Chude Jideonwo

Chude Jideonwo (born 16 March 1985) is a Nigerian lawyer, award-winning journalist and media entrepreneur. Working several years in Media, Advertising and Public Relations, he has become a respected media entrepreneur and influencer in his native Nigeria.^[1] He is also recognised as a leading expert on new/social media and youth lifestyles.^[2] Chude is also well known for his commitment to development across the African continent. He is a co-founder of the The Future Project, which is focused on inspiring leadership, building entrepreneurs, and innovative use of the media (traditional and new) tool for sustained social change. This has reached millions of Nigerians, especially young people, in about 12 years.^[3][4]

Education

Jideonwo was born in Lagos to Mr. Ifeanyi S. Jideonwo and Mrs. Ngozi A. Jideonwo, where he had his education at K. Kotun Memorial Primary School, Adebola Baptist High School and the famed Mayflower School, Ikenne, set up by Tai Solarin.

After that, he studied Law at the University of Lagos, emerging as the Best Student in Land Law. Thereafter, he was called to the Nigerian Bar in November 2007.

He concluded a Master's programme in Media and Communication at the prestigious Pan-African University, Lagos.^[5][6]

Career

TV

Chude began his career as a TV presenter on the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA^[7] between 2000 and 2005, then worked as a researcher with Celebrating Jesus (MBI) and Inside Out with Agatha, a TV show syndicated across the country where he met Adebola Williams with whom he later co-founded Red Africa. . He was also with New Dawn, which showed on the NTA Network, for three years, rising to become Associate Producer as well as heading the Special Projects division. His credits as writer, assistant director, and host include The Academy, Patito's Gang, Video 10, Big Brother Nigeria in 2006 and Moments with Mo (MNet) a year after.

At a time, he was host of Rubbin' Minds talkshow on Channels Television and frequently moonlights as an events compere.

While working at New Dawn with Funmi Iyanda, he met his future partners, who both had a show on NTA Network called Youth Talk. In the course of work, they met and decided to form a company focused on using the media as an active tool to inspire and drive young people to action. This was in 2004. RedSTRAT, the product of this alliance, was registered formally the next year.

Print

He has written and edited more than 15 publications within and outside the country. He joined the defunct NEXT Newspapers,^[8] brainchild of Pulitzer Prize winner Dele Olojede, as Copy Editor in July 2009, the youngest in that position, from where he became a member of the paper's editorial board.

Chude ran a column, "Sons and Daughters", for three years in the Sunday edition of The Guardian, profiling children of the rich and famous.

Are We The Turning Point Generation (2014)

On 25 May 2014, his collection of essays, rhetorically titled Are We The Turning Point Generation was launched in Lagos, Nigeria.^[5][9] Published by Farafina, it has toured Lagos, Abuja, Johannesburg, London, Paris and New York.

Entrepreneurship

At present, Chude is co-founder and Managing Partner of Red Africa/The Future Project, a full service media-content, communication and development company that has worked for several national and international brands. He met Adebola Williams, co-founder of Red Africa on the set of Inside Out with Agatha Amata where he formally worked as a production assistant.^[10] The firm also owns The Future Nigeria Awards, reputed as Nigeria's biggest youth event.

RED (RED Africa)

RED's brands include The Future Africa Awards Africa, Red Media Africa, Y! Africa and YNaija.com, and has consulted for global brands including Microsoft, Google, the British Council and the United States Government. It has successfully managed the campaign communication for two consecutive Nigerian Presidents. Through Statecraft Inc, RED's governance communication company, Chude led on the communication front for the Muhammadu Buhari campaign in 2015.^[11]

In 2016, StateCraft Inc. also led the communication component of the campaign that saw Nana Akufo-Addo win the presidential elections in Ghana after three previous unsuccessful attempts.^[12]

Achievements and awards

In 2011, he distinguished himself as the youngest journalist ever to interview a sitting Nigerian president; securing an exclusive sit-down with Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.^[13]

Also known as a book reviewer,^[14] his novel, His Father's Knickers, written when he was 13, was launched in 2001 in conjunction with the National Orientation Agency and the French Cultural Centre.

He was, in May 2012, appointed the youngest member of the awards committee for the Ford Foundation Jubilee Transparency Award, alongside distinguished Nigerians like Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte and Rev. Fr. Matthew Kukah^[15] and in July was appointed into the British Council's Steering Group for its Creative Industries Expo.

Nigeria's foremost daily, The Punch listed Chude alongside thirteen others, as one of the young people to watch in 2012.^[16]

Also, in 2012, BusinessDay included him and his business partner, Adebola Williams, in a 40 under 40 list,.^[17]

In February 2013, both Jideonwo and Williams were named in Forbes 30 Under 30: Africa's Best Young Entrepreneurs.^[18]

Personal life

He lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria.

References

1. ↑ "The Young Moguls that built a Media Empire in Nigeria with zero capital". Techpoint.ng. 31 October 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016. 
2. ↑ "With a Focus on Media as a Business Enterprise, Chude Jideonwo is Featured on CNN Money’s Passion to Portfolio". Bellanaija.com. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2017. 
3. ↑ "The Future Project presents the 2nd Edition of “The Nigeria Symposium for Young & Emerging Leaders” | 4th – 7th April 2013". Bellanaija.com. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2017. 
4. ↑ "Microsoft & The Future Project Launch Aiki.ng to Give Nigeria’s Youth Skills & Match Them to Jobs". Techmoran. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2017. 
5. 1 2 "Chude Jideonwo Launches His New Book ‘Are We The Turning Point Generation?’". This Day. 7 June 2014. 
6. ↑ "Interview: Chude Jideonwo talks about the challenges of Future Awards". Premium Times. 26 August 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013. 
7. ↑ "The FUTURE of Nigeria Unveiled...". The Wonderer is Dead. Long Live the Wanderer. 16 October 2006. Retrieved 4 January 2013. 
8. ↑ "Youth Champions". Federal Ministry of Youth Development. Retrieved 4 January 2013. 
9. ↑ http://lindaikeji.blogspot.com/2014/05/photos-from-launch-of-chude-jideonwos.html
10. ↑ "The Young Moguls that built a Media Empire in Nigeria with zero capital". techpoint.ng. Retrieved 9 March 2017. 
11. ↑ http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/29/africa/nigeria-elections-democracy/
12. ↑ "StateCraft works on third successful presidential campaign, congratulates President-elect Akufo-Addo". Vanguard (Nigeria). 15 December 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2017. 
13. ↑ "Take 2! Goodluck Jonathan answers the hard questions – in exclusive Y! Magazine interview!". YNaija. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2013. 
14. ↑ "Nigeria: Charles Novia's Auto-Biography, 'Nollywood Till November". AllAfrica.com. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013. 
15. ↑ "Transparency Awards: National Awards Committee". Ford Foundation. May 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013. 
16. ↑ "Young achievers to watch in 2012". Punch. 8 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013. 
17. ↑ "40 UNDER 40: Chude Jideonwo, 27, and Adebola Williams, 26". BusinessDay. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013. 
18. ↑ Nsehe, Mfonobong. Forbes http://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2013/02/23/30-under-30-africas-best-young-entrepreneurs/4/.  Missing or empty |title= (help)