Where are Nigeria’s top 30 under 30?

Over the weekend, I attended an event for young entrepreneurs and I was impressed that hundreds of people came from different provinces across Canada. The room was buzzing with conversations and filled with people with insatiable thirst for challenge, opportunity – a personal calling. I couldn’t help but wonder what a scene like that involving young Nigerians would transform into.

Nigeria may soon be the fifth most populous country in the world and the population of her youth is staggering. Even more shocking is the lack of opportunity that’s available to those youth. Like young people everywhere in the world, many young Nigerians aspire to become successful entrepreneurs, movers and shakers, but are unable to get that big break due to certain constraints. Young Nigerians can’t find opportunities to put their skills to the test. Which makes me wonder: is Nigeria turning a blind eye to her youth?

Disappointedly, I came empty-handed in my research to find some successful young Nigerian magnates, movers and shakers under the age of 30. Finding a handful was scarce, talk about 30. Where are Nigeria’s young entrepreneurs and freedom fighters? Here is the few I found:

Jennifer Ehidiamen

Age – 26

Website – http://youthmakingchange.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

The scoop – Jennifer is a mastermind and a strong advocate for youth development and empower. Visit her website to find out more!

Favourite quote from Jennifer’s online dairy – “…a society that cuts itself from its youth severs its lifeline, but a society that engages their interests, enlists their talents and liberates their energies brings hope to the entire world” ~ Kofi Anan

Onibalusi Bamidele

Age – 17

Website – http://www.youngprepro.com

The scoop – Oni is a young internet entrepreneur starlet who’s giving a whole new meaning to blogging. He has guest posted for over 300 blogs. Want to know more, check out his website!

Nmachi Jidenma

Age: 23

Website – http://www.cp-africa.com

The scoop – Nmachi Jidenma currently works at Google where she is working to drive technology and internet usage in African Universities. She is founder of Celebrating Progress Africa, a new online crusade to reshape the Africa conversation. She started by blogging about progressive things happening in Nigeria on her Facebook page and has now grown the platform to a full website that has attracted more than 18,000 likes on Facebook. She has gained working experience at JPmorgan and at Accenture and has written extensively for The Next Web, Reuters, and Next Newspapers. She bagged a Masters in Applied Economics & Management from Cornell University, New York.

Toyosi Akerele

Age – 29

Website – https://twitter.com/#!/toyosirise

The scoop – Toyosi Akerele is a youth advocate and education expert. She is the Executive Director of a RISE Group, a fast growing company with interests in publishing, printing, library, media and youth events. She started the RISE business academy in July 2008 to add value to young career people. She is a law graduate from the University of Jos and University of New Hampshire. Toyosi’s RISE summit has attracted huge crowd across Nigeria and her seminar have been estimated to reach 100,000 young people across Nigeria. Toyosi has won numerous awards including the Nigerian Youth Leadership Award, the Future Awards and most recently was selected for the Women in Distinction award (Thisday awards) by the Thisday Newspapers. She was one of a handful of African young women who had an audience with Michelle Obama on her visit to South Africa.

I’m sure there’re many more young Nigerians out there who are shaking things up. Do you know of any?

Nigeria’s Top 30 Under 30 are people with forward-thinking, innovative ideas and are making a difference in society – on a local, national and international scale.