Page 48 - Future Leaders 2018-2019

Profiles over

The Top 10 6 5

VENANDAH MADANHI, 21 ORE OGUNBIYI, 21

School: Aston University School: University of Cambridge
Course: Law (LLB) Course: Human, Social & Political Sciences (BA)
Year: Graduated Year: Graduated
Grade: First class Grade: 2:1
‘Going against the grain’ and ‘making a difference’ are two of the This year’s number five, Ore Ogunbiyi, is a textbook example
things that come to mind when describing Venandah Madanhi of how important it is that more black students go to
at number six this year. Russell Group universities and, once there, aren’t afraid to be
In July 2017, Venandah co-founded a politically neutral campaign unapolagetically who they are.
called ‘Our Brexit’ (OB), because she felt it was imperative that In 2016, she co-founded the Benin Bronze Appreciation
young people aged 16-25 (whom the platform is aimed at) had Committee which focused on repatriating looted artefacts
the opportunity to engage with the issue and have their say. OB that resided in Jesus College (where she studied) and
was designed as an online portal and community where users subsequently the wider university. Their first focus was
could make Brexit vlogs, engage with infographics, participate in the removal of The Okukor, a bronze statue of a cockerel,
online polls, network with others and interview their local MP. originally from Benin, which had been in Jesus College since
It also provides a networking aid for people to come together in the 1930s. This involved writing a research proposal, which
person for events and debates. Ore took charge of and presented to a number of the powers
OB’s first Brexit poll received 300 votes in the first 24 hours and that be at Cambridge, including the Vice Chancellor.
a total of 8,981 impressions on Twitter (@OurBrexit). Venandah The process also involved contacting the Nigerian
also organised and facilitated an OB focus group comprised of government and arranging a meeting with Prince Akenzua of
eight young people, Pat McFadden MP (Wolverhampton South Benin, the great-grandson of the Benin monarch from whom
East) and representatives from a partner organisation called the artefact was stolen. Their efforts were successful and the
We Can Win. The focus group was the first of a series called statue was taken down.
‘Question Time with MPs’. The Question Time was a success and ‘The main arguments we highlighted were that this was a
In October 2017, Venandah was invited on to local TV station stolen item and that the rightful owners had been asking
MADE in Birmingham to discuss it, alongside Pat McFadden. for its return since 1914’, says Ore of the research document.
Other MPs OB managed to secure for ‘Question Time’ events “It is easy sometimes in academic spaces to overcomplicate
included Emma Reynolds (Wolverhampton North) and Jess things, but it was a simple case of what is right and what is
Philips (Birmingham Yardley). wrong. Taking something that doesn’t belong to you is wrong.”
In December 2017, Venandah was invited to be part of an The work done by Ore and her team has led to a continued
exclusive audience for BBC Radio 5’s first live broadcast of conversation between the Royal Court of Benin and the
#Brexitcast which also aired on BBC World. university on the future of its collection of artefacts.
Her work on the campaign has also seen her invited to attend She was president of the ACS in her second year, where
a meeting at the BBC to pitch OB to David Jennings (Head she was instrumental in photographing and initiating
of BBC West Midlands), Nick Watson (BBC Sunday Politics the society’s most successful media campaign ever,
Producer) and Tim Warren (BBC, digital editor). The pitch was #BlackMenofCambridgeUniversity, which saw her
successful and meetings are being held to agree how the BBC representing the society on BBC News, Victoria Derbyshire
and OB will work together in the future. Live and Channel 5 News.
Having being awarded a scholarship, Ore will attend
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Columbia University in New York this autumn (2018).
A successful international commercial solicitor dealing with
some big cases, also running a successful social enterprise Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
focused on young people having discussions on politics, health With my own show on Al Jazeera, committed to talking
and other world issues. about Africa in ways more representative of the continent.

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46 FUTURE LEADERS 10 ANNIVERSARY EDITION