YNaija.com launches ‘New Voices’ daily column today | Arit Okpo, Aderonke Adebanjo, Ore Fakorede, 11 others take the lead on conversations that matter

The editors of YNaija.com today announced a fresh new column, ‘New Voices’ today – a daily column that presents the very best of a new generation of Nigerian writers sharing on the Nigerian experience, our everyday realities and what you may call the human condition as it relates to our country and its people.

“As readers would know, YNaija is focused on being the thinking man’s guide to the issues and ideas that matter for young people as well as the human condition,” says Isime Esene, who is managing editor. “We want to challenge thinking, disrupt presumptions, and shape conversation.

“We have doubled down on these efforts in the past few month – launching a series of blogs, podcasts and video content that drive dramatic, and impactful storytelling – including our 3-week series on survivors of Boko Haram, just concluded.”

Important to this mission is the discovery and celebration of new, strong, even inevitable, voices – that have a fresh take on issues and ideas around news and culture. YNaija.com’s ‘New Voices’ will curate and spotlights some of Nigeria’s best-uncorrupted voices who think different, refuse to stand with the crowd and understand the way the world through works.

The focus is breaking down complex ideas and fresh voices that explain Nigeria, and the world.

It would be recalled that the YNaija.com Opinion desk not just curates the country’s best voices and perspectives but has also consistently presented columnists who have gone on to represent the best of Young Nigeria.

Its YNaija FrontPage column, for instance, paraded a stellar shelf including Akintunde Oyebode, who supervises the N25 billion Lagos State Employment Fund; Iyin Aboyeji, whose start-up Andela this year secured $24 million in funding from the Zuckerberg-Chan Foundation; Temie Giwa whose innovative blood bank LifeBank got her on the BBC’s ‘100 Women’ list and Tolu Ogunlesi who is now Special Assistant to the Nigerian President on New Media.

Below are the names and profiles from of the elite team of ‘New Voices’ columnists:

Adeboro Odunlami: Adeboro is a graduate of Law, a photographer and a collector of experiences. You probably, most likely, already know her.

Adetoye Sokunbi: Toye is a content developer and lover of arts with an eye for detail. Since he discovered words, silence has never been more precious. He’s had nothing to say to anyone ever since. He’s had no need to.

Arit Okpo: Arit is a highly versatile Content Producer, Presenter, Writer and Speaker. She currently produces and presents The Crunch, the flagship news show for the Ebonylife TV platform, where she discusses and analyses current affairs issues and stories. Arit has also presented travel show Destinations Africa; politics show Naija Politics and cooking show Chefrican, also on the Ebonylife TV platform. She is passionate about telling the African story from a positive and powerful perspective.

New voices- AyodotunAyodotun Rotimi-Akinfenwa: Ayodotun is  a Conservative Rebel and a Brand Manager turned Music Business Manager, Writer, Blogger and Content Creator. She built almost a decade’s worth of experience in Brand Building, Strategy and Events across Nigeria and other parts of West Africa before her sojourn into the music business. In addition to music, she blogs from www.lifestylehues.com which is a fun, lifestyle and inspirational  platform where she discusses today’s issues with a slightly eccentric  perspective.

Bolade Ogunfuye: Bolade is a writer and multi-media development professional. He began as a writer, and has since expanded his repertoire to include media content design and development, brand strategy, new media, advertising and PR with a career spanning the last decade. He is addicted to caffeine, sartorial excellence, sarcasm, true crime and media content of the highest quality; and is very fluent in double-speak.

Okolo Edwin: Edwin writes to explore concepts that he seeks to understand but cannot directly experience because of gender and genetics. He used to run the experimental fiction column ‘The Alchemist’s Corner’ and created the YA series Seams at The Naked Convos and serves as a fiction editor at Stories NG. He has written for Thelonelycrowd, Sable Lit Mag, Omenana and the Kalahari Review and was longlisted for the Short Story Day Africa Prize. He is obsessed with children, cats and Paternak, exactly in that order.

Ezinne Ajoku
Ezinne Ajoku

Ezinne Ajoku: Ezinne is a writer and editor. She loves good music and Shawarma.

Ifeoluwa Adedeji: Ifeoluwa is a graduate student at Ohio University’s Centre for International Studies where he engages research focused on Africa. Prior to this position, he has taught government studies at Nasarawa State Polytechnic; done policy research at the African Policy Research Institute, Abuja; and worked in Public Relations at Red Media Africa. In 2015, he was selected by the British Council as the Nigerian delegate on the Going Global 2015 Conference panel on graduate unemployment and entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa, and recently was shortlisted for the World Innovation Summit on Education Learners’ Voice Program. He has a degree in political science from the University of Ibadan.

Lekan Olanrewaju: Lekan is a media professional and enthusiast with a passion for storytelling and building innovative platforms. He has served as Features Editor and Associate Producer with Generation Y!, in addition to working as a screenwriter, with credits including Mnet’s Tinsel and Hotel Majestic, and EbonyLife TV’s Dowry.

Omar-Farouk
Omar-Farouk

Omar-Farouk Edu: Omar-Farouk, 25, has a Bachelor’s in Drama/Creative Writing for Kingston University London and a Master’s in Acting for Film in New York and Los Angeles. He has a few short stories and poetry under his belt, as well as IMDB credits for two American movies. He also landed a scene in Nigerian production, The CEO and is presently building his personal magazine.

Ore Fakorede: Ore is a content strategist and self-professed feminist. He has previously written for YNaija and Y!. His literary work explores music, women’s rights and relationships.

Damilola Taiwo
Damilola Taiwo

Damilola Taiwo: Damilola is a happy go lucky writer living in the human mess that is Lagos. He has written for True Love West Africa, Soundcity Blast Magazine and a few other publications in the past.

Wilfred Okiche: Medic. Writer. Reader. Critic. Occasional ruffler of feathers. Works in a health centre in Lagos but manages to find the time to pursue other interests. His writing has appeared on various print and online platforms. He has provided editorial assistance to the UK Guardian and appears on the culture tv show, Africana Literati. He tweets @drwill20.

Aderonke Adebanjo
Aderonke Adebanjo

Aderonke Adebanjo: Aderonke is an On-Air Personality (OAP) on SMOOTH 98.1FM where she hosts The Drive Time show, which provides the right balance of entertainment and education to get listeners through traffic in the Lagos metropolis. The show offers useful information, great music, and interesting chit chat and interviews.

Aderonke is also a writer/blogger, which she demonstrates on her increasingly popular blog called The Love Chest (TheLoveChest.com). She loves great conversation, a good laugh, and ice cream!

“We hope you are able to join us for this important project,” Esene says. “As we engage and elevate the conversation, and ultimately inspire action that matters, for a new, crucial generation.”

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