EXTRAORDINARY NIGERIANS

These living stars are Nigerians who have made positive impact in their various industries and also serve as inspiration to young people.
“The self-made man is he who comes from unpromising circumstances, who is not born into privilege and wealth, and yet by his own efforts, by pulling himself up by the bootstraps, manages to become a great success in life.“

ALI BABA

Atunyota Alleluya Akporobomerere a.k.a Ali Baba is a stand-up comedian and actor. He has supported, mentored and presented several comedians helping to ensure that standards are maintained and professionalism encouraged. Ali Baba has been a professional stand up comedian for the past 22 years and has in the last 13 years received several awards.

FRANK OSHODI

Frank Osodi prides himself on his dynamic nature. He started his career as a model for fashion houses like Dakova, Supreme Stitches, Nikki Africanna amongst others.

JIM OVIA

Jim Ovia is in the finance/Banking industry. He is the Founder and former MD/CEO of Zenith International Bank Plc. During his two decades of meritorious leadership, he helped position the bank as one of the largest and most profitable banks in Africa. As an accomplished banker with over three decades experience, he introduced many innovations into the Nigerian banking industry.

AUGUSTINE ILODIBE

Augustine Ilodibe is the brain behind Ekene Dili Chukwu Transport Services.

DEOLA SAGOE

Deola Sagoe is a haute couture fashion designer from Ondo State, Nigeria. She is a fashion visionary with a unique approach to her craft that has endeared her to followers and critics all over the world for the past 25 years.

BIODUN SHOBANJO

Biodun Shobanjo, vice-chairman/chief executive officer of Insight Communications Limited.

OHIMAI ATAFO

Mai Atafo is a Nigerian bespoke fashion tailor. Sitting as current Creative Director of Mai Atafo Inspired, Mai Atafo continues in the trail of his early career as a Strategy Director for an Advertising Agency; Firehouse Group. As a community mentor, he heads the Future Awards Central working committee.

FUNMI IYANDA

Olufunmilola Aduke Iyanda is an award-winning broadcaster, journalist, columnist and blogger. She produced and hosted a popular talk show New Dawn with Funmi,which aired on the national network for over eight years. she was honoured as a Young Global Leader (YGL) by the World Economic Forum and was recently named one of Forbes 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa.

PASCAL DOZIE

Mr Pascal Dozie is the former MD/CEO of Diamond Bank Plc

SONNY KUKU

Sonny Kuku is the joint Chief Medical Director of Eko Hospitals plc, Lagos, Nigeria.

BUKOLA ELEMIDE

Bukola Elemide is a Nigerian-French singer, songwriter, and recording artist. Her stage name “Aṣa” means “Hawk” in Yoruba.

SEGUN ODEGBAMI

Patrick Olusegun Odegbami, often shortened to Segun Odegbami is a retired Nigerian footballer who played as a forward. He is regarded as one of the greatest Nigerian players of all-time.

AUSTIN OKERE

Austin Okere is the founder and CEO of Computer Warehouse.

CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE

She is a Nigerian novelist, nonfiction writer and short story writer. She was described in the Times Literary Supplement as “the most prominent” of a “procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors [that] is succeeding in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature

MOSES OLAIYA

Moses Olaiya was better known by his stage name “Baba Sala”, is a Nigerian comedian, dramatist and actor.

WOLE SOYINKA

Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka is a Nigerian playwright and poet. He was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature the first African to be honoured in that category.

NWUNELI NDIDI

Ndidi Nwuneli is a Co-Founder/Director of AACE Foods and a Director of Sahel Capital Partners.

TUNDE KELANI

Tunde Kelani, popularly known as TK, is a Nigerian filmmaker, storyteller, director, photographer, cinematographer and producer.

COSMOS MADUKA

Chief Cosmas Maduka is one Nigerian whose entrepreneurial skills have touched virtually all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

OMOTOLA JOLAYEMI EKEHINDE

Omotola Jolayemi Ekeinde is a Nigerian actress, singer, philanthropist and former model of an Ondo descent from Lagos, Nigeria

TAYO OVIOSU

Tayo Oviosu is the CEO of Paga, a mobile payments company he founded in 2009 to enable universal access to financial services for Nigerians.

FOLA ADEOLA

Tajudeen Afolabi Adeola is a Nigerian businessman and politician. He is a member of the Commission for Africa, and is the founder and chairman of the FATE Foundation.

MARY ONYALI

Mary Onyali-Omagbemi is a Nigerian sprinter, who won the bronze medal in the 4 × 100 m relay at the 1992 Olympic Games and in the 200 m at the 1996 Olympic Games.

ERNEST UDUKWE

Ernest Ndukwe Officer of the order of Niger is a Nigerian Electrical engineer and former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.

ISAAC DUROJAIYE

Isaac Durojaiye is the founder of DMT VT Mobile Toilet.

KEHINDE KAMSON

Kehinde Kamson, Founder of Sweet Sensation Confectionary Limited

SAM ADEYEMI

Pastor Sam Adeyemi is one of the most recognizable pastors in Nigeria. He is the president of Success Power International and also the founder of the Daystar Christian Center.

KING SUNNY ADE

King Sunny Adé is a Nigerian musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and a pioneer of modern world music.

GENEVIEVE NNAJI

Genevieve Nnaji is a Nigerian actress and singer.

NWANKWO KANU

Nwankwo Kanu is a retired Nigerian footballer who played as a striker.

LARRY IZAMOJE

Larry Izamoje pioneered Sports Radio in Nigeria and the entire Africa when he founded Sports Radio 88.9 Brila FM in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2002.

FUNKE OPEKE

Ms. Funke Opeke serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Main One Cable Company Nigeria Ltd. Ms. Opeke founded Main Street Technologies.

DURO OLOWU

Born in Lagos Nigeria, to a Nigerian father and a Jamaican Mother, he was raised between Nigeria and England.

ERASTUS AKINGBOLA

Erastus Akingbola, is a well-known Nigerian banker.

GODWIN EHIGIAMUSOE

Mr. Godwin Eseiwi Ehigiamusoe serves as Chief Executive Officer at LAPO Microfinance Bank Limited.

IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

Take control of your destiny. Believe in yourself. Ignore those who try to discourage you. Avoid negative sources, people, places, things and habits. Don’t give up and don’t give in.