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The Rising Star Programme, which launched at the One Young World Summit 2014 in Dublin, aims to catapult one undiscovered leader into space – and into the global spotlight. Taking their search to the next stage, the initiative’s creator, leading London-based talent agency, Kruger Cowne, and their partners One Young World, the preeminent global forum for young leaders, and Spaceship Earth Grants, have announced the shortlist. Made up of extraordinary individuals from across the world, each has their own inspiring, unique story and 30-year-old Freeman Osonuga from Ijebu Ode, Ogun State is honored to be among the thirty.
“If a young person from a poor and disadvantaged background like me can be among the 30 shortlisted finalists and eventually go to space, truly, Nothing is Impossible to those that believe.
With faith, hope and perseverance , every Young person can fulfil their dreams irrespective of color, tribe, nation, sex, background and ethnicity. ”
The son of a late (deceased) driver and petty trader , Freeman applied to the programme in the hopes of raising awareness on the impact that global warming is having on the planet. By leading discussion on a global scale, the Founder & Executive Director of Heal The World Foundation Nigeria, plans to use his adventure as a Rising Star to initiate a Global Climate Care Advocacy Programme.
With candidates from across the globe, the champion of the programme will travel by XCOR Aerospace’s Lynx® Spacecraft and experience the world from a completely new perspective, subsequently inspiring new insight on issues relating to the global population.
One man who knows all too well the impact of such a journey is celebrated astronaut Ron Garan, who champions the “Orbital Perspective”:
“Seeing our planet from the vantage point of space provides an undeniable perspective that each and every one of us is riding through the Universe together on this spaceship we call Earth”, finalist judge for the Rising Star Programme, Ron Garan.
Hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of history’s boldest adventurers, Freeman’s achievements already includes being named as a WIRED 2015 Innovation Fellow, an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society, and a One Young World Ambassador. More poignantly, Freeman recently completed a 6-month medical humanitarian mission to Sierra Leone as part of African Union’s Ebola Response Team and as such, became a recipient of Meritorious Service Award from President Bai Ernest Koroma of Sierra Leone. He is a 2014 TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year and one of the 2013 Ten Outstanding Young Persons In Nigeria.
“Our chosen 30 represent the epitome of hope, leadership and talent. Spanning countries and continents, these hopefuls strive to make a difference in the world and provide a voice for those who wish to join the debate on a global scale. From societal and environmental issues, to politics and business, each and every one of our shortlist dreams of inspiring a global audience and influencing change,” says Mark Cowne, CEO of Kruger Cowne.
With the value of the space trip prize over $100,000, 3 impressive finalists chosen from the final 30 will be flown to Bangkok in November to attend the One Young World Summit 2015. Here, they will take to the stage in front of an audience of thousands of delegates and a panel of esteemed global business and social icons to deliver an inspirational 10-15 minute keynote on a topic of their choice. The established panel, which includes influential figures from the world of entertainment, business and media such as Sir Bob Geldof, Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne, David Jones, Fatima Bhutto and acclaimed astronaut Ron Garan, will deliberate before announcing on stage their chosen Rising Star.
With astronauts, global leaders and entrepreneurs from the Kruger Cowne roster offering mentorship, the chosen young leader will be managed and positioned to develop powerful connections and given a platform to engage with a global audience and develop solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues.
Freeman Osonuga is a multi-award winning humanitarian.
A WIRED 2015 Innovation Fellow, an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society, a One Young World Ambassador and Founder & Executive Director, Heal The World Foundation Nigeria.
He recently completed a 6-month Medical Humanitarian Mission to Sierra Leone as part of African Union’s Ebola Response Team. Freeman is a recipient of Meritorious Service Award from President Bai Ernest Koroma of Sierra Leone.
He is a 2014 TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year and one of the 2013 Ten Outstanding Young Persons In Nigeria.
He is single, Christian,
From Ijebu Ode, Ogun State
Last out of 6 children.
Father is late.
Attended Wesley Primary school, Adeola Odutola College ( both Ijebu Ode) and studied Medicine and Surgery at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye.
Hobbies includes listening to music, traveling and surfing the internet.
Passionate about poverty alleviation, disabilities rights and other humanitarian causes.
Short Profile Highlights as written by Freeman himself
- I recently got selected a 2015 WIRED Innovation Fellow. And as a result will be speaking live on stage at the WIRED 2015 conference in October, London.
http://www.wiredevent.co.uk/wired-2015-innovation-fellowships
- In late 2014, at the Peak of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. I volunteered and was deployed by the Federal government of Nigeria to the Ebola affected west african countries. I worked with the African Union team of Ebola responders for 6 months in Sierra Leone.
On may 23, 2015, I received a Meritorious Service Award from President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone.
As an Ebola front line health care worker, I’m one of the TIME Magazine’s 2014 Person of the year.
- One Young World (UK)
I’m a One Young World Ambassador.
One Young World is the pre-eminent global summit for the world’s brightest young people aged 18-30.
www.oneyoungworld.com
In 2013, MTN Global Ltd Johannesburg decided to select and sponsor a young leader from each of their operating countries to the 2013 One Young World Summit which held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
I was the only person selected and sponsored from Nigeria.
At the Special live Session with Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General, I engaged him on Boko Haram and rise of insurgency in West Africa and how a more robust comprehensive and coordinated effort is needed to win over the extremists.
In 2014, I was elected by fellow Ambassadors as a Coordinating Ambassador for the Africa 2 Region. And as a result, I coordinated the activities and oversaw the impact measurement of the One Young World Ambassadors in the 24 African countries that make up my region.
At the 2014 One Young World Summit, Dublin, Ireland.
I joined other young people and global luminaries to discuss and profer solutions to global issues.
- Heal The World Foundation Nigeria.
In 2010, despite being a medical student with no financial support from any corporate organisation, I pioneered a charity organisation for the care of the Less Privileged, Orphans and children with disabilities.
Since inception, the non profit organisation has visited 4 orphanages, 4 schools of children with special needs and has made a positive difference in the lives of about 500 children with disabilities and more than 50 orphans. We have also provided educational support. For more than 360 pupils and feeding, clothing and welfare for more than 550 children with disabilities and orphans.
Heal The World Foundation’s free medical programme provided medical care to about 150 people in idi-iroko community of Ogun state.
In 2014, I was honoured as one of the 2013 Ten Outstanding Young Persons In Nigeria by the JCI Nigeria.
In 2015, I was selected as an Associate Fellow, Royal Commonwealth Society.
www.htwfnigeria.org
www.htwfnigeriablog.org
@htwfnigeria
- Blogging
My blogs on such issues as development, ebola, disabilities and poverty are published on Huffington Post (US), One Young World (UK). Omojuwa, Ynaija and many others.
http://www.oneyoungworld.com/blog/26196
. Educational background.
Studied Medicine and graduated from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State.
Ogun state indegene.
Facebook: Freeman Osonuga
Twitter : @freeman_osonuga
