In today’s spotlight series, we will be shining our light on one of the active individuals in the Vision Incubation Hub Community. I’m thrilled to share an inspiring interview from our recent meeting with Mr. Mela, a dedicated member of the VI Hub Community. Mr. Mela’s unwavering commitment to youth development and community-building has been a driving force behind many of VI Hub’s impactful initiatives.
Please tell us about yourself and how you became part of the VIHUB community.
My name is Ebere Chimela, also known as Mr. Mela or Uncle Mela. I am a lot of things. Firstly, I’m a project manager, and I’ve handled a couple of projects in town, which is what brought me closer to the Vision Alive Foundation and Vision Incubation Hub.
First is the International Youth Day, which we’ve managed over the years, and we’ve also managed the popular Skill-up Aba project, which was also done in Aba in partnership with other organisations such as the VI Hub and other hubs within Aba.
I have also managed the South East SME Bootcamp and the Social Media Conference, Child of Industry, and a couple of other projects.
Have you been involved with so many projects in the VIHub?
Yes, within VIHub and the Aba Tech ecosystem, and beyond that, I’m also a STEM educator. I have been involved with tech training for young people between the ages of 8 and 18.
I have heard so many amazing things about you and how you became part of this community, and I want to ask what keeps you actively involved. You know, something must have kept you involved in this community over the years.
Over the years, the VI Hub community has kept me actively engaged in other community events because of a few things.
Primarily, it is leadership. At the core of what VI Hub does is largely leadership and youth development projects, which resonate with me, and my ambitions are aligned. Leadership and youth development are two aspects that have also kept me closer to the VIHub community over the years. And building within the community is what has kept me together.
VIHub is family to me; we are part of it; we grow with it and support it in the way we can.
What is one of the most challenging projects you have worked on at VI Hub, and what impact does it have? You said so many amazing projects, and I think there must have been one that has stood out to you. So, which particular project has had an impact?
Let’s start with the challenging. It’s International Youth Day. It was organised by the Vision Alive Foundation, in partnership with VI Hub and other organisations within the town.
It’s the most challenging because it’s one of the biggest projects that has had a huge impact within Abia, and not just Abia, but the South East.
It had a huge impact on the Southeast. Because the event had speakers like Oby Ezekwesili, Senator Ben Murray Bruce, Osita Chidoka, a lot of other important dignitaries, Ben Kalu, and the rest.
It was a challenge planning an event like that. It starts from April to May and August to September, and it’s a lot of activity. It’s one of the challenging events in Abia and the community. We had people from Enugu and Anambra to attend the event. Both as volunteers, too
That shows that we’re doing a whole lot through the International Youth Day that happens every year, and hopefully, we’ll continue to do so through the VIHub and other projects..
How do you stay inspired to keep creating and experimenting with new ideas? Being involved in so many projects, what keeps you inspired?
I am a people-focused person. I look out for people and the value we are also bringing on board to support them. So whenever I am on a project, I try to interface with these participants before it starts, and I also get their feedback. Some of the feedback that comes from these participants, which I usually review, is something that keeps me inspired and keeps us going. Because the fact is this: the biggest investment you can ever make is in human capacity development. And one thing I also believe is that I wouldn’t be here to teach my kids tomorrow. And I don’t know who would teach my kids. So whoever, especially the young persons that I find around me, around the Vihub community, I will try so much to bring in the A game and give the maximum value to them because I believe that these are the ones that are going to teach my kids tomorrow.
What role has Vihub played in your personal and professional growth?
The VI Hub has greatly impacted my career and growth. Through the community I’ve been a part of, capacity-building seminars, projects, and programs have equipped me with the skills and knowledge that contribute to who I am today. A couple of weeks ago, I was in Anambra to attend a workshop courtesy of the Vision Incubation Hub community.
This is to tell you that these are investments that VIHub consistently makes with the members of this community, and some of the factors that even keep us closer to the community and create these impacts.
What advice would you give to someone who’s just joining VI Hub? Maybe someone who wants to join the hub and wants to stand out and make an impact, because we have so many amazing talents.
Last night I was on a call with a young person whom I mentor. One of the things she said was that she doesn’t understand life and doesn’t know what she wants in life. It’s normal to hear that because she’s young, a lot of people like that do not know where to start.
And the one thing I told her was this: You’re here to understand what you want. One of the easiest ways that can help you discover your purpose and what you have is by attending community events. Many people in the community and tech ecosystem who are here to discover themselves are doing this by attending community-based events.
These are not just events that are packaged to attend for a minute. It is focused on exposing you to a lot of things and equipping you with skills that will help you in the future. This is what helped me find my way to where I am today, as I attended several community events, which shaped me into who I am. Moreover, when you participate in such events, you must elevate your presence in the community by networking, learning daily, meeting new people, learning from them, and becoming stronger in your skills.
Thank you, Mr. Mela, for your unwavering commitment and for being a shining example of what it means to be a part of the VI Hub family.
