Seun Awogbenle, The Change maker, Amplifying The Voice of Nigeria’s young population
“Contrary to jaundiced views and opinion about the bulk of Nigeria’s Youth population, Seun Awogbenle is a breed apart, who embodies the true character of the Nigerian Youth, enterprising and valuable.” – Esan Babatunde Victor
The sad reality in Nigeria today, is that there are very few young Nigerians, who are full of optimism and enthusiasm about the future of a great Nigeria. Most young people believe that the country is rigged against them and are sad that the country has failed them.
Unlike many young Nigerians, Seun Awogbenle offers unprecedented hope and light at a time when such is completely forlorn. He believes that Nigeria’s vibrant youth population can be the generation that ends deprivation, inequality, poverty, hunger and diseases.
As a Public Affairs Analyst, Communications Expert, Advocate for Good Governance and Youth Inclusion in Politics, Seun is a change maker who has renewed hope and faith in many young Nigerians.
An authoritative voice in his work as a Public Affairs Analyst in different reputable media platforms across Nigeria. He is also the Co-founder of Milennials Active Millenials Active Citizenship Advocacy Africa Network (MACAA), a civil society that advocates for Active Citizenship to bring about good leadership.
His commentary and opinions on socio-economic and political issues are well put together with facts and figures. Every time he speaks, whether on radio or TV or on the podium, he examines the delicate situations and implications of the myriad actions of Nigerian and her institutions. He proffers solution and give insights on the future of a great Nigeria. He has also taken the stage, speaking at various platforms including TEDx. He has also participated as a panelist/discussant at a various events including Ivotenaija and a host of others.
The composure, confidence, and detailed research with which he has assessed many salient issues has continued to set him apart.
I must say, aside from breaking down his analysis in a way viewers or listeners understand, Seun is a man of numbers who establishes facts using authentic statistics in his analysis. This can be credited to being a graduate of Biochemistry. It is more likely however to be an outcome of a well read, widely knowledgeable and all round individual that he is.
Seun Awogbenle is fresh of a breath air to discussion in social matters. He goes beyond using his voice as a job but also walks the talk.
Through the MACAA Network, he advocates for positive course of actions cum framework by new generation of Citizens (particularly the Youth) which will rekindle optimism for a better Nigeria and consequently improve the Nation. Seun is also the converner of the Citizens Conference, an annual platform where leaders across all sectors proffer solutions and tender important recommendations for a collective national action.
Above all, Seun is a down-to-earth person with the principle of developing others alongside himself. As a volunteer for the Citizens Conference, I remember Seun getting himself acquainted with all volunteers and explaining in detail what the Citizens Conference aims to achieve and giving the volunteers opportunities to give suggestions on how they can improve the event. After the successful planning and hosting of the event at the University Of Ilorin, he made it clear to every volunteer that the success of the program was down to our collective effort. Furthermore, he shed light on the importance of being a voice and active participant in good initiatives in building ourselves and ultimately, a greater Nigeria.
I can’t but express my gratitude to Seun Awogbenle. In my goal for self development through my passion for the media, I sought for internship publicly on a social media platform where I tagged many media houses and also, because of my initial contact with him as a volunteer for MACAA, I tagged Seun Awogbenle too. Truth be told, he didn’t owe it to me to reach out. But of all media platforms and personalities that I reached out to, Only Seun contacted me!
Even in his individual capacity as compared to the popular corporate media, he talked to me, not face-to-face which is even more surprising, asked me my interests, what I’m good at in media and my strengths. Thankfully, with his help, I was able to get an interview for internship with a Radio station in Lagos. The rest is history, I aced the interview, and my ladder to my goals begins because of the opportunity Seun gave me.
Quoting what he once said to me “The truth is our lives are not complete without other people”, this, I believe is a principle he eschews by adding value always – to others, his country and Intellectual discourse.
Esan Babatunde Victor