The meeting took place at the Larmonde Hotel, Abuja on the 12^th July, 2010 at about 5:45 pm. The immediate past president of DESPLAY Ogaga E. Maxwell led the delegation, made up of the current DESPLAY President Babafemi Oyediran, and other DESPLAYers from Niger state and Federal Capita Territory – Abuja respectively in persons of;  Okoro Cynthia and Nnodim Roseblossom Ogechi  to interact and meet with Dave Peterson Senior Director, Africa program National Endowment for Democracy (NED) Washington, DC

We all shared our experiences and impact of DESPLAY in our various lives and projects.

Ogaga Maxwell explained how DESPLAY has been responsible for building his capacity, especially the lecture on critical thinking in his own time and how due to his enhanced capacity he was the only Nigerian delegate to The World Bank Institute Global Youth Forum on Anti-Corruption in Brussels, Belguim. He explained through the P.I.O he was able to reach 250 youths in the university campus and 50 youths in church including 15 psychically challenged.

Cynthia considered herself lucky to attend DESPLAY as a P.I.O recommended participant, she said at first she was sceptic about the programme but after attending she was a changed person and people around notice that change. The lecture on participation was key that she was able to challenge her lecturer to get out her real result after examinations, before DESPLAY she was not able to do. In her words her perspective was broadened.

Blossom was particular excited about her capacity that has been enhanced and most importantly the tourism part, been able to travel to other states in the various semesters of DESPLAY.

Femi was full of praises for DESPLAY programme and give a detailed explanation of how the programme runs.

Both Presidents called for the support of National Endowment for Democracy (N.E.D) to expand and increase funding for the project, and also increase the number of partial scholarships for learning visit.

The director expressed his happiness for the impact of DESPLAY and was full of praise for Youngstars Foundation and pledged support for future funding of DESPLAY and possible recommending the project to other funders.

The Director called for DESPLAYers to develop strategic ways to the grassroot youths and blossom suggested that N.E.D should consider adapting entertainment model especially as the programmes concerned youths.

Finally we were asked how we see the upcoming elections in 2011 and we were all positive that we would have a better experience than the past elections as there is generally a greater awareness amongst Nigerians and people were tired of corruption and elections rigging.

The meeting ended on a happy note and the team also had the rare opportunity to chat briefly with Mourtada Deme Ph.D, the Resident Country Director/Nigeria Africa Division of the International Republican Institute.

DESPLAY Season 5 semester 3 is schedule to take place in Federal Capital Territory Abuja between Tuesday 14^th to Friday 17^th September 2010 with participants from Nigeria, Ghana, and Liberia.

For details about DESPLAY Project, click here