The Reduction of Age for Election Bill popularly known on social media as #NotTooYoungToRun” Bill was signed into law last week Thursday. The bill seeks the reduction of the minimum age to run for President from 40 to 35 years, State and Federal representatives from 30 to 25 years and 30 years for Governors and Senators.
Now that the bill has been signed into law, many young Nigerians have been showing their interest in political positions across the country for the 2019 elections. The likes of Shina Peller, Fela Durotoye, Donald Duke are a few who have shown interest.
Not only is this a welcome idea, It’s time Nigerians start preparing for a new Nigerian dream and this is something that can be achieved by young, energetic and promising Nigerians.
Here’s a list of young Nigerian we would like to see running in the 2019 general elections.
Adebola Williams
Adebola Williams is a Nigerian media entrepreneur, journalist, political activist and motivational speaker. Described as “the man with the golden touch” by Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, Williams has helped three African Presidents get elected.
Debola Lagos as he is fondly called started The Future Awards Africa with Chude Jideonwo. They also co-founded Red Media Africa.
Debola is also the CEO of StateCraft Inc, a governance communication company and has worked on the political campaigns of three presidential aspirants in Africa.
With his experience working on successful political campaigns, we expect him to run for a political office in the 2019 elections.
Chude Jideonwo
Chude Jideonwo (born 16 March 1985) is a lawyer, journalist and media entrepreneur. He is the founder of Joy, Inc., an American benefit corporation with a Nigerian subsidiary, which aims to make people happier. All of Joy, Inc.’s profits are invested in charities.
Chude has worked for several years in media, advertising and public relations. He is also involved in new/social media and youth lifestyles. Before Joy, Inc., he led African media group, Red Africa for 13 years, working on national elections and social movements in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Liberia. He is a co-founder of The Future Project, which is focused on inspiring leadership, building entrepreneurs, and using the media (traditional and new) as a tool for social change.
Uche Pedro
Uchenna Jennifer Eze (born July 26, 1984) is a blogger, writer, social media expert and entrepreneur. She is the founder of BellaNaija, an online entertainment, fashion and lifestyle magazine. In 2014, Uche was named in Forbes list of “30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs in Africa”.
Prior to the creating of her website BellaNaija, Uche worked for Shell Canada, Cadbury Middle East & Africa Unit in the UK, and Cadbury in Nigeria. Uche is a Fellow of TEDGlobal and a Nigeria Leadership Initiative associate. In July 2006, she founded BellaNaija.
Otto Orondaam
CEO of the Slum2School initiative, Otto Orondaam has a story that’s bound to inspire anyone. Born in Port-Harcourt to parents in the medical field, he has always been very interested and involved in developmental projects. From the young age of 16, he started managing projects of his own focused on improving the state of remote communities around the country.
A proud Nigerian driven by his passion to make Nigeria a better place, Otto began the Slum2School initiative during his NYSC days, after coming into constant contact with vulnerable and impoverished kids out of school and seeing the challenges they faced everyday.
With a passion to make Nigeria a better place, Orondaam is definitely one young Nigerian we would like to see run for a political position in the coming election.
Folarin Falana
Folarin Falana born October 27, 1990 better known by his stage name – Falz is a Nigerian rapper, actor, and songwriter. Falz has used a few of his songs to criticize some bad government policies, the latest been “This is Nigeria”.
In that track, Falz highlighted major issues and challenges facing Nigeria. Fulani herdsmen, corruption amongst political leaders, police constantly harassing youths are some of the issues he highligted.
Falz began his career while in secondary school after forming a group called “The School Boys” with his friend before his professional career as a music artiste began in 2009. Falz shot into limelight after his song titled “Marry Me” won him a nomination in the “Best Collaboration of The Year” category at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
With Falz been an alumnus of the University of Reading after graduating with an LLB honors degree in Law and having a Senior Advocate Of Nigeria as his father, we are hopeful that falz will show interest in a political position in the coming election.
Photo Credit – Google
