Emmanuel Agida

Emmanuel Agida (born August 12, 2004) ^{[1] [2]} is a Nigerian youth leader, ^[1] entrepreneur, ^[3] and philanthropist, ^[3] recognized as Nigeria’s youngest political appointee ^[2] and the youngest West Africa Youth Ambassador. ^[2] He is the founder of the Emmanuel Agida Foundation ^[2] and has been honored with an Honorary Doctorate in Youth Development and Humanitarian Services by the Chartered Institute of Public Resource Management and Politics (CIPRMP) in Ghana. ^[1]

Emmanuel Agida
Emmanuel Agida in 2024
Born	Emmanuel Agida August 12, 2004 (age 20) Oju Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria
Nationality	Nigerian
Education	University of Benin (Nigeria)
Occupation(s)	Youth leader, entrepreneur, philanthropist
Known for	Youngest West Africa Youth Ambassador
Notable work	Success Compendium, Pathway to Heavenly Places
Awards	Honorary Doctorate in Youth Development and Humanitarian Services (2024)
Website	emmanuelagida.com

Early life and education

Agida was born on August 12, 2004, in Oju Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria, into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Pius Ocho Agida, members of the Igede tribe. His father, a civil servant in the Benue State Ministry of Works, died when Agida was three years old. ^[4]

Agida attended Flombest Private Primary School and Elias International Secondary School in Lagos State. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science at the University of Benin. In addition to his university education, Agida has earned certificates in Global Politics from the International Business Management Institute in Berlin and International Healthcare from the Intelycare Nursing Institute in the United States. ^[4]

Career

In May 2021, at the age of 17, Agida was appointed Special Assistant on Media to the Commissioner for Women, Children, and Social Affairs in Osun State, ^[1] making him Nigeria’s youngest political appointee.^[5] Prior to this, he worked as the media manager for the Senior Director of Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability at Coca-Cola Nigeria. ^{[1] [4] [2]}

In April 2022, Agida was appointed Youth Ambassador by the West Africa Youth Council, making him the youngest person to hold this position. He is also the Chairman of the Governing Council of the West Africa Youth Fellowship ^[1] and the Convener of the West Africa Youth Summit.^{[6] [7]}

At the age of 15, Agida authored two books: Success Compendium and Pathway to Heavenly Places. ^[4] He has been featured in several Nigerian media outlets, including Channels TV, TVC News, AIT News, Arise News, and print publications such as The Guardian, Punch, and Leadership Newspaper. He has also spoken at events like TEDx and the Deeper Life Global Youth Convocation.^{[8] [9]}

Advocacy

As the West Africa Youth Council Ambassador, Emmanuel Agida has been a passionate advocate for youth empowerment and socio-economic development across West Africa. He has actively engaged with governmental and non-governmental organizations to promote policies that benefit young people. Agida has been vocal about the need for competent leadership in youth affairs, urging the presidency to appoint a qualified Youth Minister to address the pressing issues faced by young people in Nigeria ^{[6] [3]}

He has also emphasized the importance of integrating youth movements to foster collaboration in addressing socio-economic challenges. During his visit to UNILAG, Agida sought to promote the integration of youth initiatives aimed at enhancing cooperation for socio-economic advancement in Africa ^[10].

Agida has participated in numerous forums, discussions, and workshops to advocate for youth-led solutions to national and regional challenges. His efforts include pushing for educational reforms, job creation initiatives, and policies that support young entrepreneurs. He partnered with Lagos State University (LASU) to host the West Africa Youth Summit, creating a platform for youth engagement in regional development ^[11]. Additionally, he visited the Water Resources Minister to collaborate on sustainable development projects, demonstrating his commitment to addressing environmental issues that affect youth ^[12].

Philanthropy

In August 2019, Agida founded the Emmanuel Agida Foundation, focusing on socio-economic development. The foundation addresses issues such as zero hunger, quality education, and sustainable communities. It has provided aid to displaced families, offered scholarships, and donated learning materials to schools. The foundation has impacted over 3,000 young Africans ^{[2] [3]} through its various initiatives.^{[11] [2] [12]}

Honors and awards

In August 2024, Agida received an Honorary Doctorate in Youth Development and Humanitarian Services from the Chartered Institute of Public Resource Management and Politics (CIPRMP) in Ghana. He is the youngest recipient of this honor.^{[13] [1] [3] [2]}

References