YNaija, the internet newspaper for the young Nigerian, has announced its latest innovative column, Y! Pop-of-Culture. Y! Pop-of-Culture is a newly commissioned series on the website popular for focusing on the issues and ideas important for an evolving generation across the continent. It follows the distinguished tradition of YNaija columns, including FrontPage for national issues, Policy Hub for policy, Politico for politics and 30 Days, 30 Voices for a variety of global experiences.“Y! Pop-of-Culture will give thought leaders in the creative industries, and entertainment and culture spaces an opportunity to connect with audiences in different fields including art, media, music, film/TV, publishing, radio, fashion & style, design by speaking to the important issues and ideas they should be paying attention to,” said editor-in-chief, Chude Jideonwo. “What the column is doing is building an elite group of young professionals who are authorities and influencers in the space and have them keep the ideas that are definitive for their sectors on the front burner. “Columnists span art, television, music, movies, media, radio and the web. “These are the best of the cool kids!” Jideonwo added.The Y! Pop-of-culture which will be published once a month is in line with YNaija’s proven track-record of espousing ideas and provoking thought amongst Nigeria’s Y! Generation. The next installment of the column will be published in February.

Profiles of the eight carefully curated columnists, all below the age of 30, are below:

 Profiles of Pop-of-Culture

Seun Ajayi:
Ajayi is an actor, who is currently juggling the art and business of media. He is the founder of the Head of Talent at www.veestaonline.com. He tweets from @seun_Ajs.

Ifeanyi Dike Jr:
Dike Jr is an actor, editor and screen-writer. His credits include M-Net’s Tinsel, Ndani TV, Teen Y! and Nigerian Idol. In 2011, he was named one of FAB magazine’s list of ‘Top 30 Nigerians Under 30’. Read his ongoing concerns on wwwIfeanyiDikeJr.com, @IfeanyiDikeJr on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

Rayo is a full-time writer and editor with years of experience in print and online media, and publishing. Her works have been published in newspapers and magazines. She has two law degrees but has no idea what to do with them. In her spare time, she is a painter (of her nails). She runs an art site: www.artyliving.com and tweets at @adebolarayo.

Ifeoma Jennifer Areh:

Better known as ‘Oma Areh she is a Communication and PR strategist. She is the Head, Strategy and Communications, WildFlower PR & Company. A self-described introverted free-spirit, she enjoys reading, travel and delicately exotic cuisine and is married with children. Catch Oma on plus.google.com/+OmaAreh or  @wildflowerpr.

Tolu ‘Toolz’ Oniru:After spending 12 years in the United Kingdom, where she also worked with MTV, Toolz, who claims to be as Naija as the boli and epa (roasted plantain & peanuts) lady on your street corner, returned to Lagos in 2009, and has worked at Beat FM ever since, presented The Midday Show on Weekdays. She is also the presenter of Ndani TV’s The Juice, and runs her own blog at toolzo.net. She tweets @Toolzo.

Sheifunmi Nomia-Yusuf:

Nomia-Yusuf is an on-air personally with credits including MTV MAMA’s, Nigerian Idol ’10  and a journalist who has worked with MTV UK, OK!, Ebony, Y!/YNaija.com and FAB. He blogs at sheifunmi.net and tweets @sheifunmi.

Sonia Irabor:

Irabor is  an Assistant Editor and columnist at Genevieve Magazine. She writes the monthly columns, ‘Editorially Yours’ and ‘Here’s the Thing’. She also works in PR and is a writer of fact (-ish) and fiction. Her pieces have been featured in publications in London and Nigeria and she hopes to continue to add to that library. In her spare time, she is a ukulele strumming, music-loving, fan of film and theatre who has resolved not to have chipped nail polish in 2014.