While some young Nigerians are finding greener pastures in other parts of the world, others are making an impact in their fatherland. These young Nigerians between 20 and 40 excelled in politics, entertainment, sports and more. i-GEN NEWS team lead, GBENGA BADA, highlights some of the new and young gens on the Nigerian political scene.
Abdulrasheed Kashamu
Age: 29
Abdulrasheed Kashamu is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun House of Assembly. He was born in Banjul, Gambia into the home of the late Senator Buruji and Mrs Jamila Kashamu and was able to learn the ropes from his late father. Before his father’s death, Abdulrasheed was doubling as a businessman, overseeing his father’s array of businesses while learning his political sagacity. In 2022, Abdulrasheed emerged as the sole and consensus House of Assembly candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Ijebu North Constituency 1. He was elected by the good people of Ijebu-Igbo into the Ogun State House of Assembly (OGHA) as a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly representing Ijebu North Constituency 1.
Duff Akwaowo
Age: 38
Young and feisty Duff Nse Akwaowo braved all odds including gender and age to contest for the Senate seat in 2023. Duff, at 36, contested against other big names to represent the people of Akwa Ibom South at the Senate under the National Rescue Movement (NRM) party. Though she lost the election, she has remained resolute to contest in the coming election.
Abdulqowiyy Olododo
Age: 30
Abdulqowiyy Abdulganiyu Olododo, from Ilorin East, is hardly a greenhorn in governance and politics. Trained at the Kwara State University and Metropolitan School of Business and Management, United Kingdom, Olododo, who is from a political family, qualifies to be called a government insider who has at various times been technical assistant to the Governor on agriculture and general manager of the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP). He serves as the Kwara State commissioner for works.
Ayodele Olawande
Age: 36
Ayodele Olawande is the Minister For Youth Development under the President Bola Tinubu Administration. Olawande is no small fry in the Nigeria political space having served in the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari as the Personal Assistant to the Special Adviser Innovation to the Vice President from 2019 to 2023. He also served as the Ondo APC Youth Leader, former Southwest co-coordinator for the Asiwaju Grassroot Foundation (AGF) and Deputy Director Presidential campaign Council Youth Southwest 2023.
Akinwale Akinwale
Age: 38
Akinwale Akinwale is a PR expert and Accountant with memberships in several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), the Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria (ICEN), and the Institute of Corporate Administration. His expertise spans public relations, digital communications, and strategic media management across public and private sectors. However, beyond his professional work, Akinwale is actively involved in politics. He is a member of the State Executive Committee of the Oyo APC and serves as the Senatorial Youth Leader for Oyo Central Senatorial District. He holds the position of Special Assistant, New Media to the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), where he oversees digital communications and new media engagements.
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Nwosu Patrick
Age: 39
Nwosu Patrick was 38 when he contested for a seat at the Senate to represent Abia Central. The young politician contested for the seat under the Social Democratic Party of Nigeria (SDP) but lost. He has continued to express his thoughts about politics and is eager to re-contest in the coming elections.
Dr. Azeezat Yishawu
Age: 32
The young medical practitioner is passionate about issues on youths. As a female, she has broken all barriers to reach the top of her political career. On her own, she emerged the fifth Speaker – and notably, the first female Speaker – of the Nigerian Youth Parliament. Yishawu also stands tall as the Senior Special Assistant on Youth Policy Development to the Honorable Minister for Youth Development.
Moses Edoho
Age: 40
Moses Aniefiok Edoho is now 40 but when he contested in 2023, he was just 38. The young politician from Akwa Ibom had walked the talk and met with people of the Akwa Ibom South constituency with the purpose of representing them at the Senate. He lost the election but remained resolute in vying for another election. Be contested under the Social Democratic Party of Nigeria (SDP)
Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan
40-year-old Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan represents Badagry Federal Constituency of Lagos state and currently serves as the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (upstream). He has sponsored 15 bills and moved several motions at the National Assembly. His career in politics began many years back and has a massive followership in his constituency.
Ibrahim Sulyman
Age: 39
Ibrahim-Sulyman is the Attorney – General and Commissioner for Justice in Kwara State. He is 39 years old and a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC). He attended Baruwa College Zaria and read law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. His father, Kunle Sulyman, is pioneer Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the State while his mother Hajia Ramat Remi Sulyman retired from the state civil service as Auditor General for local governments. She’s the current Chairperson for the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Kwara S Chapter.
Olamiju Akala
Age: 40
Olamiju Akala is the son of late Oyo Governor Alao Akala. Long before his father’s demise, Olamiju expressed desire to toe his father’s footprints in politics and in no time, he immersed himself in the world of politics. Not a small fry in the game of politics, Olamiju kicked off his political career as a local government chairman before securing a seat in the Oyo Assembly. He is serving at the National Assembly in the House of Representatives.
