With each year, it becomes clearer to the editorial board at YNaija, the premium our annual New Establishment list places on the work of young emerging players in diverse field within Nigeria.

Providing that first wave of recognition for the work that the men and women of our annual lists do in the communities is important for their growth and for our commitment to support innovation, courage and personal excellence.

Many of the alumni of our lists have gone on to do fantastic things, proving yet again, that our lists sieve through the morass of activity and nepotism that clog our creative industries and highlights the hidden gems within.

This year’s list is no different; from multi-disciplinary artists securing prestigious placements, self-taught developers founding some of the web’s most celebrated platforms, entrepreneurs breaking barriers on social entrepreneurship and activists galvanising the globe into action, the New Establishment class 2019 has proven they have the mettle to take on the world.

Entertainment, Culture, Technology, Advocacy, Media, Politics, Enterprise, Fashion

POLITICS

Ferdy Adimefe (politics)

As the CEO and Team Lead of the Imaginarium, a collective of media companies dedicated to redefining digital media and content creation in Africa, Ferdy Adimefe has been trying to understand the thought processes, interests and tastes of the Nigerian millennial youth. But he has also been at the heart of that demographic, first with his radio show on Smooth FM 98.1, his decade long work with the Creative Nigeria Project, a bi-monthly offline event dedicated to providing networking opportunities for young creatives and his work pastoring popular youth church The Tribe Lagos. With a view on politics, entertainment and business through his work with the Century Group (an Oil and Gas conglomerate operational in Nigeria), it was only a matter of time before Adimefe tried his hand at solving the country’s problems through political office.

Adimefe is running to represent the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency under the Alliance for A New Nigeria political party and is one of the few religious leaders choosing to take on political office at the legislative level. No matter what comes of the elections in this year, Ferdy Adimefe’s political run has and will define a new approach to politics in the country.

Ndi Kato (Politics)

Even if you don’t follow politics in Nigeria, you have either directly or indirectly felt Ndi Kato (more popularly known as YarKafanchan)’s impact on the Nigerian Political space. The Kaduna state politician has been a thorn in the hide of the incumbent government, always quick to highlight the plight of oppressed communities in Kaduna state and the oversight of the government and state levels. She is peerless as a female politician, harnessing the power of social media to bring visibility to causes she is passionate about, encourage other women to take an interest in and actively participate in politics at every level.

Unafraid of anyone, Ndi Kato has stood up to the Federal and State governments, challenging them to accountability in their actions and their treatment of the electorate under their purview. In 2018, Ndi Kato decided to take advantage of the recently passed ‘Not Too Young To Run’ Bill, for which she had strongly advocated, to throw her hat in the ring for the chance to be the PDP’s house representatives flag bearer for the 2019 elections. She ran an entirely transparent campaign for the nomination, rallying women across the country to her cause and crowdfunding the fee for a nomination ticket. When she was asked to step down for another candidate, she voiced her disappointment on the social platforms where she had begun her campaign and promptly continued her duty of holding the government and her party to a higher standard of accountability.

Ndi Kato is a peerless politician and a shining example of the great future women in politics can forge for themselves in Nigeria.

Gbadegbo Vivour Rhodes (politics)

As the 2019 elections draw close, much of the conversation has revolved around too few young, educated Nigerian millennials are taking on the challenge of active politics. It is understandable considering the successive military and democratic regimes that have constantly flouted the rule of law and enriched themselves and the increasing opportunities that technology affords this particular generation that many of them are considering a way out instead of through. Gbadegbo Rhodes-Vivour has other ideas.

The 35 year old Ph.D holder and graduated of the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) had a celebrated run as a career architect, serving in the United States as part of the team that rehabilitated New Orleans following the dreaded Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He also worked extensively with team that organized the Beijing Olympics in Summer 2008; all before he even did his National Youth Service.

After returning to Nigeria, Rhodes-Vivour has founded his own company Spatial Tectonics while serving on the boards of Delta International and Alhuda construction. Spurred by the inequality in housing and policy in the country, Rhodes-Vivour joined the Kowa Party, serving as their senatorial candidate. In 2018, he moved to the People’s Democratic Party where he is currently running for the Lagos West Senatorial District Seat. Rhodes-Vivour is championing a different kind of politics, one that is grounded in academia and structured around progressive policy, and he will certainly be a force to reckon with in the coming years.

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