(originally published in Laffmattazz)
1. 2face: The iconic popstar is the bona fide leader of the new school of Nigerian music; holding his colleagues by the wrist and leading them straight into the global terrain. When MTV debuted in Africa in 2005, his video for African Queen was the first clip the channel aired. A best-seller by all standards, he has been decorated generously, by MTV, MOBO, HHWA, World Music Awards, SMVA; and he’s a cherished ambassador for many NGOS
2. JJ Okocha: Augustine Okocha is the footballer other footballers want to be like. The 36 year-old attacking midfielder, blessed with a rare combination of dribble skills and maneuvering techniques, is perhaps the most gifted footballer never to win the prestigious African footballer of the year
3. 9ice : gifted to a fault, Abolore Akande is one of the most remarkable talents of this generation. And he has garnered commendations from the young and old, for making his native language (Yoruba) fashionable among the youths again
4. John fashanu: Businessman, soccer star and entrepreneur, the 47 year-old never wore the National colours, but he inspired a sense of pride in many, each time he wore the British National Jerseys, or got on the field for the many clubs he featured for. Since retired and back home in Nigeria, Fash has been at the forefront on several youth-empowerment initiatives
5. Phillip Emeagwali: from Bill gates to Time Magazine and the New York Times, everyone who matters continues to pay him homage, as the father of the internet. And his lectures on reparation, repatriation, brain-drain-gain etc, have inspired many to rediscover themselves and the values of the often misrepresented African continent
6. D’banj: the multiple award-winning entertainer has built the most rapidly-rising career of the past decade; and it doesn’t look like he’s about slowing down. With multiple endorsements, international awards and amazing demand, the young entrepreneur is strolling gracefully into the billionaires’ club; and inspiring many youths to look deep inside and discover their potentials
7. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The modern Chinua Achebe has won almost all the awards there are to win; telling the story of biafria, and Nigeria, through lips and painting pictures many before her had feared to paint. We were looking for hope, and Adichie came with plenty
8. Dele Olojede: The first African to win the coveted Pulitzer prize, Olojede rose to the top of the ladder of New York’s Newsday Newspaper; before leaving to found Timbuktu Media – the outfit that’s now redefining journalism in Nigeria
9. Nduka Obaigbena: The THISDAY publisher and his team of editors are garnishing global news with African views; using media and entertainment to rebrand the motherland…
10. Alex Amosu: Customized ringtones. World most expensive suit. Limited edition Luxury phones. What do you want to talk about? Mr Alexander Amosu is the maverick entrepreneur the world is celebrating while still trying to understand
11. Genevieve Nnaji : only recently, she was profiled on the Oprah Winfrey show as one of the most famous people in the world. The Nollywood A-lister is as good as they come; and if there are any home-grown acts that’ll make it big in Hollywood, Genevieve will be ahead, leading the pack by the hand…
12. KSA: The first Nigerian to be nominated for the Grammys, the Juju maestro is the godfather of the genre, and a pathfinder for contemporary African music. Accomplished beyond all reasonable doubts, and blessed with an elongated career, the guitarist and band-leader is one of God’s gift to Africa; and the continent cherishes him like gold and silver…
13. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala: : 55 this year, Okonjo-Iweala is a walking demonstration of the power of possibilities. The fist woman to become a Finance minister and foreign minister in Nigeria, she has since leaving government, returned to the World Bank as Managing Director.
14. Lagbaja: from a mission to represent and remind us of the common, faceless man, Lagbaja has built a global brand now copied by performers from all nations. And he has created a genre too – Africano- the drum driven African sound the west is already noticing and seeking to imbibe.
15. Femi Kuti : when you’re born to a father as great as Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, are there any chances you’ll be able to step out of his shadow? Yes, if you’re Femi Kuti. The Afrobeat maestro has demonstrated he’s his own man; and he’s taken the genre to a whole new audience, with remarkable experiments and collaborations many would have thought impossible.
16. Kanu Nwankwo: He blessed us with his dexterity with the round leather ball. But he has blessed us more, and touched many homes and hearts, with the Kanu Heart Foundation; a charity he set up after surviving a 1996 operation to remove an aortic valve
17. Segun Odegbami: in a career spanning almost two decades, he won 46 caps and scored 23 goals for the Nigerian national team; and owing to his precision, quickly earned the moniker ‘Mathematical Segun’. Now 57, the Engineer cum businessman continues to be a major sources of inspiration to most of the youngsters eyeing or working within the sports industry today…
18. Keke and D-one: residents of today’s hip hop world, and beneficiaries of the booming pop industry must wake up every morning thanking Kenny Ogungbe and Dayo Adeneye. From DAAR Communications to Primetime Entertainment, the pair have made Nigerian music fashionable again; establishing themselves as architects of modern music business and paving the way for many wannabes to follow
19. Raymond Dokpesi: The founder of Nigeria’s first Private radio station has gone on to establish a TV network that’s beaming Africa to the world; telling the African story the way it should be told. And with the coming of DAARSAT, he’s taking the game to an even higher level…
20. Oluchi: The first-ever Nokia Face of Africa is one of the forst Nigerian models to go international. And she’s been there and done that: major runways, jaw-dropping fashion shows, amazing cover slots on the world’s biggest magazines, Mrs Orlandi is a model’s model. To think that only years back, she was the liitle poor kid living in a low0income family; barely able to make ends meet…
21. Agbani Darego: Miss Darego was crowned Miss World in 2001; the first Black woman to be so decorated.
22. Babatunde Raji Fashola: The Action Congress Governor of Lagos State is an action man. No he doesn’t say so. But his roads speak it; his policies do; his streetlights shine it; there’s been no dull moment since the soccer enthusiast was sworn in over two years ago
23. Wanle Akinboboye: The successful businessman is a culture and tourism devotee who’s spearheading a revolution that’ll take many years to understand…
24. P-square: The biggest pop acts on the continent have come a long way since winning the Benson & Hedges hunt in 2000. And despite being under constant and heavy criticism for the direction of their music and often poorly-thought-out public actions/utterances, the Okoye brothers have become bona fide superstars across the continent, exporting ‘Nigerian’ music faster and father than anyone in their league…
25. Asa: talented beyond limits, and committed to her art, Asa is one of the bright wonders from Nigeria, taking the world by storm.
26. Wole Soyinka: Writer. Author. Filmmaker. Critic. Activist. Nobel laureate. Non-Conformist. Rebel. Actor. Diplomat. Soyinka is a rallying point for the Nigerian struggle; and the conscience of a nation hijacked by despots and opportunists
27. Chinua Achebe: Things fall Apart is the greatest book to ever come out of Africa. And Achebe is the man that put pen to paper to create the excellent body of work.
28. Ali Baba: If John Chukwu and Mohammed Danjuma were to look back now, they’ll be proud of what Ali Baba has turned their profession to. The godfather of modern Nigerian comedy has influenced, supported or mentored almost every comedian rocking the microphone today. And he has turned a hitherto under-celebrated art, to a national craze…
29. Tunde Kelani: The soul of Mainframe productions is an internationally-acclaimed cinematographer that continues to rewrite the rules of film-making; using African narratives, idioms and lore.
30. Tony Elumelu: radical but thorough and forward-thinking, the banking ‘wizard’ is a maverick many conservatives are in awe of.
31. KWAM 1: The revolutionary fuji giant brought an otherwise street genre to the crème de la crème and introduced the art to instrumentations many would have thought impractical.
32. DJ Jimmy JATT: Africa’s most iconic jockey is a leading light for a profession castigated by many. And his success has turned the fortunes of the profession around. More than qualified for a national honour, Jimmy is the voice of the art and a model for the business conservative society is still trying to come to terms with
33. Toyin Subair: he’s a partner at Law firm Abraham&Co, a facilitator for NGO Link-A-Child and the CEO OF HiTV. Toyin Subair is one of the most inspiring Nigerians alive.
34. Ayo Animashaun: the CEO of Smooth Promotions is building an empire from an idea. 14 years after starting out, he’s now the brain behind Hip hop world magazine, hip TV, hip hop world awards, Girls’ nite out and Street hop. A custodian of sorts, for the hip hop culture in Nigeria, Animashaun is matching ideas with opportunities and hardwork, to produce results business schools are using as case studies…
35. Mike Adenuga Jnr: wherever you turn your eyes, he’s right there looking at you. Telecoms? Banking? Oil and Gas? IT? The business mogul is a billionaires’ billionaire; and one of the most influential Nigerians right now
36. David Oyedepo: the Bishop of Living Faith World Outreach centre is one if the most outstanding evangelists of this generation. With the Faith Tabernacle (a.k.a. CannanLand) reputed to be the largest Church auditorium in the world, and a rapidly-growing private university(Covenant), Oyedepo leads an institution that’s spearheading a global outreach; with a message that Africans too, can prosper…
37. Enoch Adejare Adeboye: the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God sits atop the fastest growing Pentecostal church in the world; planting churches in every nook and cranny; and staying true to the gospel at a time when worshippers are inflicted with get-rich-quick sermons.
38. Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie: The Archbishop of Lagos has been a thorn in the flesh of corrupt government officials long before it became fashionable to do so. He grabbed global headlines when he was proclaimed Cardinal by Pope John Paul 11in October 2003…
39. Aliko Dangote: The ‘Forbes’ billionaire has now embraced manufacturing after years of trading and supplying. Aliko Dangote has built a fortune from a N500, 000 start-up.
40. Ben Murray Bruce: The boss of the Silverbird group understands the power of entertainment. And he’s using it appropriately. Cinemas are springing up everywhere again; shopping malls are taking shape, and his fleet of radio and TV stations is helping shape our lives…
41. Femi Aderibigbe: While his colleagues where scampering abroad and taking up residence, Aderibigbe, a.k.a. Kwame, tightened his loins and set foot on the path of entrepreneurship. Nearly a decade later, he has transformed from an ordinary OAP to a successful entrepreneur; inspiring millions of youths with the Nigezie brand…
42. Donald Duke: He had a dream: to turn Cross Rivers state into Nigeria’s number one tourism destination. Today, The annual Cross Rivers festival, and The Tinapa resort are testimonies of his vision. And that he’s walked away from government, untainted, is still a surprise to those used to seeing gluttons in power…
43. Declan Okpaleke: it’s now 10 years since Okpaleke was named the overall CNN African Journalist of the year. And the former Insider editor continues to get decorated by renowned bodies, making clear once again, that journalism may be literature in a hurry, but some are taking their time to pen words that seek to change the world…
44. Ahmed Bola Tinubu: The lawyer, businessman and politician has not only blessed Lagosians with a performing governor, he’s also plotting his way to relevance in the national order, and enjoying a reign as today’s unofficial Yoruba elder. Blessed with political savvy and passionate about philanthropy and mentorship, the 57 year-old former Senator and Governor is an old horse that’s not just learning new tricks, but mastering them too…
45. Olusegun Obasanjo: The only man to have ruled the country twice, OBJ is the man Nigerians love to hate. Witty, confident and fast-tempered, the former Head-of-State got a lot of things wrong during his last tenure. But he got some right too- including GSM and the idea of involving technocrats at the centre of government…
46. Charles Chukwuma Soludo: Before he burnt his fingers the botched redenomination project; before he dipped his hands into politics; the former CBN governor had endeared himself to Nigerians, especially with his sound economics rhetoric and the successful banking sector recapitalization.
47. Dora Akunyili: We didn’t hear much of NAFDAC before her. And we haven’t heard much since her departure. Mrs Akunyili may be running into troubled waters with her rebranding project, but Nigerians will continue to remember her for the excellent job she did while at NAFDAC…
48. Leo Stan Ekeh: Nigeria’s premiere indigenous computer manufacturer did the hitherto thought impossible when he birthed with Zinox computers eight years ago.
49. Nuhu Ribadu: No one personifies that war against corruption in Nigeria like former EFCC boss Nuhu Ribadu. Controversial and often accused of selective dealings, the dismissed Police officer remains unapologetic and continues to push the button to prosecute allegedly corrupt Nigerians, even from exile.
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