Oluwaseun ADEPOJU's list of 10 young people to look out for in 2021
It is my greatest pleasure to share with you all this year's list. I have come to realize the power in believing in people through the list made last year. Despite the pandemic that held 2020 down, the people on the 2020 list defied all odds to become a better version of themselves, and they made significant progress. You can check them all out here. They have done well, and we cannot but wish them more success in the coming years.This year, as I stated in the last year's list, this is a man making a list of men, and I am doing this to lift young people who are chasing their dreams despite all the challenges around them. I am doing this for you all to be their accountability partners and cheerleaders as they pursue their passion. The most generous support you can give someone is always to tell them "I believe in you".So, this list is my "I believe in you note" to these ten young people and I hope you will all join me to tell them the same.Disclaimer: The names on this list are not necessarily the best of the best, and you may be better than them in many ways, so take no offence if you feel your name should be here and it's not here. I have compiled this list from a place of a personal relationship with some and observation for others. This list is purely my selection, and I have not received any payment to do this neither have I spoken to anyone on this list about listing them before publishing. In no particular order, I unveil to you, the Oluwaseun ADEPOJU's list of 10 young people to look out for in 2021.1. Kehinde Muraina
Kehinde is the fire if you are to buy a firelighter. His passion for development is second to none. From my first meeting with him in 2017 at the Hults Prize Pitch in Ibadan where I was a judge to our last meeting in Kigali, he remains a young man whose personality is worth betting on.Currently, Kehinde works as the Project Associate for the Public Healthcare unit of the Co-creation Hub, Nigeria. Muraina Kehinde hopes to improve the quality of healthcare in Nigeria through effective User experience and Innovation by the year 2030.If you are looking for a badass Human-centred Designer, Kenny is your plug. News has it that Kehinde has a lot of plans for 2021 in the entrepreneurship space and we cannot but wish him all the best.2. Toyin Bamidele
Oluwatoyin Bamidele popularly known as "BATEL" is not your regular man. He is a ruthless executor and one of the few Nigerian young men I can put a bet on. He is the convener of "Venture Matrix Africa", a platform that aims at connecting the dots of opportunity for economic transformation, especially amongst nigeran undergraduates. My first meeting with "BATEL" assured me that Africa has a brighter future.Toyin is undoubtedly ahead of his time when it comes to wisdom and knowledge of economic transformation. He is your plug for any project management issues, and he will transform a dead organization in two weeks through his strategic foresight.He is currently working on a book project, and I believe the book is one of the best economic bibles for the future of Africa. We cannot wait for what "BATEL" will unleash on the world in 2021.3. Temilade Adelakun
My first encounter with Temilade was at a pitching event where her team won the competition. She is passionate about technology so much that she is one of the best faces of women in tech in Nigeria and Africa at large. She is your geek with the gigs. She inspires many young ladies to pursue their technology dreams.I will not forget the women in tech event in Ibadan Nigeria, where I was a judge, and she won with a great tech idea as well. She has consistently shown that women have huge roles in tech, and she is stopping at nothing to accomplish more.We cannot wait to see all the manifestations of Temilade and her tech dreams in 2021.4. Femi Ojutiku
The "data merchant" as he is popularly called, Femi is telling a story of multipotentiality with his life, and he is telling it well. From cycling to internet data entrepreneurship and micro-angel investment, Femi is removing his layers like an onion, and we can't wait for the next layer to be unveiled.Femi is committed to a life of service which is evident in his leadership position at the Junior Chambers International. He is a peoples person, and his passion for travelling is second to none. Femi is a true definition of "digital nomad". He travels intentionally and travelling is no doubt, the best form of education. No wonder Femi has a balanced view on issues because he has seen how things are done in other places.He indeed has something new to unveil in 2021, and I am so excited what is about to hit the world from this young genius.5. Tai Farai
When you hear the word "design", replace the word with Tai Farai. She is the Director of "ImagoDA", a design and branding company. I have never seen anyone with such a vast understanding of design and branding like Tai, and each time I listen to her pieces of training, I know without any equivocation that she is going global soonest.Tai is on a trajectory of being the most excellent branding guru of the next centuries. When you see her work, you cannot but thank the God of creation, who is the most excellent designer for granting Tai such a creative acumen. We cannot wait to see Tai's creative works in 2021.6. Ayantola Alayande
"Maximus" is the name. He is the one you meet for the first time, and all you see is "global leadership". He is many things in one body—activism, intellectualism, futurism, development in Africa, Political economy and so on.I have never seen a young so confident but yet humble. Tola is an embodiment of passion and gut. He dares the impossible and laughs at roadblocks. His wisdom is beyond his days, and he cannot but sit with men of nobility at the gate.I do not doubt that UNDP, AU, WTO and IMF will be fighting to have this young man in the next few years. We can't wait to see what Tola will unveil in 2021.7. Ayodeji Abatan
People like him are in limited edition. They only come once in 10 decades. When you are looking for a man who will do anything to maintain an undivided focus on his goals despite all challenges, Ayodeji is that man. Ayodeji is a creative and the curator of "mission tribe". His mind is ultra and transcends physical realms.Ayodeji tells stories with images, and he is a youth leader of great repute. I can bet that he is a future governor in Nigeria and above all, a leader that Nigeria has never seen before. Ayodeji's 2021 is loaded, and we cannot wait to experience the fire of his impact in the coming year.8. Damilare Fakorede
Damilare is a tribe leader, and his tribe is "tribe disrupt". An energetic and passionate young man. He uses storytelling to disrupt the branding and advertisement space. He is doing it his unique way, and he is deliberate about it.He is the one always hungry for knowledge, and he goes all out to empower himself intellectually. His eyes for details makes his work and outputs excel when compared to others in his industry.He is budding but doing it excellently with records of greatness. 2021 is pregnant for Damilare, and we wish him well as he delivers.9. Lois Ugbe
If there is one thing you will learn from this young lady, it is the lesson of "consistency". She is a podcaster and budding education policy expert. I stumbled on her podcast page a while ago, and I know she is going places. In the world where many young people are confused and distracted, she is a clear signal of inspiration and grace.We are excited that she will reach more people globally with the message of hope in 2021.10. Olaoluwa Oluwashola
Calm on the face, a lion on the inside. Olaoluwa is not your regular changemaker. His passion for youth development is contagious. He has shown consistently that he is a force to be reckoned with in the present and the future. He is leading a tribe at the young leader's council, and he is doing it passionately.I am sure 2021 is loaded for this young global changemaker, and we wish him all the very best.