David Emmanuel Presents TEDx ALURwanda 2.0
Written by: Sidikat Olajuwon
Have you ever had a big dream or an extraordinary idea that you believed could change the world? Did you ever ask what would happen if you tried to make it a reality? Meet the organiser who did just that, curating a sensational TEDx event with the theme ‘What If.’
On June 3rd, 2023, Kigali City saw the unfolding of TEDx ALURwanda 2.0, a bigger and better version of the student-led event previously held in 2019. I had the opportunity to sit with the student who dared to have the dream and make it happen. He started with the question, “What If?”
What If… we have another TEDx event?
In 2022, David Emmanuel, a Software Engineering student at the African Leadership University, developed the idea to have another TEDx ALURwanda event. Having watched TED talks since he was a kid, he wanted to organise one that promoted Pan-Africanism and provided a space for people to share ideas and network. After all, the TED movement is all about “ideas worth spreading.”
David had previously organised youth conferences to create empowering and uplifting experiences. There was also the “University for Africans by Africans in Africa” brand ALU had built, which encouraged his mission, and was ready to support it. Added to his research into the previous event, where he learned a few dos and don’ts, David had a great foundation to work with.
On November 29th, 2022, he got a TED license, and the journey began. He started to reach out to people and share his ideas. However, like every idea that’s ever been worth anything, many people didn’t believe in it. But with such visions, you only need yourself and a few people to believe in you. David had a handful of curious individuals who bought his vision and were ready to back him. Some of these people soon became a part of his management team.
With a TED license, it was time for David and his team to plan the event. But before that, he needed sponsors, not just supporters. During a masterclass on the ALU campus, David met Frank Luntz, an American political and communications consultant, to whom he pitched his TEDx idea. The communications expert loved David’s idea and was kept updated about the progress of the event. Later on, he brought on board Reed Hastings, the co-founder and executive chairman of Netflix as a speaker.
David pitched his ideas to many others, including Veda Sunassee, the C.E.O. of the African Leadership University. He assembled a good number of sponsors and speakers, one email and pitch at a time, until he had enough resources to work with.
From here, the team welcomed a diverse group of 30 volunteers from over 200 applications. Selection criteria included professional experiences, strengths, and proactivity. The selected volunteers then joined smaller teams that matched their applications.These teams ranged from production, protocol, and event management to marketing and finance. It was one of the most organised and structural teams I’d had the privilege to participate in. And the teams’ turnout on event day proved this possibly biassed view of mine.
What If…?
Finally, it was time for the “lights, camera, action!”
Having strived for excellence, David was more than ready to sit back on event day and watch his dream become a reality. Also, he could literally sit back because he had ensured his teams’ competency and ability to perform interdependently. For David, simply seeing the hosts pick up their microphones at the start was a moment of satisfaction. Watching the whole day unfold was even better. And unfold, it did.
With a theme like “What If…,” the possibilities were endless. Speakers in different fields were present, from Dr. Sue Snyman in Conservation to Deputy Minister Emma Theofelus in I.C.T. and Kanamugire Junior in Investments. The talks cast an even wider net, ranging from conservation to leadership to the social media craze.
Here is the complete list of titles to give you a better picture of this truly inspiring day.
- Dr. Sue Snyman — What If We Changed the Narrative About Conservation?
- Arun Shanmuganathan — Africa Rising: The Urgent Need to Drive — Not Ride — the A.I. Wave
- Kanamugire Junior — Rethinking Startup Investment in Africa
- Lauren Nkuranga — How to Have Career Magic
- Femi Reis — What If We Are Losing Our Minds?
- Laura Eberlin — What If We Hold Corporations Accountable for Their True Value?
- Emma Theofelus — The Opportunity of Leadership: How Young Women Lead and Govern
- Reed Hastings — What if we changed how we tell stories?
From one visionary speaker to another, the audience moved from “What If?” to “When?” until, in the end, Frank Luntz parked the bus on “Right Now!” And what better way to celebrate our arrival than with a closing remark from the young man who made it all happen?
During my talk with him, David recalled having a surprising “Oh, Okay,” moment when the audience screamed and applauded as he went up to give his closing remarks. For him, it had been all about the work and the vision, not the recognition.
According to David, “Immerse yourself in the work you’re passionate about and focus on achieving the highest level of excellence obtainable.” This belief guided his TEDx journey. And it wasn’t until this rousing applause from the audience that he realised maybe the credit wasn’t so bad too.
As for the future, he plans to continue building solutions from the ground up — excellent and people-driven solutions. Having learned a lot from this experience, he continues his journey as a Software Engineering student and Co-founder of Re-cyclate Station. His plastic-waste startup in Nigeria has raised about 5000 USD in funding.
Although his academics suffered a little, and he had to use every hour of every day to juggle his responsibilities, David continues to be an insatiably curious individual, innovator, and thriving Tech enthusiast. And his TEDx journey is far from over.
What If… I don’t stop there?
David is planning a retreat where he and his team will reflect on and measure the impact of their TEDx event. After which, preparations for another TEDx event will start. The team is already brainstorming the speakers for next year. So, no, it wasn’t a one-off!
A TEDx ALURwanda website is also in the works, which is expected to launch in August 2023. Clearly, David Emmanuel is on a rollercoaster that only goes up.
Finally, when asked to summarise his emotional experience, he summed it up brilliantly. I hope his words and actions inspire everyone, especially learners across Africa and beyond, as they inspired me. He said, “Everything starts with an idea. If you’re focused and committed despite challenges and never compromise on excellence, you’d eventually watch in satisfaction as that idea comes to life.”
I remember he called this moment of satisfaction “magical.”
About the ALU student author
Sidikat Olajuwon is an avid reader, marketing, and photography enthusiast, and a freelance writer born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. She is a determined problem solver with a vivid imagination working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering at the African Leadership University while expanding her writing portfolio simultaneously.
As an avid reader and a John Green and Taylor Swift fan, she believes in the power of transformational words that resonate and move people to action. And she exercises that power in her story-telling approach to writing. She looks at the world through a writer’s lens, sees stories in everyday life just waiting to be told, and does her best to be the medium through which they reach the page.
