Amazing throwback: 11 Most Influential Nigerians Under 20

7. Noble Ezeala – 19

Noble is the ‘gossip blogger.’ His criticism of the Nigerian entertainment industry is, at once, annoyingly harsh, and humourous. Infact, he has a very investigative eye which could be described as the best. Very nosy about what is happening in Nigeria, while a student at College Park, Baltimore in the US, Noble has the gift of the gods, as he has a compelling way of keeping the readers wanting more of what he has to ‘gossip’ about. Truth is, he doesn’t call himself a ‘gossip’, but we know it is what he does, as he has actually got annoyed with what Ini Edo wore to a party and wasn’t impressed with one of the videos of Wande Coal.

Noble is now a lawyer (LLB, University of Hull and LLM, University of Reading) and a blogger for Style HQ. He writes for YNaija and is on the cast of Shade Corner, an AccelerateTV show. He has also worked with brands like Grey Velvet and others.

8. Adebayo Oke-Lawal – 19

One of the least well-known designers in Nigeria, maybe, because he’s young? Well, now that he’s the Creative Director of Onyx & Pearl, ‘Bayo, (this is what most people call him) can’t get onto the red carpet and you won’t notice him. Intelligent, focused, geeky as well and amazingly Bohemian in dressing, he has clothed fellow young celebrities, like Jon Ogah and MoCheddah and works at one of the city’s top artsy joints, LifeHouse. He doesn’t talk much, but he does much. He has his eyes set on conquering the world, as he has just graduated from university and is ready to break records with his designs. Still, a lot of people consider his designs as childish, but come to think of it, they are on their way to stardom, like LaQuan Smith was, a few years ago. So, it’s about time we embrace him and say to him, ‘Young man, you are great!’

Adebayo Oke-Lawal is now a well-known Nigerian designer behind the menswear fashion brand, Orange Culture. He has worked with many African designers and celebrities like Tiwa Savage, Ice Prince, Rita Dominic, etc. His designs have been featured in Vouge, Genevieve Magazine, TW, FAB Magazine and many more. In 2016, he received The Future Awards Africa Prize in Fashion and Design.

9. Chizitere Ojiaka – 20

No one on this list travels more than she does. And no one can fault that conclusion too. From Paris to Frankfurt to Venice to New York to Maryland to Lagos to Nsukka and to where angels fear to tread, Chizitere Ojiaka is fearless. She has created a distinctive way of connecting with people. At 20, she is an artiste manager, publicist and final year student of economics at the University of Nigeria and has done investigative reports for newspapers and written for magazines, both at home and abroad. Her images of the Nsukka Riot made the front pages of the Guardian in January. She has been interviewed by Financial Times (London) by famous Kenyan writer, Parselelo Kantai and heads a media organization. Her book on war is already inducing shudders. But the thing is, can she for once sit down and finish it?

Chizitere received a Masters in Sustainable Development from Royal Holloway, University of London, and according to her LinkedIn page, she is conducting Research on Food Waste Managment in Nigeria.