List of Famous people born in Nigeria
Kamaru Usman
Kamarudeen Usman is a Nigerian-American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Welterweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is the current UFC Welterweight Champion. Usman is also The Ultimate Fighter 21 tournament winner. As of July 14, 2020, he is #5 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings
Israel Adesanya
Israel Mobolaji Temitayo Odunayo Oluwafemi Owolabi Adesanya is a Nigerian-born New Zealand professional mixed martial artist, and retired kickboxer and boxer. As a mixed martial artist, he is currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), representing his native Nigeria, where he is the UFC Middleweight Champion and has an undefeated record of 20 wins and no losses. In kickboxing, he is the former Glory middleweight contender winner and King in the Ring two-time cruiserweight and heavyweight champion. As of 29 September 2020, he is #3 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings. Adesanya is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the world of mixed martial arts.
Arnaut Danjuma
Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld is Nigerian-born Dutch professional footballer who plays as a winger for Spanish club Villarreal and the Netherlands national team.
Victor Moses
Victor Moses is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a winger on either flank for Russian club Spartak Moscow on loan from Premier League club Chelsea.
Sade Adu
Helen Folasade Adu, known professionally as Sade Adu or simply Sade, is a British singer, songwriter, and actress, known as the lead singer of her eponymous band. She has been credited as one of the most successful British female artists in history, and is often recognised as an influence on contemporary music. Her services to music were recognised in the UK with an award of the OBE in 2002, and a CBE in the 2017 Birthday Honours.
Odion Ighalo
Odion Jude Ighalo is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Chinese club Shanghai Greenland Shenhua.
Lai Mohammed
Layiwola "Lai" Mohammed is Nigeria's current Minister of Information and Culture. A lawyer and former National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress.
Kelechi Iheanacho
Kelechi Promise Iheanacho is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Leicester City and the Nigeria national team. He has made appearances for Manchester City, as well as the Nigeria squad that won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the Nigeria U-20 team at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Iheanacho was called up to the Manchester City senior squad for the 2015–16 season.
Ahmed Musa
Ahmed Musa is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward and left winger for the Nigeria national team.
Tiwa Savage
Tiwatope Savage, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Isale Eko, she relocated to London at the age of 11 for her secondary education. Five years later, she began her music career doing backup vocals for artists such as George Michael and Mary J. Blige. After participating in the UK edition of The X Factor and graduating from Berklee College of Music, Savage signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing in 2009. Inspired by the growth of the Nigerian music industry, Savage moved back to Nigeria and signed with Mavin Records in 2012. She made an appearance on the label's 2012 compilation album Solar Plexus.
Hugo Weaving
Hugo Wallace Weaving is a British actor who resides in Australia. He is best known for playing Agent Smith in The Matrix trilogy (1999–2003), Elrond in The Lord of the Rings (2001–2003) and The Hobbit (2012–2014) film trilogies, V in V for Vendetta (2005), and the Red Skull in the movie Captain America: The First Avenger (2011).
Mikel John Obi
Mikel John Obi is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
Chidinma Ekile
Chidinma Ekile, known professionally as Chidinma, is a Nigerian gospel singer and songwriter. In 2010, she rose to stardom after winning the third season of Project Fame West Africa. Following the release of the music video for her "Emi Ni Baller" single, she became the first female musician to peak at number 1 on the MTV Base Official Naija Top 10 chart. In 2011, she released the Sound Sultan-assisted single "Jankoliko". Her eponymous debut album Chidinma was released through the music platform Spinlet; it was supported by the singles "Jankoliko", "Carry You Go", "Kedike" and "Run Dia Mouth". The album features guest appearances from Sound Sultan, Tha Suspect, Olamide and Muna. Chidinma won Best Female West African Act at the 2012 Kora Awards and performed "Kedike" at the ceremony. She is recently signed with Eezee Concept, with the release of her song, Jehovah Overdo.
Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. He is considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He was nicknamed "The Dream" during his basketball career after he dunked so effortlessly that his college coach said it "looked like a dream." From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2008, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 2016, he was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame.
Alex Iwobi
Alexander Chuka Iwobi is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a winger and forward for Premier League club Everton and the Nigeria national team.
Osita Iheme
Osita Iheme, MFR is a Nigerian actor. He is widely known for playing the role of Pawpaw in the film Aki na Ukwa alongside Chinedu Ikedieze. He is the founder of Inspired Movement Africa which he founded to inspire, motivate and stimulate the minds of young Nigerians and Africans. In 2007, Iheme received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the African Movie Academy Awards. He is considered to be one of Nigeria's most famous actors. In 2011, he was honored as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Bobby Ologun
Bobby Ologun is a Nigerian television personality and mixed martial artist with Japanese citizenship. In Japan, he is known simply as Bobby (ボビー). He speaks English, Yoruba and Japanese. He lives in Saitama, Saitama Prefecture. On July 26, 2007, he announced on Mezamashi TV that he had become a naturalized citizen of Japan, taking his wife's surname and registering officially as Bobby Konda .
Burna Boy
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, known professionally as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, rapper and dancer. He is one of the biggest and most successful African artists.
Taye Taiwo
Taye Ismaila Taiwo is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a defender for United Premier Soccer League club Palm Beach Stars.
Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari, , is a Nigerian politician who has been president of Nigeria since 2015. Buhari is a retired Major General of the Nigerian Army and served as military head of state from 1983 to 1985, after taking power in a military coup d'état.