- Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe (born November 16, 1930) is a Nigerian novelist and poet, an esteemed and controversial literary critic, and one of the most widely read authors of the 20th century. A diplomat in the ill-fated Biafran government of 1967-1970, Achebe is primarily interested in African politics, the depiction of Africa and Africans in the West, and the intricacies of pre-colonial African culture and civilization, as well as the effects of colonialization on African societies.
- Nnamdi Azikiwe
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, usually referred to as Nnamdi Azikiwe, or, informally and popularly, as "Zik", was the founder of modern Nigerian nationalism and the first President of Nigeria, holding the position throughout the Nigerian First Republic.
- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (born September 15, 1977) is an acclaimed Nigerian writer. She was born in the village of Abba but grew up in the university town of Nsukka in south-eastern Nigeria, where the University of Nigeria is situated. While she was growing up, her father was a professor of statistics at the University, and her mother was also employed there as the university registrar. At the age of 19, she left Nigeria and moved to the United States.
- Yakubu Gowon
General Yakubu "Jack" Dan-Yumma Gowon (born October 19, 1934) was the head of state (Head of the Federal Military Government) of Nigeria from 1966 to 1975. He took power after one military coup d'etat and was overthrown in another. During his rule, the Nigerian government successfully prevented Biafran secession, and he subsequently followed a magnanimous "no victor, …
- Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu
General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, "Ikemba Nnewi" (born November 4, 1933) was the leader of the secessionist state of Biafra in Nigeria (1967-1970), during the Nigerian Civil War. He is usually referred to in news and other sources just as "Ojukwu". Frederick Forsyth, a friend, authored a novel about him titled "Emeka". It was published in 1982.
- Nkem Owoh
Nkem Owoh is a Nigerian comedian and movie actor. He starred in the 2003 film "Osuofia in London".. The Nigerian "Daily Sun" has described him as a "king of comedy". In 2004 Owoh was one of several actors who was temporarily banned from appearing in movies by Nigeria's Association of Movie Marketers and Producers, who argued that the actors demanded excessive fees and unreasonable contract demands.
- Genevieve Nnaji
Genevieve Nnaji is a Nollywood actress and singer. In 2004 she became the face for Lux soap in a highly lucrative sponsorship deal. In 2005 she released her first album titled "No More". Nnaji has been dubbed "the Nigerian Sharon Stone," for her ability to transcend the roles she plays by sheer force of personality.
- Chuba Okadigbo
Dr. Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo, was the President of the Nigerian Senate. He was sometimes referred to as "Oyi of Oyi" after his hometown (Oyi), had held numerous political appointments in the Nigerian government. He was also known for being opposed to the ruling party of Nigeria, the People's Democratic Party, since the year 2000, which was led by President Olusẹgun Ọbasanjọ till this day.
- Olaudah Equiano
Olaudah Equiano (c. 1745 - 31 March 1797), also known as Gustavus Vassa, was one of the most prominent people of African heritage involved in the British debate for the abolition of the slave trade. He wrote an autobiography that depicted the horrors of slavery and helped influence British lawmakers to abolish the slave trade in 1807. In addition to being a slave as a young man, he was also a slaver, seaman, merchant, and explorer in South America, …
- Zack Orji
Zachee Ama Orji was born in Libreville, Gabon in the 1960s. He is a Nigerian actor, director, producer and filmmaker. He is a graduate of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Having grown up in Cameroon, Benin and Togo he speaks both English and French fluently. He is married to Ngozi Orji has three children and lives in Nigeria.
- Chico Ejiro
Chico Ejiro (born Chico Maziakpono in Isoko, Delta, Nigeria) is a Nigerian movie auteur. Little is known about Ejiro other than that he is of the enteprenurial Igbo ethnicity, he originally studied agriculture, and he was drawn into video production because Nigerians would not buy blank videocassettes. His enormous body of work is typical of the new Nigerian cinema that started in the 1990s when cheap video-production equipment became available in the country.
- Jay-Jay Okocha
Augustine Azuka "Jay-Jay" Okocha (born August 14, 1973 in Enugu) is a Nigerian football midfielder who currently plays in the Qatar league for Qatar SC, a move that was completed in July 2006.
- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (born June 13, 1954) is a fellow at the Brookings Institution. She is the former Finance Minister of Nigeria and Foreign Minister of Nigeria, notable for being the first woman to hold both of these positions. She served as finance minister from July 2003 until her appointment as foreign minister in June 2006.
- Ojo Maduekwe
Ojo Maduekwe is the current National Secretary of the ruling Nigerian political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Prior to his appointment, Ojo had served as the Minister of Transport in the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
- Achike Udenwa
Achike Udenwa (born 1948) was the governor of Imo State in Nigeria. He became governor after winning the election in 1999. Udenwa won re-election in 2003, and his term ended on 29 May 2007. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party. Udenwa is also an Igbo chief. Recent Pollings indicate the incumbent to be Chief Martin Agbaso whom Udenwa has endorsed. See: "List of Governors of Imo State"
- Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi was a Nigerian soldier. He served as the Head of State of Nigeria from January 16, 1966 until he was overthrown and killed in a coup d'état on July 29, 1966.
- Michael Okpara
Michael Iheonukara Okpara (December 1920-December 17, 1984; GCON—Grand Commander of the Federal Republic) was a political leader and Premier of Eastern Nigeria during the First Republic from (1959-1966).
- Emeka Anyaoku
Chief Emeka Anyaoku, GCVO, CON (born January 18, 1933) was the third Commonwealth Secretary-General. He is a Nigerian of Igbo descent.
- P-Square
P-Square are a Nigerian R&B duo composed of identical twin brothers Peter and Paul Okoye.
- Sam Mbakwe
Samuel "Sam" Onunaka Mbakwe (died January 5, 2004) was an Okigwe Igbo politician and governor of Imo State, southern Nigeria from October 1, 1979 until December 31, 1983. The Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, which is located in Owerri, the state capital, was renamed after him.
- Uche Chukwumerije
Uche Chukwumerije (born November 1939) is a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing Abia North Senatorial District. Prior to his election, Chukwumerije served as the Minister of Information in the President Shehu Shagari administration.
- Uche Okeke
Uche Okeke (b. 1933) is a Nigerian painter and teacher of art. A founding member of the Nsukka group, he developed, together with Chike Aniakor and others, the art program of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Born in northern Nigeria, Okeke was the child of an Igbo family, and was educated in the region; this, combined with stories told by his mother and sister, …
- Nwankwo Kanu
Nwankwo Kanu (born August 1, 1976 in Owerri, Nigeria), usually known simply as Kanu, is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for the Nigerian national team and for English club Portsmouth. He is the most highly-decorated African footballer in footballing history, with over 10 awards to boast of, including a UEFA Champions League medal, a UEFA Cup medal and two African Player of the Year awards.
- Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu
Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu was born in the Northern Region’s capital of Kaduna to Igbo immigrant parents from the Mid-Western Region. He was an infantry and intelligence officer of the Nigerian Army. Such was his family’s affinity to the city of Nzeogwu’s birth that they and his military colleagues called him “Kaduna”. Nzeogwu was a devout Roman Catholic and a teetotaler.
- Onyema Ugochukwu
Onyema Ugochukwu is a seasoned Nigerian economist, journalist, and politician. Ugochukwu served as the senior Special Adviser on Communication to Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo and the first Executive Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). He was the People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, and front-runner in the 2007 Abia State gubernatorial election. He likes to smoke in his spare time, which he claims relaxes him.
- Oluchi Onweagba
Oluchi Onweagba (born August 1 1980), commonly referred to as Oluchi, is a Nigerian supermodel.
- Ruggedman
Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, known by his stage name Ruggedman, born on September 20 (year unidentified) in Ehem, Abia State, is a Nigerian rapper. A graduate of political science from Lagos State University, Ojo, he started loving music in 1989. He had his own songs done in 1991 and released a CD, which had two tracks. The two songs got massive air play, but in 2002, Ruggedman felt Nigerian rappers (such as Rasqie, Eedris Abdulkareem, …
- Nwafor Orizu
Nwafor Orizu. was a Nigerian of Igbo origin and Nigeria`s second Senate President from (November 16, 1960—January 15, 1966) during the First Republic of Nigeria. The President of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe, also of Igbo origin, had left the country in late 1965 first for Europe, then on a cruise to the caribbean, after allegedly being tipped off of the coup. Orizu Under the law, became Acting President and had all the powers of the President.
- Bashir Tofa
Bashir Othma Tofa is a Nigerian politician. A Hausa Muslim who hails from Kano State, Tofa was the National Republican Convention (NRC) candidate in the annulled Nigeria's June 12 1993 presidential election, which was organised by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida. Before his sojourn into politics, Alhaji Tofa was a businessman, oil trader and an industrialist. His running mate in the election was Sylvester Ugoh, …
- Uzodinma Iweala
Uzodinma Iweala (b. November 5, 1982) is an author who hails from Washington, DC and Nigeria. His debut novel, "Beasts of No Nation", is a formation of his thesis work at Harvard. It depicts a child soldier in an unnamed African country. The book, published in 2005, has received considerable critical acclaim from sources like "Time Magazine", "The New York Times", "Entertainment Weekly", "The Times", and "Rolling Stone".
- Kay Williamson
Kay Williamson (1935 - January 3 2005, Brazil), born Ruth Margaret Williamson was a linguist who specialised in the study of African languages, particularly those of the Niger Delta in Nigeria, where she lived for nearly fifty years. Her many publications include a grammar and dictionary of the Ijo language, a dictionary of Igbo and numerous articles on diverse topics. She is also notable for proposing the Pan-Nigerian alphabet.
- Obi Of Onitsha
The Obi of Onitsha is the traditional tribal leader of Onitsha, Anambra State, southeast Nigeria. The post of the Obi is recognised by the state and federal governments of Nigeria, and the Obi himself is seen as a representative of the people of Onitsha to the state and federal levels of government. The current Obi is Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe.
- Emeka Okafor
Chukwuemeka Ndubuisi Okafor, abbreviated as Emeka Okafor (born September 28, 1982, in Houston, Texas), is an American professional basketball player playing at power forward and center for the Charlotte Bobcats of the National Basketball Association. Prior to the NBA, Okafor attended Houston's Bellaire High School, and the University of Connecticut.
- T. D. Jakes
Bishop T.D. Jakes IS A QUINTESSENTIAL LEADER. Known for his service to the church and the global community, his heartfelt efforts have made worldwide impact. He is a man at the forefront of philanthropy, a best-selling author, and most of all a premier contemporary spiritual voice.
- Ifeoma Onyefulu
Ifeoma Onyefulu is a Nigerian children's author and novelist. She is a member of the Igbo ethnic group of Nigeria, and a professional photographer. Most of her books are geared towards young children, and feature her own colorful photographs of life in Africa.
- Francis Cardinal Arinze
Francis Cardinal Arinze (born 1 November 1932 in Eziowelle, Nigeria) is an African prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He has been Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments since 2002 and Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni (succeeding Pope Benedict XVI) since 2005. Arinze was one of the principal advisors to Pope John Paul II, and was considered "papabile" before the 2005 papal conclave, which elected Benedict XVI.
- Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu
Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu is a writer of fantasy and speculative fiction. Born to two Igbo (Nigerian) parents and having traveled to Nigeria several times, Okorafor-Mbachu writes a type of fantasy that takes from both her Nigerian culture and her American culture. She is the author of The Shadow Speaker (Hyperion Books for Children, Jump at the Sun) and Zahrah the Windseeker (Houghton Mifflin). Her short stories have been published in anthologies and magazines, …
- Zulu Sofola
Zulu Sofola was the first published female Nigerian playwright and dramatist. Her parents were Igbo from Issele-Uku in Delta State. She studied at Virginia Union Baptist Seminary and The Catholic University of America and she obtained her PhD from University of Ibadan. Her plays often dealt with contemporary Nigerian life and Nigeria dealing with the West in a way deemed "accessible." She faced some criticism for being too Western influenced.
- Chiwetel Ejiofor
Chiwetel Ejiofor (pronounced approximately) (born 10 July 1974) is an award-winning British film and stage actor.
- Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme
Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme (born October 21 1932) From Oko, Anambra State, Nigeria was the second Vice-President of Nigeria, serving 1979 - 1983. He started primary school at the St John's Anglican Central School, at Ekwulobia, then he proceeded to King's College, Lagos. He was also a former student of the University of Washington, where he earned his bachelors degree in Architecture.