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KEHINDE OSASONA, in this piece, unveils young and innovative Nigerians, who are learning the political turf faster. These youth in their 30s, 40s and early 50s represent a fresh breath. As the 2025 political year berths, all eyes are on these brilliant, energetic and tech-savvy men and women to make the difference using their vast talents.
Against the backdrop of the endless quest for inclusion in governance in all facets, the current administration at both state and federal levels has engaged a number of young Nigerians, who are now making waves in governance as legislators, cabinet members, party executives, commissioners, special advisers, assistants, chairman of agencies and parastatal across the nation. From the tech-savvy Bosun Tijani to Yakubu-Danladi, Adebo Ogundoyin, Oluwasegun Adebayo, Ayodele Olawande, Rinsola Abiola, and Shaibu Audu, the list is endless.
Yakubu-Danladi
Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu is the current speaker of the Kwara state House of Assembly and the Tafarkin Borgu in Gwanara town, Baruten LGA of Kwara state.
The graduate of Electrical/Electronic Engineering from the Kaduna and Federal University of Technology Minna once coordinated the youth wing of the Buhari Campaign organisation under the defunct Congress for Progress Change (CPC, Kwara North Senatorial District).
Yakubu has re-defined the act of legislation in the state and his name continues to resonate as one personality who still has roles to play in the state of harmony.
Tijani
Olatunbosun Tijani, a Nigerian-British entrepreneur, is the current Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
Born July 20, 1977, he studied Computer Science and Economics at the University of Jos. He later obtained an MSc in Information Systems and Management from the Warwick Business School, United Kingdom, in 2007.
In 2023, Tijani earned a PhD in innovation and economic development from the School of Business, University of Leicester. Under his leadership, CcHUB acquired Kenya’s iHub and launched the CcHUB Design Lab in Kigali, Rwanda in the same year.
As the globe is embracing technology as a solution to 21st century challenges, Tijani has a role to play.
Shuaibu Audu
Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, son of the late Abubakar Audu, is a Nigerian investment banker and politician.
Before he became the Minister of Steel Development in the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cabinet, he had his eyes on the governorship of his state.
Audu holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Economics from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom and a Master’s in International Securities Investment and Banking from Henley Business School, University of Reading and an MBA from Oxford University.
Kadade
Muhammed Kadade Suleiman, a 29-year-old young Nigerian, is a grassroots mobiliser and he’s politically savvy.
Born in1996 in Kaduna state, Kadade made his mark in Nigerian politics by running for Kaduna state governor during the 2019 general elections.
The National Youth leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has not only built a political career, he has etched himself in the consciousness of the teeming youth in politics and outside it.
He was recognised as one of the top 100 influential individuals under 40 in the category of Most Influential People of African Descendants (MIPAD).
Olawande
Ayodele Olawande is the current Minister of Youth Development. This youth advocate and mobiliser hails from Oyo state, where he worked for the youth before his sojourn in Abuja as cabinet minister.
His dedication and roles he played at brokering peace that had hitherto eluded the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) cannot be forgotten in a hurry.
Gawat
Jubril Gawat is a mobiliser, who has become the voice of youths in his Lagos Island constituency. Over the years too, he has employed social media as a tool to carry out political orientation and today at 39, he has emerged a leading voice of the youth in Lagos politics.
Gawat is currently a Senior Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Lagos state.
Jamila Bio-Ibrahim
She was a cabinet member in President Tinubu’s administration at inception before she was relieved of the position recently. Jamila Bio- Ibrahim, a medical doctor, development specialist and politician, served as Minister of Youth.
She earned an M.B.B.S from the University of Ilorin and later completed a six-month course on health management and leadership at the University of Washington in 2017.
Jamila is a member of the national policy summit think-tank founded the Yon Seno Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
‘Seyi
Oluwaseyi Tinubu, the 39-year-old son of President Tinubu has carved a niche for himself as a grassroots mobiliser, politician and a philanthropist without borders. The International advisor and motivational speaker’s vibrancy and readiness to plunge into the murky water of Nigerian politics were put to the test during the campaign for his father’s election.
After delivering, Seyi has till today maintained and nurtured his support groups and has prepared them for future political tasks.
Ndanusa
Hon. Shehu Ndanusa Usman is a dutiful politician and strategic mobiliser in the Kwara political firmament.
His credentials as a youth advocate, mobiliser and former vice- chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (Kwara NYCN) among other achievements might have been the reasons his principal, the governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, ordered his posting to the Ministry of Youth Development after a minor cabinet reshuffle.
Ndanusa alongside other youth worked tirelessly to ensure the victory of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Rhodes-Vivour
Gbadebo Chinedu Patrick Rhodes-Vivour, a Nigerian architect, entrepreneur and politician, was born March 8, 1983. He was the Labour Party (LP) candidate at the 2023 governorship election where he lost to the incumbent, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
He boasts of a Bachelor’s Degree holder in Architecture from the University of Nottingham and a Master’s from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In 2019, to be specific, he was the candidate for Lagos West senatorial district for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ogundoyin
Hon. Adebo Edward Ogundoyin, a Bachelor’s Degree holder in Agronomy and Crop Science from Babcock University, is the Speaker, Oyo state House of Assembly and chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislators of Nigeria.
In his late 40s, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member representing Ibarapa East constituency has over the years demonstrated leadership capacity.
Till date, he has ensured a harmonious executive cum legislative working relationship with the Governor Seyi Makinde-led government.
Adebayo
Engr. Cornelius Oluwasegun Adebayo, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), is the son of the former governor of Kwara state and a NADECO leader, Chief Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo.
An engineer, a community and social development expert, he is today saddled with the responsibility of driving the growth and sustainability of Nigeria’s agriculture sector.
He contested the Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Irepodun/Isin constituency Federal House of Representatives seat in his home state, in Kwara.
Abiola
Rinsola is the daughter of late MKO Abiola. She once contested for a seat to represent the Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi Owode Federal Constituency of Ogun state at the Federal House of Representatives.
Today, the 34-year-old has through her activeness and political contributions got the position of Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Citizenship & Leadership.
Egbedun
Hon. Adewale Egbedun, born over three decades ago, is the eight Speaker of the Osun state House of Assembly. The lawmaker representing Odo-Otin constituency was a graduate of Business Information Systems from the University of East London.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) first time lawmaker has become exemplary among the youth in politics.
Zubair
Kwara state-born Hon. Zubair Aliyu Rogun is the APC Zonal Youth leader for the North-central. His passion for youth advocacy and community development is legendary. He has worked with international and development Partners before his forays into politics.
Dutiful, popular and tactical, Zubair graduated with BA Islamic Studies and Master in Public Administration from the University of Ilorin.
The son of a reputable politician, Alhaji Dr Zubairu Abubakar Rogun from Patigi Emirate in Kwara North axis, is the face of Kwara and North Central youth at the national leadership level in the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Fayose
Emmanuel Fayose, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is warming up for the Ekiti state governorship election in 2026. An IT guru and software developer, Emmanuelonce contested for the House of Representatives seat and has youth appeal and connections.
He is a younger brother of the former governor, Ayodele Fayose,
El-Rufai
Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, the eldest son of former Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, won a House of Representatives seat for Kaduna North in 2023. The member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), El-Rufai is currently the chairman of the House Committee on Banking Regulations.
He earned BSc in political science and international relations with a minor in religious studies from Wheaton College, Massachusetts, in 2015, and MSC in public relations and corporate communication from Georgetown University.
Ehindero
Dr. (Mrs.) Ronke Ehindero was the Labour Party (LP) deputy governorship candidate and later its candidate in Kwara State, at the 2023 governorship election.
Although her party lost to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq of the APC, she had a good outing and is still consolidating on gains from her last outing.
Ehindero, a scholar, entrepreneur and Director of Enlightenment at the Nigerian Workforce Strategy and Enlightenment Centre (NIWOSEC) recently bagged a Doctoral Degree (PhD) in Guidance and Counselling from Al-Hikmah University in Ilorin. She is a product of courage and audacity.
Khalil
As the Investment Intelligence Director of Nigeria’s Kaduna State Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA) and Economic Adviser for the Kaduna State government, Khalil Nur Khali, has no doubt demonstrated his capacity as a technocrat in government.
Born on November 18, 1992 in Kaduna state, the Glenalmond College Perth, Scotland, graduate also obtained a first-class Bachelor’s of Science degree in Economics from the Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, North Cyprus.
At 29, he was appointed as the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA) by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna.
Adetiba
Hon. Adetiba-Olanrewaju Raphael Olalekan was the deputy speaker, Kwara state House of Assembly in the last assembly.
A banker-turned politician graduated from the prestigious University of Ilorin and Obafemi Awolowo University respectively, where he bagged BSc in political science and MBA in Finance.
Very resourceful with capacity as grassroots mobiliser, the Ekan Meje in Oke-Ero LGA born politician is a strong ally of the current Kwara speaker and one of the core loyalists of Governor Abdulrasaq.
Shagaya
Muktar Tolani Shagaya is the son of Hajia Muina Shagaya, a business magnate from Ilorin; he is currently a member of the House of Representatives, from Ilorin West/Asa Federal constituency. He’s the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education Services.
A crowd-puller, lover of youth and welfarist, the 35-year-old politician attended Rockwell College in Ireland.
Muktar also holds a BSc in International Relations from the University of Plymouth and a Master of Arts degree in International Development and Development Management from the University of Manchester, UK.
He is a new face of youth in politics in Kwara today, especially in his constituency, where he is very popular.
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