will promote Trade and Investment Opportunities, Tourism, The Arts as well as Goods, Products and Services in Africa.

A situation in which Africa only serves as a natural resource supplier to the world must now be reversed and genuine efforts to increase the wealth creating capacity of Africans through value added oriented industrialization must become a priority for Africa.
Consequently, manufacturing opportunities need to be identified and efforts to identify niche products out of Africa must be highlighted for entrepreneurs in Africa.

Linkages must be established between small and medium sized companies in Africa and trade between these enterprises must be vigorously promoted and marketed to international companies where joint ventures with global players will enhance productivity and competitiveness.

Overcoming the challenges of wars, crime, hunger, disease and environmental degradation in Africa requires effective education and training programmes that will empower the people with requisite knowledge and skills that will ensure that Africans will not just survive but will thrive as worthy contributors and bonafide stake holders in a globalized world order.

TheGoodinAfrica.org, therefore, is the property of all in Africa as well as friends of Africa. It serves as a vehicle of hope and prosperity to restore optimism and engender renewed pride in our people and our continent. As a propelling force in the drive to build a new Africa, it deserves both political and business support that will enhance its potentials to accomplish its goals and objectives.

Nigeria’s first non-profit youth and children’s literacy organization

Reading for Development Initiative (RFDI) is committed to strengthening the educational and literacy needs of Nigerian youths and children by rendering both material and technical needs of libraries in schools and colleges in order to inculcate in these youngsters a reading culture with an attempt to broaden their academic horizon.

RFDI will focus on improving the literary level of an average Nigerian youth and child who hitherto does not have access to reading materials by making the materials readily available to them and there for empowering them for immediate and future application of knowledge.

All RFDI programmes are geared towards fostering youth literacy, reading motivation, family and community involvement and inculcating in them a reading habit as well as the excitement of choosing free books to read from our established libraries.

RFDI’s successes are hinged on the unflinching supports of the Federal Ministry of Education, Foundations, Community Organizations, The National Library Boards and thousands of individuals.

In August 2001, former Broadcaster and Television Presenter, Chinyelu Anyiam-Osigwe conceived the idea of empowering the Nigerian youths and children through reading. Being an avid reader herself, she was appalled by her discovery of the dilapidating structure of the libraries in schools and colleges in Nigeria. She also discovered that public libraries that dotted the streets of the country in the 70s are now non- existent.

All of these prompted Mrs. Anyiam-Osigwe to drop her career to explore her passion in the area of reading and in turn extend it towards the upliftment of the society. So, by February 2002, with due consultations with professionals, RFD commenced operations.

These officers are based at RFDI’s national office in Lagos Nigeria, providing daily leadership and direction to RFDI’s important works.

These seasoned, competent and qualified officers have come up with series of programmes and activities for successful and continuous implementation of the Reading For Development Initiative's paramount objective, which is the empowering of Nigerian youths and children through reading.

The staff, who are aware of the pressing literacy and educational needs in the country, will harness their strength and work with team spirit and dedication towards the attainment of the desired outcome.

RFDI programmes offer enriching activities that spark youths' and children’s interests in reading. The various programmes of RFDI are ultimately geared towards capturing youths' and children’s minds and inspire them to read.

Although RFDI programmes are run in a variety of communities, some of RFDI’s most important works occur in communities where students are at great risk of educational failure.

Wherever kids are served, - at schools, libraries, childcare centers, health clinics, migrant camps, or domestic shelters – RFD can make a difference. The programmes include:

* Establishing libraries in rural and urban schools.

* Sourcing for books and other learning materials to stock these
libraries with.

*Organizing forums where issues concerning youths/children literacy can be discussed.

*Organizing book fairs as a way of bringing together stakeholders in the publishing industry and as an avenue for parents and youngsters to get exposed to books.

*Designing and implementing events and programmes that stimulate reading in youths and children.

*Working and collaborating with organizations with similar focus and vision in drawing programmes geared towards the re-awakening of Nigerian youths’ and children’s reading culture.