by Wilfred Okiche

In mainstream Nigerian politics, youth involvement is sparse and young leaders are few and far between. This makes it all the more remarkable that these 10 young men and women have found a way to enter the political system and make it work for them. In a country where political power is all important, they have made enviable gains and impressive strides in spite of their youth.Could these be the ones we have been waiting for?

Abdulmumuni Jibrin

Say what you want about his methods, it takes pure guts (and power) to go where this man has gone. His was the video whichlaunched a thousand online comments – the House ofRepresentatives’ Committee on Finance in a heated session with the all-powerful Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala during a state of the economy address. As Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Hon. Jibrin was the man at the centre of the drama, and he resolutely insisted on dispatching 50 questions to the former World Bank executive togo and ponder upon.

Ayodeji Joseph

Hon. Joseph serves as the chairman of Apapa Local GovernmentArea of Lagos State and his dynamic leadership has produced the type of visible results which are consistent with GovernorBabatunde Fashola’s mega-city ambitions. In particularly, Josephhas made advances in education, healthcare and recreation with the establishment of a Lagos State vocational centre. Under this young man’s result-oriented leadership, constituents seem to agree that younger is better indeed.

Bamikole Omisore

Bamikole Omisore is currently the Special Assistant on Media and Advocacy to Senator Bukola Saraki, a former governor of Kwara state and chieftain of the All Progressive congress (APC).Omisore is largely responsible for his principal’s relationships with the press and public, working to project na untainted image for the medical doctor turned politician. Omisore also works as a special adviser for UNESCO and was once the diaspora coordinator for the Dele Momodu presidential campaign.

Adedapo Lam-Adesina

Born into one of Oyo State’s most prominent families, Lam-Adesina followed in the footsteps of his father to pursue a career in politics after stints in the oil and gas and construction sectors. In 2011, he was named Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Oyo State and remained in that capacity until 2013 when he was moved to the Industry, Applied Science and Technology ministry. One of governor Ajimobi’s most trusted cabinet members, the younger Lam-Adesina is also one of the longest serving commissioners in the present dispensation.

Garba Abdullahi Idris

Representing Kontagora Federal Constituency of Niger State at the House of Representatives is the youthful lawmaker Garba Idris, elected on the platform of the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC). Anyone who is aware of how politics is played in these parts knows that committee leaderships are a big, big deal for our legislators, and Idris is one of the minority lawmakers to head a committee in the lower house. Idris’ House Committee on Population may be mostly out of the news spotlight, but he definitely wields the power that he possesses.

Ismail Ahmed

There are those who make noise on Twitter and other social media platforms, then there are those who work quietly behind the scenes. Ahmed belongs in the latter category. Barrister Ismail Ahmed is the chairman of the Youth Forum of the All Progressive Congress (APC). Initially of the CPC, Ahmed has been in the forefront of gathering young professionals and progressives under one umbrella to represent the interests of the youth and negotiate a gradual shift of power from the elders.

Jude Imagwe

As Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Student Matters, Jude Imagwe serves as a bridge between the president of the federal republic and  the biggest voting bloc in the country. A recipient of the national honour MON, Imagwe was the first post-graduate student to be elected president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). His office also played a pivotal role in the selection of youth delegates for the upcoming national conference.

Olumide Osoba

The son of the former governor of Ogun state, the younger Osoba may have leveraged on his father’s connections to get into the game but his steady rise has been impressive, representing Abeokuta North Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives where he serves in the Aids, Loans and DebtManagement Committee as well as the Communications, GasResources, Human Rights and Solid Minerals DevelopmentCommittees. Osoba is reportedly being groomed for higher political offices in the near future.

Umar Bello Magaji

Barrister Umar Bello Magaji hails from Kaduna state and is based in Abuja. In 2007, he became the first national student leader of the ruling PDP and has served as the Director of Mobilization, PDP Youth Vanguard. Known in political circles as a massive mobiliser of youth, especially in northern Nigeria, Magaji iscurrently the president of the Youth for Change Initiative. During the 2011 elections, he worked as a member of the youth wing of the PDP presidential campaign council.

Uwak Robinson Edet

The legislator from Akwa-Ibom representing theOron/Mbo/Okobo/Urefong/Udung-Uko Federal Constituency is at 36, one of the youngest members of the House of Representatives. Elected in 2011 on the PDP platform, Uwak has served in various house committees from Agriculture to MarineTransport and was in the news for some time in 2012 when he called for the sack of the minister for petroleum Diezani Alison-Madueke. He will do well to pick his battles, though. Everyone knows there are some which one cannot win.