Update 9: NIGERIANS OF THE MILLENNIUM!!
Uzoma Onyemaechi
Below is an UPDATED version of the list of Nigerians and events that have
made a difference in Nigerian lives in the past millennium.
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NIGERIANS OF THE MILLENNIUM!!!
ADMINISTRATORS:
1. Chief. Abel Ubeku
2. Chief. Christopher E. Abebe
3. Chief. Gamaliel Onosode
4. Chief. Michael Omolayole
5. Chief. Joseph O. Irukwu
ARTS & CULTURE:
1. Olowe of Ise-Ekiti
2. Prof. Ben Enwonwu [sculptor]
3. Mr. Emokpai [sculptor]
4. Mr. Bruce Onobrakpeya
5. Mr. Lamidi Olonade Fakeye [sculptor]
6. Omoba [cartoonist – forgot his full name]
7. Prof. Dele Jegede [cartoonist]
8. Twin Seven-Seven of Oshogbo
9. Sunday “Gboku-gboku” the mortician [please supply his real name]
10. Eyo Masquerade
11. Mkpokiti Dancers
12. Durbar
13. Argungun Fishing Festival
14. Boat Regatta
CIVIL RIGHTS:
1. NAIJANET
2. Association of Nigerians Abroad [ANA]
3. Mr. Michael Imoudu
4. Maazi. Mbonu Ojike [politics]
5. Mallam Sa’adu Zungur [advocate of the Talakawas]
6. Mallam Aminu Kano [advocate of Equality for the Poor]
7. Balarabe Musa
8. Pa Olawoyin [Champion of the Rights of the Middle Belt]
9. Prof. Bala Usman
10. Gani Fawehinmi [law]
11. Tai Solarin
12. Adaka Isaac Boro [1st Advocate for the Rights of the Minorities – Delta
Area]
13. Kunle Adepeju [1st Student Martyr]
14. Segun Okeowo
15. Ken Saro Wiwa
16. Olisa Agbakoba
17. Femi Falana
18. Fela Anikulapo-Kuti [arts/entertainment]
19. Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti
20. MOSOP
21. IJAWSS
22. All Nigerians Ever Detained {still detained} illegally by various
Governments
23. All Nigerians Killed by the various Military Junta
EDUCATION:
1. African Writers Series
2. Nigerian Union of Teachers [NUT]
3. Academic Staff Union of Universities [ASUU]
4. Non-academic Staff Union of Universities [NASU]
5. C.M.S. Grammar School, Lagos. [1st secondary school in Nigeria – June 6,
1859]
6. Yaba College of Technology [1st Nigerian Institution of Higher Learning]
7. University of Ibadan [1st University College in Nigeria]
8. University of Nigeria, Nsukka [1st Nigerian Degree Awarding University]
9. Dr. J. J. Odumosu
10. Prof. Chinua Achebe
11. Prof. Wole Soyinka [Nobel Laureate]
12. Prof. Kenneth Dike
13. Prof. Hezekiah Oluwasanmi
14. Prof. Ishaya Audu [transformed ABU from 95% expatriate faculty to 90%
Nigerian in 10 yrs!]
15. Prof. Babs Fafunwa [educationist]
16. Prof. J. F. Ade-Ajayi [history textbooks author]
17. Oba. Adekunle Aromolaran, Owa-obokun of Ijeshaland [economics textbook
author]
18. Mr. O. Lawal [economics textbook author]
19. Mr. N. P. Iloeje [geography textbook author]
20. Prof. Mabogunje [geographer]
21. Prof. Adiele Afigbo [historian]
22. Prof. Saburi Biobaku [historian]
23. Prof. Sanya Onabamiro [historian]
24. Mr. Fagunwa
25. Prof. Adeoye Lambo
26. Prof. Eni Njoku
27. Prof. Tekena Tamuno
28. Prof. Claude Ake [political economist]
29. Samuel Ajayi-Crowther
30. S. M. O. Aka [english language textbook author]
31. Olu Tomori [english language textbook author]
32. Chief. J. Odunjo [author]
33. Christopher Okigbo [poet]
34. Prof. Sam Aluko [economist – “How Many Nigerians?” still not answered]
35. Prof. Ojetunji Aboyade [economist]
36. Prof. Pius Okigbo [economist]
37. Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu [economist – originator of Imo formular]
ENTERTAINMENT:
1. Chief. Hubert Ogunde [doyen of Nigerian Theatre Arts]
2. Duro Ladipo [Oba Koso]
3. Osita Osadebe
4. I. K. Dairo
5. Victor Olaiya
6. Victor Uwaifo [Ekassa King]
7. Kokoro the Blind Musician [please supply his real name]
8. Bobby Benson
9. Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson
10. Sunday Aladeniyi aka King. Sunny Ade
11. Ebenezer “Obey” Fabiyi
12. Dan Maraya Jos
13. Mamman Shata
14. Oriental Brothers
15. Bala Miller
16. Prof. Sam Akpabot
17. Art Alade
18. The Village Headmaster
19. Masquerade
20. Igirigi Ndu
21. Iche-oku
22. Jagua Nana
23. Cockcrow At Dawn
24. Hotel De’Jordan
25. Basie & Company
26. Shaky-shaky alao
27. Ikebe Super
28. Wakabout
EVENTS:
1. Etche People’s Revolt of 1906
2. Railway Workers Strike of 1944 and/or 1945
3. Western Region’s Free Education Program [began in the ‘50s]
4. January 15, 1966 Coup [beginning of Military Rule in Nigeria]
5. July 29, 1966 Coup
6. Crisis ’66 Pogrom
7. Nigerian-Biafran War & the Casualties
8. 2nd All African Games
9. January 1, 1972 [Naira currency replaced the British pound]
10. April 1st, 1973 [Right Hand Driving Law came into effect]
11. June 12, 1993 Elections Annulment
12. 1975 Civil Service Purge [the beginning of massive corruption in
Nigerian Govt.]
13. Argungun Motor Rally
14. FESTAC’77 [the village was raffled & auctioned off to Nigerians after
the festival]
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS:
1. January 1, 1914 [amalgamation of North & South of Nigeria]
2. October 1, 1960 [Nigerian Independence Day]
3. May 30, 1967 [Birth of the Republic of Biafra]
4. October 1, 1979 [2nd Republic began]
5. June 12, 1993 [3rd Republic Elections Annulled]
6. May 29, 1999 [4th Republic begins]
7. Mr. Herbert Macaulay
8. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe
9. Chief. Obafemi Awolowo
10. Alhaji. Ahmadu Bello
11. Prof. Eyo Ita
12. Mr. E. O. Eyo
13. Alhaji. Sir. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa [1st Nigerian Prime Minister]
14. Alhaji. Shehu Shagari [1st Nigerian Executive President]
15. Dr. Alexander Ekwueme [1st Nigerian Executive Vice-President]
16. Dr. M. I. Okpara
17. Alhaji. Sir. Kashim Ibrahim
18. Mr. Alvan Ikoku
19. Ernest Ikoli
20. Mr. Joseph Tarka
21. Dr. Simeon Adebo [Adebo Award]
22. Dr. Jerome Udoji [Udoji Award]
23. Chief. Dennis Osadebe
24. Maazi. Mokwugo Okoye
25. Alhaji. Zanar Bukar Dipcherima
26. Dr. Akanu Ibiam
27. Sam Mbakwe
28. K. O. Mbadiwe
29. Chief. S. L. Akintola
30. Chief. Anthony Enahoro
31. Alhaji. Lateef Jakande
32. Chief. Osita Agwunna
33. Chief. Ernest Shonekan
34. Mr. Michael Ajasin [architect of the Free Education Program in the West]
35. Mr. Alfred Rewane
36. Biafran Babies [victims of Kwasiokor]
37. Maitatsine Islamic Group
38. City of Zungeru [birthplace of Zik, Bola Ige & co.]
39. Zikist Vanguard
40. Ibo State Union
41. Ibibio State Union
42. Egbe Omo Oduduwa
43. Afenifere
44. NADECO
45. UFDN
46. National Council of Nigerian Citizens/Camerouns [NCNC]
47. Action Group [AG]
48. Northern People’s Congress [NPC]
49. United Middle Belt Congress [UMBC]
50. Creation of States
51. All the Politicians since Independence [raped and looted our resources]
INDUSTRY & TRADE:
1. Chief. Adeola Odutola [industrialist]
2. Alhaji. M. K. O. Abiola [industrialist]
3. Sir. Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu [industrialist/transporter]
4. Alhaji. Chanchangi [transporter]
5. Alhaji. Hamza [transporter/sports]
6. Mr. Joseph Oluyide Davies [1st Transport System in Lagos – Union Bus
Transportation]
7. Chief. Igbinedion [Okada]
8. Chief. Ugochukwu [industrialist]
9. Chief. Henry Fajemirokun [industrialist]
10. Chief. Anastasias George Leventis [born and bred in Nigeria of Greek
parentage]
11. Mr. Dehinde Fernandez [industrialist/arms dealer]
12. Alhaji. Aminu Dantata [industrialist]
13. Mr. Mobolaji Bank-Anthony [industrialist/philantropist]
14. Mr Felix M. Osifo
15. Chief. Michael Ibru [indutrialist]
16. Northern Nigeria Property Development Corporation [NNPDC]
17. Oro [Kwara State] and Ogbomosho [Oyo State] Traders
18. All Igbo Traders [spare parts, building materials, cosmetics, etc.]
19. All Igbo Transport Magnates [Ekene Dili Chukwu, Chidi Ebere, etc.]
JOURNALISM:
1. Alhaji. Babatunde Jose [doyen of Nigerian Journalism]
2. Mr. Okokon Ndem [Radio Biafra fame]
3. Christopher Kolade
4. Peter Enahoro [youngest editor of a Nigerian Newspaper – Daily Times]
5. Dele Giwa
6. Essbee [Oshuntolu]
7. Peter Ighor [the best TV Producer]
8. Mr. Vincent Onwuka
9. Chief. Segun Olusola [doyen of Nigerian Television]
10. WNBS/WNTV [1st Television station in Nigeria – probably Africa]
11. Radio Biafra
12. Radio Kudirat
13. Azu-ndu
14. Iwe Irohin
15. West African Pilot
16. Drum
17. Newswatch
18. Concord
19. All Nigerian Newscasters [radio & television]
20. All Sportscasters [Ishola Folorunsho, Ernest Okonkwo, Sebastine Ofurum,
Yinka Craig, etc.]
LAW:
1. Mr. Justice. Udo Udoma [1st Nigerian Chief Justice of another country –
Uganda]
2. Chief. Justice. Teslim Elias [1st Nigerian Justice at the World Court]
3. Chief. F.R.A. Williams [Timmy the Law]
4. Mr. Justice. Adetokunboh Ademola [1st Chief Justice of Nigeria]
5. Mr. Justice. Chukwudife Oputa
6. Mr. Richard Akinjide [12 2/3rd fame]
7. Mr. Justice Akinola Aguda
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN:
1. Aba Women of 1929 Uprising (Ogu Umunwanyi)
2. Madam. Nwanyereuwa of Oloko [leader of Aba Women Uprising 1929]
3. Madam. Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti
4. Madam. Margaret Ekpo
5. Hajiya. Gambo Sawaba
6. Mrs. Elizabeth Adekogbe
7. Madam. Oyiboka Odinamadu
8. Prof. (Mrs.) Grace Alele-Williams [1st Female VC of a University]
9. Prof. (Mrs.) Bolanle Awe [historian]
10. Prof. (Mrs.) Ajakaiye [physicist]
11. Ms. Julie Coker [1st Nigerian Female Television Newscaster]
12. Ms. Vera Ifudu [broke the story about the stolen oil money -- 2.8
Billion Naira]
13. May Ellen Ezekiel [journalism]
14. Mrs. Prescillia Kuye [1st Female President of the Nigerian Bar
Association]
15. Senator. Franca Afegbua [1st Nigerian Female Senator]
16. Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu [1st Elected Deputy Governor – Lagos State]
17. Senator. Akerele-Bucknor [current Deputy Governor of Lagos State]
18. Mrs. Margaret Icheen [1st Nigerian Female Speaker of the House of
Assembly – Benue State]
19. Mrs. Justina Abanida [one of the two 1st Nigerian Female Secretary to
the State Government – Kogi State]
20. Mrs. Obonganwan Rita Akpan [one of the two 1st Nigerian Female Secretary
to the State Government -- Akwa Ibom State]
21. Mrs. Wuraola Esan [only Nigerian Female Senator currently in the Senate]
22. Mrs. Kuforiji-Olubi [1st Nigerian Female Bank Chief Executive]
23. Adesewa Ogunde [Acting/Music]
24. Ms. Ibidun Allison aka AMEBO [Acting]
25. Lijadu Sisters [music]
26. Onyeka Onwuenu [music/journalism]
27. Christiana Essien-Igbokwe [acting/music]
28. Queen. Amina of Zauzau
29. Princess. Emotan of Bini
30. Efunsetan Aniwura
31. Moremi Ajasoro of Ife
32. Madam Tinubu
33. Ms. Chioma Ajunwa [1st Nigerian Olympics Gold Medalist]
34. Modupe Oshikoya [Golden Girl]
35. Grasshoppers Women Handball Club of Owerri [1st Nigerian Female
Continental Champions]
36. The Falcons [Nigerian Women’s Soccer Team]
MILITARY:
1. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi [the forgotten hero of Nigeria]
2. Major. Chukwuemeka Kaduna Nzeogwu [leader of the 1st coup in Nigeria]
3. Col. Tim Onwuatuegwu
4. Maj.-Gen. Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi
5. Gen. Yakubu Gowon
6. Gen. Murtala Muhammed
7. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo [our current President]
8. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari
9. Gen. Ibrahim Babangida [The Evil Genius]
10. Gen. Sani Abacha [The DEVIL HIMSELF]
11. Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar [last military Dictator]
12. Brig. Gen. Benjamin Adekunle (Black Scorpion)
13. Capt. Alao [1st Nigerian Airforce Pilot]
14. Gen. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu
15. Maj.-Gen. Philip Effiong
16. Maj.-Gen. Tunde Idiagbon
17. Maj.-Gen. Mamman Vatsa [soldier-poet]
18. Major. Emmanuel Ifeajuna [1st Nigerian Commonwealth games gold
medalist]
19. All the Military Juntas [raped and looted our resources and killed our
loved ones]
RELIGION:
1. Pastor. Godfrey Otubu [Leader of Aladura Church Group]
2. Mr. Oshoffa [founder/leader -- Celestial Church of Christ]
3. Cardinal Ekandem [1st Nigerian Catholic Cardinal]
4. Cardinal Francis Arinze
5. Rev. Fr. Tansi [1st Nigerian to be Canonized by the Catholic Church]
6. Rev. Benson Idahosa [Church of God Mission]
7. Pastor W.F. Kumuyi [Deeper Life Christian Ministry]
8. Pastor Enoch Adeboye [Redeem Church]
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:
1. Prof. Godian Ezekwe [inventor]
2. Prof. Njoku-Obi [inventor]
3. Maazi. Damian Anyanwu [Radio Mbaise inventor]
4. Maazi. Ezekiel Izuogu [car-prototype inventor]
5. Prof. Ayodele Awojobi [inventor/civil rights]
6. Prof. Makanjuola [inventor]
7. Dr. Philip Emeagwali [computer wiz.]
8. Prof. Chike Obi [mathematician]
9. Prof. Kayode Oshuntokun [Nigeria’s yet to produce another Professor of
Pain]
10. Biafran Scientists [inventors of Ogbunigwe, shore-battery, & etc.]
SPORTS:
1. National Sports Festival
2. Hogan “Kid” Bassey [boxing]
3. Richard Ihetu aka Dick Tiger [boxing]
4. Michael Okpalla aka Power Mike [wrestling]
5. Hakeem Olajuwon
6. Nduka Odizor
7. Ebito Family [Swimmers]
8. Mr. Israel Adebajo
9. Alhaji. Lekan Salami
10. Alhaji. Ayuf Salami
11. Mr. Abraham Ordia
12. Mr. Orok Oyo [Mr. Football]
13. Mr. Sebastian Brodericks [1st Nigerian Coach to win a World Cup]
14. Teslim “Thunder” Balogun
15. Mr. Dan Anyiam
16. Mr. Peter Fregene [the only Nigerian Goalkeeper that lasted 4 Decades]
17. Mr. Christian “Chairman” Chukwu
18. Mr. Stephen Keshi [the Pacesetter/Architect of Foreign Soccer Players]
19. Green Eagles Team of 1973 [African Games Gold Medallists]
20. Green Eagles Team of 1976 [1st Nigerian Medallists in Nations’ Cup
–Bronze]
21. Green Eagles Team of 1980 [1st Nigerian Nations’s Cup Champions]
22. Flying Eagles Team of 1987
23. Golden Eaglets of 1985 [1st Nigerian World Cup Champions]
24. Super Eagles of 1994 [1st Nigerian Team in the World Cup]
25. Eagles of 1996 [1st Nigerian Olympics Soccer Champions]
26. Christ the King College, Onitsha, CKC [1st Nigerian International
Secondary School Soccer Champions]
27. Railways FC of Lagos [has won more Challenge Cups than any other team]
28. Rangers International FC of Enugu [only club NEVER been relegated]
29. IICC Shooting Stars FC of Ibadan [1st Nigerian Continental Soccer
Champions]
30. Mighty Jets FC of Jos
31. Bendel Insurance FC of Benin
32. Stationery Stores FC of Lagos ala Up Super!
TRADITIONAL RULERS:
1. Mai. Idris Alooma
2. Jaja of Opobo
3. Nana of Itsekiri
4. Usman (Othman) Dan Fodio
5. Oba Overhamen of Bini
6. Eze Onyeama n’Eke of Eke-Ngwo
7. Obong. Archibong II of Calabar
8. King. Ibani-Chuku of Okrika
9. King. Amakiri of Kalabari
10. Oba Ogiso of Bini
11. Afonja of Ilorin
12. Oba. Kosoko of Lagos
13. Oba. Dosunmu [ceded Lagos to the British – beginning of our
colonization]
14. Inikpi of Idah
15. Oba. Adesoji Aderemi [gave the land for the present Unife campus 13 by 9
miles]
16. Eze nwa Iboko of Abakaliki
17. Eze Okeke Anyichie na Eziowelle
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http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~uzo/HomePage.html
"The Whiteman is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his
religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he
has won our brother, and our clan can no longer act as one. He has put a
knife on the things that held us together and we have Fallen Apart."
--Chinua Achebe in "Things Fall Apart".
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