Adulv Niyborg
Adulv Niyborg | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Adulv Tomas Ndeme Niyborg 18 February 1962 |
| Nationality | Vyvlander |
| Alma mater | University of Mafiy |
| Occupation | Business portfolio and newspaper owner |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Net worth | µ262 million |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse(s) | Aliza Johanson 1 April 1986 |
| Children | 2 daughters |
| Parent(s) | Tomas Niyborg Eva Iqhanwe |
Adulv Niyborg (pronounced /adʊlv njʏboɾi/ is a prominent Vyvlander businessman and candidate for the 2014 presidential election. He is current heir to the Niyborg family business portfolio, after his father, Tomas, died in 1990. Niyborg, through his investment group NNJ Engeldeng owns controlling stakes in the national Entwerd newspaper, insurance company Leevmutual AK, and pharmaceuticals company Vydroha, in addition to a dynamic portfolio of other business interests.
Early life and business interests
Adulv was born in 1962 in his family's small estate outside Grinel, seventy kilometres northwest of Vlud. The marriage between his mother and father had generated much interest in the years before his birth as one of Vyvland's first high-profile interracial marriages; his mother hails from Iwisigodi in Magane. However, Adulv experienced a relatively secluded childhood, being taught from home for the first few years of his life before moving on to the exclusive private Mreusre School. He enrolled in the University of Mafiy to study economics in 1980.
He took the helm of the family business in 1990 after his father died of cancer. Since then, through investments, Niyborg has doubled his inherited wealth, purchasing national paper Entwerd in 1999. Adulv married his wife, Aliza Johanson, in 1986, although the couple split up from 2000 to 2005. The pair have two daughters.
Politics
Niyborg has been a vocal supporter of moderate left-wing and liberal causes, and has donated significantly to the Liberal Party. However, he remains politically independent, stating that he has his "own beliefs which [he doesn't] want to be compromised by affiliation to a one-size-fits-all political party". He is a noted environmentalist, having invested significantly in green technology and donating 10% of his income to environmentalist causes over the last 4 years.
In 2013, Niyborg described his 'political idol' on talk show Fesdag Fisnakt as Teuvo Lindqvist, black leader of the Nevan Moderate Left party from 2007 to 2009. He stated that this was because "Lindqvist proved that black people can have a voice in somewhere even as racist as Nevanmaa," and that his struggle against his inability to be represented in the Diet and the constant threat of racial attacks was "brave; something only one in a million of us could even think about putting up with." Niyborg describes Lindqvist as "not just a model to anyone of racial or ethnic minority, but a model to us all." Lindqvist and Niyborg are understood to be relatively close personal friends.
In December 2013, Niyborg announced he would run for President of Vyvland in the 2014 presidential election. He has garnered support among the centre-left, although many have criticised his extensive business interest and connections. In May, he gained the support of the Greens in the race. However, Niyborg was eliminated from the running in the first round, after coming fourth with 11.2% of the vote, just 0.3% behind third-placed King Verdnand. In a post-election interview on VNB, Niyborg indicated he was pleased with his result, and that it "showed that the progressive, moderate left is still a force in Vyvland," although admitted that he would have liked a top-three finish.