Draft:Isime Esene

Esene was born on 16 January 1983 in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. His father worked as a journalist with Ogun State Television (OGtv), while his mother was an educationist. He completed his secondary education at Baptist Boys' High School in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and attended Lagos State University in Ojo, Lagos State, for his tertiary education.

Esene began his professional career at Y!/YNaija, a youth-oriented digital media platform, where he served as a writer and later as managing editor. He was involved in coverage of national events,{{Cite web |last=Esene |first=Isime |date=2016-12-13 |title=YNaija Analysis: Like Jonathan, Buhari has become a very dangerous president » YNaija |url=https://ynaija.com/ynaija-analysis-like-jonathan-buhari-become-dangerous-president/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=YNaija |language=en-GB}} including Mark Zuckerberg's visit to Nigeria in 2016.{{Cite web |last=Esene |first=Isime |date=2016-08-30 |title=BREAKING: Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg arrives Nigeria (PHOTO) » YNaija |url=https://ynaija.com/breaking-facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-arrives-nigeria-photo/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=YNaija |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Esene |first=Isime |date=2016-08-31 |title=YNaija Analysis: What Zuckerberg's arrival in Nigeria really means » YNaija |url=https://ynaija.com/ynaija-analysis-zuckerbergs-arrival-nigeria-really-means/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=YNaija |language=en-GB}} He subsequently joined Red Media Africa, the public relations division of Red Africa,{{Cite web |last=Communication |date=2015-05-12 |title=Toyin Poju-Oyemade, Nosa Oyegun, others join leadership at Red Media Africa... Isime Esene appointed into Management Board |url=https://www.redafrica.xyz/toyin-poju-oyemade-nosa-oyegun-others-join-leadership-at-red-media-africa-isime-esene-appointed-into-management-board/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=RED {{!}} For Africa |language=en-GB}} where he worked on strategic communications projects for organizations such as Meta, Access Bank, Union Bank, and Nigerian Breweries.

In pursuit of a focus on international education, Esene founded Vive Africa, a marketing communications agency that supports international higher education institutions in student recruitment and brand development across Africa. Under his leadership, the agency collaborated with the University of Sussex on the Nigeria Market Sentiment and Study Motivations Report,{{Cite web |last=Stacey |first=Viggo |date=2022-05-06 |title=UK: research details Nigerian student sentiment |url=https://thepienews.com/research-details-nigerian-students-sentiment/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=The PIE News |language=en-GB}} which received a Certificate of Excellence from the SABRE Awards for Superior Achievement in Research and Planning.{{Cite web |title=Vive Africa Bags SABRE Awards for Research and Planning – THISDAYLIVE |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2023/05/17/vive-africa-bags-sabre-awards-for-research-and-planning/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=www.thisdaylive.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=2023 Winners |url=https://www.provokemedia.com/events-awards/sabre-awards/sabre-awards-africa/2023-winners |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=PRovoke Media |language=en}}

The agency has worked with institutions including Loughborough University,{{Cite web |last=EDITOR |date=2024-06-06 |title=Loughborough University VC visits Nigeria to foster strategic partnerships |url=https://viveafrica.co/loughborough-university-vc-visits-nigeria-to-foster-strategic-partnerships/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Vive Africa |language=en-GB}} University of Dundee, Henley Business School, University of Birmingham, and University of Warwick.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-22 |title=Vive Africa Partners University Of Warwick To Release Face Of Education Africa 2023 List – Independent Newspaper Nigeria |url=https://independent.ng/vive-africa-partners-university-of-warwick-to-release-face-of-education-africa-2023-list/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |language=en-GB}} Findings from its research have been cited by international education sector publications such as ICEF Monitor,{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-05-11 |title=Nigeria: Most students want to study abroad but many also need financial aid |url=https://monitor.icef.com/2022/05/nigeria-most-students-want-to-study-abroad-but-many-also-need-financial-aid/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=ICEF Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment |language=en-GB}} PIE News,{{Cite web |last=Stacey |first=Viggo |date=2022-05-06 |title=UK: research details Nigerian student sentiment |url=https://thepienews.com/research-details-nigerian-students-sentiment/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=The PIE News |language=en-GB}} and University World News{{Cite web |title=Nigerians are spending vast amounts on studies abroad |url=https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20220530222611861 |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=University World News |language=en}}

In 2023, Esene was appointed special assistant to Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy. His responsibilities include strategic communications planning and stakeholder engagement in support of Nigeria's digital economy agenda.{{Cite web |last=Mallum |first=Manomsi |date=2025-02-14 |title=UN Confirms Nigeria as 2025 ICEGOV Host |url=https://von.gov.ng/un-confirms-nigeria-as-2025-icegov-host/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Voice of Nigeria |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Our |date=2024-02-20 |title=Communications Ministry to provide 774 councils with Internet access |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/communications-ministry-to-provide-774-councils-with-internet-access/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=The Nation Newspaper |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=fmcwp |date=2025-03-24 |title=Project BRIDGE: Invitation for Investor Consultation |url=https://fmcide.gov.ng/project-bridge-invitation-for-investor-consultation/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=fmcwp |date=2025-01-22 |title=Ministry Collaborates with WIOCC to Accelerate Nigeria's Digital Economy |url=https://fmcide.gov.ng/ministry-collaborates-with-wiocc-to-accelerate-nigerias-digital-economy/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy |language=en-US}}

Esene has spoken at events including the London School of Economics Africa Summit{{Cite web |last=Communication |date=2017-04-01 |title=Managing Editor Y!\YNaija, Isime Esene speaks at LSE Africa Summit |url=https://www.redafrica.xyz/managing-editor-yynaija-isime-esene-speaks-lse-africa-summit/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=RED {{!}} For Africa |language=en-GB}} and a high-level discussion on political and economic leadership hosted by the United States Consulate in Lagos.{{Cite web |last=Communication |date=2016-07-11 |title=Managing Editor of Y!/YNaija.com, Isime Esene speaks on politics and economic leadership in Nigeria at the United States Consulate |url=https://www.redafrica.xyz/managing-editor-yynaija-com-isime-esene-speaks-politics-economic-leadership-nigeria-united-states-consulate/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=RED {{!}} For Africa |language=en-GB}} He has led different initiatives{{Cite web |last=Nigeria |first=Guardian |date=2019-02-16 |title=Foundation appoints Isime Esene Think-Tank chairman |url=https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/foundation-appoints-isime-esene-think-tank-chairman/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}} and contributed opinion articles{{Cite web |title=Transnational Education as Alternative Solution to Africa's 'Japa' Problem – THISDAYLIVE |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2025/03/13/transnational-education-as-alternative-solution-to-africas-japa-problem/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=www.thisdaylive.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title= Beyond the Brain Drain: Exploring the Positive Impacts of 'Japa' on Nigerian Students Abroad|url=https://www.pressreader.com/nigeria/thisday/20230725/281883007833204 |access-date=2025-04-19 |via=PressReader}} to national and international media platforms, including The Guardian (UK).{{Cite news |last1=Shearlaw |first1=Maeve |last2=Esene |first2=Isime |last3=Galvin |first3=Declan |date=2016-02-22 |title=The Lagos power list: 21 people in 21 million |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/22/the-lagos-power-list-21-people-in-21-million |access-date=2025-04-19 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

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