Chude Jideonwo is a Nigerian lawyer, journalist, filmmaker, television host and media entrepreneur whose career has influenced several areas of African media. From television and journalism to digital publishing, public relations and documentary filmmaking, he has built a professional path around storytelling and communication.
He is widely recognised as the co-founder of RED and the creator and host of #WithChude. In recent years, his work has expanded into media investment, human flourishing, creative education and long-form conversations about personal experiences and social issues.
Who Is Chude Jideonwo?
Chude Jideonwo is a Nigerian media entrepreneur and storyteller. His professional experience covers advertising, public relations, television, radio, print, film and digital media.
He co-founded RED with Adebola Williams and helped build media brands including The Future Awards Africa and YNaija. He later founded Joy, Inc. and developed #WithChude, a multimedia platform known for interviews and documentaries centred on personal stories, resilience and social issues.
In 2026, he became chairman of HBC Holdings, a holding company connected to a portfolio of media and communication businesses.
Chude Jideonwo Age and Early Life
Chude Jideonwo was born on March 16, 1985, in Lagos, Nigeria. He is 41 years old as of September 2026.
His full name is Ifechukwude Osanedum Jideonwo. He grew up in Lagos and developed an interest in writing and media at an early age.
His parents are Ifeanyi S. Jideonwo and Ngozi A. Jideonwo. He attended K. Kotun Memorial Primary School and Adebola Baptist High School before completing his secondary education at Mayflower School in Ikenne, Ogun State.
Education
Jideonwo studied Law at the University of Lagos and earned an LL.B. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in November 2007.
He later obtained a master’s degree in Media and Communication from Pan-Atlantic University, formerly known as Pan-African University.
His further professional education has included the Owner Manager Programme at Lagos Business School and the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Programme at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.
Early Media Career
Jideonwo entered broadcasting while still young. He worked as a youth presenter and later took on production and research roles in Nigerian television.
His early credits included work around programmes such as Inside Out with Agatha and New Dawn. These experiences introduced him to television production and connected him with Adebola Williams, who would later become his business partner.
He subsequently worked across journalism, public relations and media production, gradually combining creative storytelling with strategic communication.
RED and The Future Project
Jideonwo and Adebola Williams co-founded RED, a media and communications company that became one of the major ventures of his early career.
Through RED, he was involved in building brands and initiatives aimed at young Nigerians and African audiences. The Future Awards Africa became one of the best-known projects associated with the organisation, recognising young Africans for achievements across different fields.
YNaija also emerged from the RED ecosystem as a digital media platform covering entertainment, culture, lifestyle, politics and other areas of public interest.
Jideonwo served as RED’s managing partner and later moved away from the company’s executive leadership as he pursued other projects.
Joy, Inc. and Human Flourishing
In 2016, Jideonwo shifted his professional focus toward what he described as human flourishing. He founded Joy, Inc., a company focused on helping individuals and organisations create healthier and more supportive environments.
The venture broadened his work beyond conventional media production. It also influenced the themes that later became central to #WithChude, particularly conversations about emotional experiences, resilience, relationships and personal growth.
#WithChude
Jideonwo launched #WithChude in 2020. The platform developed into a multimedia interview and storytelling project featuring conversations with public figures and other people with compelling personal experiences.
The programme covers subjects ranging from career and relationships to grief, healing, identity and personal challenges. Its content appears across multiple formats, including video, audio and live events.
The platform has become one of the most recognisable parts of Jideonwo’s current career. His related work also includes #ChudeExplains, a documentary and explanatory series dealing with social justice and cultural subjects.
HBC Holdings
In January 2026, Jideonwo became chairman of HBC Holdings. His current professional profile describes HBC as a holding brand with investments and controlling interests across media and communication businesses.
The role represents another stage in his career, moving from directly operating individual media ventures toward a broader leadership and investment position within the industry.
Filmmaking and Writing
Jideonwo has also developed a career as a filmmaker. His documentary work explores social justice, culture and personal experiences, with some productions receiving festival selections and award recognition.
He is also an author. His published books include Are We the Turning Point Generation? and How to Win Elections in Africa: Parallels with Donald Trump. His other writing projects have included fiction and personal essays.
His memoir, How Depression Saved My Life, extends his storytelling into a deeply personal account of his experiences and the lessons he draws from them.
Academic and International Work
Jideonwo has taught media and communication at Pan-Atlantic University, working with undergraduate and postgraduate students.
He has also participated in international leadership and fellowship programmes. He became a Yale World Fellow and an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellow, while his professional career has taken him across several African countries.
In 2024, he became Creative-in-Residence at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Awards and Recognition
Jideonwo’s career has earned several professional honours.
He was named a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree and received the CNBC Young Business Leader of the Year award. He has also been recognised through the Yale World Fellowship and the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Programme.
His work has attracted international attention because of its combination of media entrepreneurship, storytelling, youth development and public-interest communication.
Family and Personal Life
Jideonwo was born into the family of Ifeanyi and Ngozi Jideonwo. He generally keeps much of his private life separate from his public professional work.
Rather than making unsupported claims about his relationships or family status, his public record is more clearly documented through his media, business, educational and creative activities.
Conclusion
Chude Jideonwo has built a diverse career around the power of storytelling. His journey from television production and journalism to RED, Joy, Inc., #WithChude and HBC Holdings reflects the changing nature of African media.
His work combines communication, entrepreneurship, filmmaking, education and social storytelling. As his career continues to evolve, his influence remains closely connected to the development of African media and the stories Africans tell about themselves.