Noah
On the 16th of July in 2012, his life changed completely when the Government of Lagos began the demolition of the Slum. This day, his brother and best friend, Timothy Hunkpoyanna dies. The police shoot him. Noah promises to take care of his little nephew, Ajé.
In that year, Makoko was declared as one of the most "unlivable" places to live in Nigeria. Noah was devastated. More than 10 000 of people lost their houses. The school was also in ruins.
In 2013, a famous Nigerian Architect, Kunlé Adeyemi, and his team built a prototype for the new Floating School. With 250 plastic barrels, woods, solar panels, and the help of the community, they have a new space for the children. One of the inflections points of his life. "We can do it; this is only the beginning." The slam continues changing; the transformation was unimaginable. The next step was the cleaning of the Lagoon. In 2014, the Community and an important Insitute prepared "The Regeneration Plan".
With only 15 years old, he became a Social activist, and the intents to found a terrorist cell to make the Resistance against Lagos government, finished when he was imprisoned for disturbing public order. During the months in prison, he asked himself: How can we transform Makoko in a self-sustainable community? How can we preserve Makoko as a community?
In 2035, with almost 35 years, Noah continue his fight. Makoko is a self-sustainable special city; a Touristic place; a pole of artists; they receive people from all over the world. Lagos is one of the most powerful cities in the world, and he feels the threats every day; he wants to be prepared. The Resistance Movement is becoming strong. During the last twenty years, he was building a huge network, inside Makoko, also in Lagos, in Nigeria and other continents. Sometimes he makes transactions no matter if they are people of good or evil.
Every day he communicates with the Community from his house. Everybody hears his messages from the community speakers. He takes care the children and the ancient people. He is very interested in preserving the identity of Africa, and especially the Makokoans identity. Many people call him "Head Hunter" because he is always looking for Talents in Makoko; he discovers the skills of the students and looks for the best opportunities for them.
He achieves national and international awards. The International Academic Education Community knows about this phenomenon, and Noah receives permanent invitations to participate in academic Congress, and also in social media. The leadership of Noah and his personal exposition in Media gives him more power to connect people and receive their support and recognition.
Noah has an individual computer with different screens. That computer interconnects him to the Floating School Network, inside Makoko and with the entire communities of Floating Schools in the World. He feels the power in this control monitor. He has a Holographic Necklace that allows him to have a remote connection with his control rooms monitors.
Sometimes he thinks: What happen is we leave this “lands”? But he understands “Self-regulation” as a way to became more independent from Lagos. He knows they need a Political reform. The risk is to take the community to isolation. He wants to transform Makoko in a trademark, the Venice of Africa. The loyalties he has are clear: to Egun and Yoruba deities, to the memory of his brother and friend Timothy, his family and the community of Makoko.
Noah has been working for twenty years to obtain that recognize, and now, he feels he is not alone in this commitment. The community with his guidance is making visible this "invisible city".