# Emmanuel Agida

Emmanuel Agida (born August 12, 2003) is a Nigerian youth leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. At age 17, he became the youngest political appointee in Nigeria’s History. He is the founder of the Emmanuel Agida Foundation and has been honored with an Honorary Doctorate in Youth Development and Humanitarian Services by the Chartered Institute of Public Resource Management and Politics in Ghana, becoming the youngest Honorary Doctoral Recipient at age 20.

## Early life and education

Agida was born on August 12, 2003, in Alimosho local government, Lagos State, Nigeria, into the family of Hon. Pius Ocho Agida and Eunice Agida Owerre. He is an indigene of the Igede tribe, in Benue State, Nigeria. His father, a politician and civil servant in the Benue State Ministry of Works, died when Agida was three years old.
Agida attended Flombest Private Primary School and Elias International Secondary School in Lagos State. He was admitted into the University of Benin to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. In addition to his university education, Agida has earned certificates in Global Politics from the International Business Management Institute in Berlin, Germany, and International Healthcare from the Intelycare Nursing Institute in the United States.

## 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, making him Nigeria’s youngest political appointee. Prior to this, he worked as the media manager for the Senior Director of Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability at Coca-Cola Nigeria.
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 and the convener of the West Africa Youth Summit.

## Publications and media appearances

At the age of 15, Agida authored two books: Success Compendium and Pathway to Heavenly Places. He has been featured in several Nigerian media outlets, including Channels TV, TVC News, Africa Independent Television, 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.

## Advocacy

Emmanuel Agida’s advocacy spans across youth empowerment, socio-economic development, and governance. He has engaged with both governmental and non-governmental organizations to support policies aimed at benefiting young people.
In 2023, Emmanuel Agida advocated for the improvement of the standard of living and social welfare of the IDP camp in Nigeria during his visit to the Ichwa/Tas Yande Internally Displaced Person camp in Benue State where he also donated money, food, and educational items to over 200 families in the camp.
During his official visit to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos in 2022, Emmanuel emphasized the need for integrating youth movements to foster collaboration in addressing socio-economic challenges.
Agida has participated in forums, discussions, and workshops to advocate for youth-led solutions to regional and national challenges. His initiatives include promoting educational reforms, job creation policies, and supporting young entrepreneurs. He collaborated with Lagos State University (LASU) to host the West Africa Youth Summit, a platform that facilitated youth engagement in regional development. Agida also visited the Water Resources Minister to explore collaborative efforts on sustainable development projects aimed at addressing environmental issues and promoting The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).

## 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 through its various initiatives.

## 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 in Ghana. He is the youngest recipient of this honor.