User:Temitope Victoria/James Useghan

James Oweikimi Useghan (born in Ijora, Lagos State on 1 May 1984) is a media consultant, ravishing entertainer, and a widely respected conference and public speaker. James is the [Founder] of the First Massive Literati, a youth movement advocating for a just and egalitarian society. He was the Senatorial Candidate of Sustainable National Party, Ondo South for the 2019 Nigerian Elections

Early life
James Useghan was born on 1 May 1984 in Ijora, Lagos to a polygamous family. His father, Oluwanishola Useghan, was a businessman in the field of lumbering, while his mom (the first wife), Regina Useghan, was a fashion designer. The family hails from the Arogbo extraction of the Ijaw nation, in Ondo state.

Education
He had his primary education in Umoru Memorial Primary School and his secondary education in Surulere Secondary School in Surulere, Lagos. James received a bachelor’s degree in Creative Arts from the University of Lagos, and a Masters in Public Administration at the National Open University of Nigeria.

Career
James is presently a Media and Communication Executive with Century Group, a company he’s worked with since July, 2012. James is the author of The Competent Youth, a book that shows his passion for and involvement in a better, brighter Nigeria and his advocating for a just and egalitarian society where the youths are fully involved in democracy. During his tertiary education, James ventured into the field of drama to explore his abilities and eventually got featured conspicuously in the movie Silver Spoon acting the role Damgbeji. For James Useghan, music had been a very dear thing especially partnering with his elder brother, Michael. He was a vocalist at Fun-train Party World and Baloon between 1997 and 2000. In 1999, he released his first album with a trio called, The School Boyz. To date, he has four albums to his credit: Man de work (1999), 4 Real (2002); Morale (2007); and, Egberi-Plenty (2012). He is still a lead vocalist in his family church, Christ Anointed Kingdom Int’l Church.

The First Massive Literati (FML) movement
In February 2017, James was inspired by God to take up the action call and arouse the desire in youths to be massively involved in the political system of Nigeria during one Sunday charge where his G.O., and spiritual mentor, Reverend (Dr.) Benson I. Omomukuyo. With his pastor’s blessings, James proceeded and started what was first known as the National Youth Movement. The movement (which started as a Facebook group), centered on galvanizing youths to be active from about involved in the way our country was being governed and to get more people interested in things happening within and around the country, grew appreciably in followers and members and soon about 3,000 people were affiliated to the group. It was during the registration process that the Corporate Affairs Commission expressed concerns that the movement, under the name “National Youth Movement”, could create problems for the government. After deliberations among the various stakeholders of the group, the name “First Massive Literati” was maintained and the movement was described to be an organization that would provide the platform for massive intellectual transformation for the Nigerian youths. Initially, summits were online webinars but as the movement grew, physical meetings were being held across the states of the federation. The first official national meeting was held in Lagos where central national executive members were elected. Members from eleven states across the federation were in attendance, having sponsored themselves to the meeting venue, Faculty of Arts, the University of Lagos on the 6th of March, 2017. Speakers who graced the event include Mr. Ken Etete, Barr. Tayo Fapohunda and the event turned out to be a great success thanks to the wonderful anchoring by the national publicity secretary and former Oyo State Coordinator, Mr. Michael Ogunsina, who later stepped down for Comrade Adegoke Faith as Oyo State Coordinator. A major event held by the First Massive Literati was the popular November 4, 2017 NATIONAL ECONOMIC SUMMIT with notable speakers including Ahmed Buhari, Mattias Tsado, Fisayo Okunsanya, Ken Etete, Stanley Ijeoma, Dayo Israel, Akpo Kentebe, Theophilus David, and the massive man himself – James Useghan. Some others were unavoidably absent due to engagements on the same day. Such was the case of Mr. Fela Durutoye, who by dedicating a video to grace the occasion became technically present; and Femi Falana (SAN), who sent a representative. Talking about the First Massive Literati in view of the 2017 National Economic Summit, Comrade Ayannyi Taiwo wrote, on October 20, 2017, that FML “is a movement constituted by progressive youths who clairvoyantly foresaw and ardently believe in the bright future of Nigeria. They are young intellectual minds who are ready to commit their energy, time, and resources to gestate and chart an achievable blueprint for a better Nigeria.”

The 2019 Nigerian Elections
Ten members of the First Massive Literati contested for different offices during the 2019 General Elections in Nigeria. Two of them, Timileyin Ojoanu Awobiyi and Namo Sam contested for House of representatives in the Ijumu constituency of Kogi state and Senate House in Nasarawa respectively. Again, through the influence of James’ spiritual father Reverend Dr. B. I. Omomukuyo who related his (James’) desire, advocacy, and passion to Most Reverend Bolanle Shonekan, James was reminded that it was time to practice what he preached by actually contesting for office. Reflecting over the experience in his book, The Competent Youth, James said he decided to contest for the Senate House of Assembly after being “overpowered by their compelling and persuasive arguments and the confidence they also had in my ability.”

Then the journey began, and while he wasn’t too young to run, reality dawned on him on how too poor he was to run in view of the heavily monetized electoral campaign process. Luckily for him, he was able to raise about eleven million naira which was directed at kickstarting his campaign as he contested for the Ondo South Senate House of Assembly under the Sustainable National Party (SNP). With strategic and well-coursed action, the team started creating great impressions in Ondo South, visiting the elders, traditional leaders, and involving in mass rallies. Out of 15 contestants, James Useghan (also turning out to be the youngest contestant) came fourth in the electoral results just behind the three major political parties in Ondo South; PDP, APC, and, AA. While he didn’t win actually, the fact that he was able to rise and be fourth, surpassing eleven others is a great sign that there is a future for youths in the political system of the nation Nigeria, and very soon that power is returning where it belongs – to the youths.