Here we come

“So how will you make sure this survives?” She asked as we laid out our plans to change the world.

We were three wide-eyed-but-relentless teenagers intent on doing the impossible: Organise Nigeria’s biggest pan-sector youth awards, when we didn’t have a kobo (almost literally) in the bank. We had taken our proposal to sponsors endlessly and no one was paying attention. We had postponed the event twice. Promises were being broken like broomsticks.

“Anyway,” she said after our tales of woe. “You guys are ready to do the work – so I’ll support you.”

It’s 2010 now, five years after that meeting and we are back in the office of publisher and TV veteran, Adesuwa Onyenokwe.

We are on that world-changing mission again. But things are different now. We are not asking to empty her bank account to support our dreams. We are proud to tell her: All we want is advice.

“I know you guys will succeed,” she says. We have earned her trust.

Indeed, it is tempting to say something like “we have earned our dues”, but that would yet be presumptuous. What we can say is that we are prepared for what lies ahead. The magazine business is a tough, grinding one. We know. But we are prepared, and we are yet learning.

Y! is for those with this same spirit. They are talented and perhaps accomplished, but they are still hungry to think more, do more, be more.

It’s for accomplished young people across industries (See Funa Maduka, p. xx; the team at Soundcity, p. xx, the two young women bringing sexy back to farming, p. xx) who will lead Nigeria.

It’s for our cover girl, the truly timeless Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde (p. xx), who seems to break new ground with every step she takes. Like this shoot. As the revered Kelechi Amadi-Obi and Dimeji Alara collaborate on a work of art that speaks only to genius, Omotola – gracefully and with inspiring focus – does what she does effortlessly: Shine.

The next few pages will challenge you, will guide you and will celebrate you.

Welcome to the Y! experience.

Comments (7)

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  2. Great! Seye just pointed me here today, successfully distracting me from Uni work… You guys might get a knock on the door in the future from me asking for advice. 😉 Lovin' the mag 🙂 Wished he'd showed me this AFTER my deadline though…
    Nogo xx

  3. Hi Tola,

    Would be great to see it when it is out thanks a lot.

    Thanks Babs and Kanma!

    Y!

  4. Fantastic magazine…

    Here in London we have something similar to YNaija…it is called 'Be Inspired' (an upncoming Youth magazine).

    Hope this reaches the masses of young people/professionals in Nigeria…

    Well done

    MTB
    (Miss Tola Batula)

  5. U guys have done it again. Proud.

  6. Chude rocks!:) (And yes, it's someone you know!)

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