NigerianEye selected them from different strata of society. Each one has contributed immensely to influencing Nigerians in various ways.
These are Nigerian men and women we admire. And, as we enter the year 2014, thinking despondent thoughts, these great achievers give us hope: that there is much more to us than what people in citadels of power spew at us. Join us to celebrate our Top 10 Nigerian Achievers
1. Coach Stephen Keshi
In February this year, media outlets were awash with the triumph of the Super Eagles at the African Cup of Nations finals in South Africa. Keshi broke the the jinx that lasted for 19 years as the national team, on February 10, 2013, under Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, became African Champions after defeating Burkina Faso in the final match of the African Cup of Nations soccer tourney at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, to lift the trophy for the third time: in 1982, 1994, and 2013.
Keshi, born 23 January, 1962, is a former Nigerian defender and now football manager, who has managed the nation’s senior male football team since 2011. He became the first Nigerian and second African to win the cup both as a player and as a coach. He had coached the national teams of neighbouring Togo and Mali before taking up the Super Eagles job.
2. Aliko Dangote
Aliko Dangote, founder of Dangote Group was ranked richest man in Africa and richest black man in the world by Forbes Magazine.
Forbes also said Dangote is now the first African entrepreneur to lay claim to a $20 billion fortune as the stock value of his largest holding, Dangote Cement, leaped just three months after it released its annual ranking of the world’s richest people.
The report noted that Aliko Dangote’s 93 percent stake in the cement company is now worth $19.5 billion.This was in addition to his controlling stakes in other publicly-listed companies like Dangote Sugar and National Salt Company of Nigeria and his significant shareholdings in other blue-chips like Zenith Bank, UBA Group and Dangote Flour.
3. Akinwumi Adesina
The Forbes Africa Person of the Year has, since its inception two years ago, reportedly attracted the highest calibre of nominees from across the continent.
Akinwumi Adesina was considered a worthy winner by the judges as [b]he is a man on a mission to help Africa feed itself.
4. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Award winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie‘s third novel – Americanah was listed in The New York Times recently as one of The 10 Best Books of 2013, selected by the editors of the publication. Her second novel, Half of a Yellow Sun Premiered as a movie in 2013 with several Hollywood and Nollywood stars featuring.
Most recently American super star Beyonce, featured Chimamanda in her latest album.
5 Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde in April was enlisted on Forbes magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world, a feat which earned the 34-year-old actress the title ‘Africa’s most renowned leading lady.’
Jalade-Ekeinde was named in the 2013 icons category of the list alongside young Pakistani activist; Malala Yousafzai, US first lady Michelle Obama, Burmese pro-democracy activist; Aung San Sun Kyi, RnB diva; Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and controversial Italian footballer; Mario Balloteli.
Writing a profile on the actress who this year launched a reality show about her life on M-NET, she was described as the “Queen of Nollywood.”
6. Zuriel Oduwole
Zuriel Elise Oduwole, 10 -year-old Nigerian girl,who enjoys interviewing presidents and world business leaders, was recently celebrated as the youngest person to be interviewed by Forbes Magazine.
In today’s world, when many youths and adults roam about the streets looking for jobs, here is a 10-year-old Zuriel Elise Oduwole, who seems to have discovered her purpose for living at the age of 10.
At a very tender age, she has met with African presidents and top African leaders because of her passion to relate with great men and women.
Currently, she is being globally celebrated as the youngest person ever to be interviewed by Forbes Magazine.
Oduwole has already made a name for herself right from her childhood, and another which stands as a plus for her is that she is already a hot cake in the business world.
Zuriel, who is often referred to as the next Oprah Winfrey, said she is committed and determined to rebrand Africa by bringing out positive things in the continent and most importantly, convince Africans on the importance of educating the female gender.
She became the youngest global international media representative ever on record last November, 2012, competing with seasoned correspondents from Cable Network News (CNN), Reuters, Super Sports, Consumer News and Business Channel (CNBC) and The Guardian, likewise in South Africa and Nigeria.
7. Mosunmola Abudu
Famous talk show host, Mo’ Abudu launched what could be described as Africa’s first global black multi-broadcast network, EbonyLife TV [/b]on Sunday, June 30, 2013. Just few hours after the glamorous Lagos launch, the channel went live on Monday, July 1, 2013.
According to Mosunmola Abudu, ‘EbonyLife TV is aimed at giving Africa a new perspective by projecting its potential and re-writing its story’. The channel, it is hoped would change the old age perception of both Africa and Africans, using entertainment and lifestyle with programming aimed at viewers aged 18 to 34,
Often referred to as the Oprah Winfrey of Africa, Mo’, as the talk show host is fondly called, has used the platform of her syndicated daily talk show, ‘Moments with Mo‘ to build a strong repertoire. With the launch of EbonyLife TV, Mo makes history becoming the first and only woman in Africa to own a cable TV channel.
She has interviewed celebrities from Hillary Rodham Clinton, former African presidents F. W. de Klerk of South Africa and John Kufuor of Ghana, former England soccer skipper Rio Ferdinand, musician R. Kelly and American fashion icon Diane Von Furstenberg.
Located in Tinapa, Cross River State, EbonyLife TV has high ambitions: to revolutionize media and entertainment in Nigeria and across Africa.
8. Olumide Aliu
Olumide Aliu, was elected as president of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council; thus becoming the first African to head the global body for aviation safety.
Mr. Aliu was elected ICAO Council president on Monday at the 38th Assembly of the organisation in Montreal, Canada. The assembly consists of 172 countries.
Nigeria joined ICAO in 1960 and was elected into the Council of ICAO in 1962 as a Part II member State. The country has since remained on the Council and has continued to promote the interest of Nigeria and Africa on the Council as well as contribute to the development and growth of civil aviation in the region.
9. Blessing Okagbare
Blessing Okagbare showed her class as she won a silver medal in the women long jump and a bronze medal in the 200m at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Moscow, Russia. She also holds the African record in 100m sprint.Blessing Okagbare won Nigeria’s first medal at the IAAF World Championship in Moscow as she leaped 6.99 metres to clinch the silver medal in the long jump event final.
Nigeria last won a medal at the Athletic World Championship in 1999, a drought Blessing Okagbare has ended with her victory.
10. Kelechi Ihenacho
Arguably the world's hottest teenage footballer on the planet, Kelechi dazzeled the world this year as the country’s under-17 men football team won a 4th Under-17 title with a 3-0 win over defending champions Mexico.
The team’s highest goalscorer, Kelechi Iheanacho, emerged as the competition’s most outstanding player by winning the adidas Golden Ball.
The player who scored a total of five goals against Mexico, with four in a group match and one in the final, scored a total of six goals in the competition.
This was apart from providing seven assists as the team scored 26 goals in seven matches.
He has thus emulated the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Landon Donovan and Toni Kroos before him.
He also won the adidas Silver Boot as the competition’s second highest goalscorer with six goals, one behind the top scorer Valmir Berisha of Sweden.
Various clubs in Europe have been battling to sign the 17-year old prodigy, clubs like Manchester City, Arsenal, FC Porto and Sporting Lisbon. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Great!!!
ReplyDeleteAny Aboki there? May be Sekarau! The best and promise killer of the year!
ReplyDeleteWhy be tribalistic!!? The richest black man in the world is an Aboki! His Name is Aliko Dangote! Know that now.
DeleteInspiring!!!
ReplyDelete-obikenn
Poor you! I weep for our country. Why must we introduce religion and tribe into everything. By the way, you ignoramus, Aliko Dangote (no 2 on the list) is an aboki. Is he not? Bigot!
ReplyDeleteToo bad many of them are Forbes listed. We can not even identify greatness ourself. Is it our way of undermining ourselves or is it to think that no Nigerian at home deserves mentioning except on sport?
ReplyDeletenone of dis peple great..am d greatest man on earth....plz naija.....am chinedu arize 4rm anambra..am d greatest cos i dnt belong to d world bt heaven
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 10:39. Shekarau is d former gov of Kano State! Hope u mean shekau d boko haram leader.
ReplyDelete