Hey people, let's celebrate our brightest and best by making a list of Nigerians of all endeavour that have stood out wherever they may be. I trust at the end of the day we'll have some more reason not to only moan about Nigeria but also some thing to be proud about! You will need to tell us why your nominee should be on the list, and it'll even be better if you provide more info, bios, websites etc these person(s). They must be men and women of unquestionable character. I'll update the list as we go along. Feel free to submit more than one entry.

Ok, I'll go first.

1. Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala (Nigeria's Minister of Finance, former Vice President, World Bank, New York for her role in securing the $18 billion debt relief with the Paris Club. http://www.time.com/time/europe/hero2004/iweala.html

the nafdac woman... dont know her anme. heard lotta things bout her

Good choice Aloib. That's Prof. Dora Nkem Akunyili. Ok people we've got two people down, a whole lot to go! Keep them coming.

2. Prof. Dora Nkem Akunyili (Director General, NAFDAC) http://www.nafdacnigeria.org/dg.html

I nominate Late Obafemi Awolowo why? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obafemi_Awolowo

Ok Damygurl, how are you today? Trust you're doing great! So we have three people on our list. So far it's going in the right direction. Keep your names coming.

3. Chief Obafemi Awolowo (Politician, Nationalist) To know more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obafemi_Awolowo

I nominate Dr. Mike Adenuga jr., CEO Globalcom Nigeria, CEO Conoil.
i respect his talent and his initiative. He belongs to us and have most of his investment here in Nigeria. He really deserve more. He was the African Man of the year last year and can really win it again.
onlinenigeria.com/notable_nig.asp

Great guy! I admire him for setting up Globacom and his passion for professionalism.

4. Chief Mike Adenuga Jr (Businessman, CEO Globacom, CONOIL) www.onlinenigeria.com/notable_nig.asp

Mr Tony Elumelu....Ceo UBA plc

Emegwali - Nigerian computer scientist/ inventor
Chinua Achebe - Things Fall apart
Wole Soyinka  - Achebe's for runner
Nnamdi Azikiwe - First Nigerian president, a model of better governance for future nigeria
Ojukwu Ikemba - The leader of the Igbos during the biafra war that took over 1 million lives
Nkem Owoh - The most popular comedian in nigerian film industry
President olusegun Obasanjo - President of Nigeria
Gani  f.- Profound Lagos based lawyer, a major critic of obasanjo administration
Bakarea - Lagos based church preacher that have chalanged the government in many ways
Dangote - The elephant and the largest importer/ exporter in the nigerian warf buisness

@ lager_20 its just one nigerian. All those guyz worth it but be sincere. Just one.!

Mines Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. To read her interview, click the following link.
http://www.nigeriavillagesquare1.com/BOOKS/adichie_interview.html

Read this blog entry by Aba Boy:
"I picked up this week’s ComputerWeekly magazine (27th September 2005) and on the third page was the pretty face of Ms. Ibukun Adebayo.

"The first thing that struck me was 'Wow a Nigerian guiding readers through this weeks issue of ComputerWeekly'. I am not sure about you guys, but there are a few times when I do ask the Almighty whether being a Nigerian was such a good idea. But today, I felt so proud to be one.

"Ibukun is the IT director at Turning Point. Turning Point is the UK’s leading social care organisation. The Chief Executive of Turning Point is another notable Nigerian, Lord Victor Adebowale.

"In the United Kingdom there are many Nigerians like Ibukun – hard working and gifted - Positive role models for our kids and women around the world. But guess what, we never get to hear about them. They don’t belong to the stock that we normally associate with the Nigerian person.

Source: Celebrating Nigerians on Aba Boy

I am not in the UK, so I can't say much about Ibukun Adebayo and Lord Victor Adebowale. If you're based in the UK, and you know a thing or two about Turning Point, please let us know if you think these two Nigerians are worthy of being named as 'outstanding Nigerians'.

Late M.K.O. Abiola
Late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti
Jayjay Okocha
King Sunny Ade

I norminate King sunny ade.i think he is the only Juju musician who's music has gone platinum

It's good to see the nominations are pouring in. So far we have 7 nominees. Nota bene Please keep your nominations to a minimum to give others the oportunity to participate. Bulk nominations, especially without telling us why you think the person(s) deserve(s) to be on the list, will not pass. Cheers!

1. Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala  (Nigeria's Minister of Finance, former Vice President, World Bank, New York for her role in securing the $18 billion debt relief with the Paris Club. http://www.time.com/time/europe/hero2004/iweala.html
2. Prof. Dora Nkem Akunyili (Director General, NAFDAC) http://www.nafdacnigeria.org/dg.html
3. Chief Obafemi Awolowo (Politician, Nationalist) To know more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obafemi_Awolowo
4. Chief Mike Adenuga Jr (Businessman, CEO Globacom, CONOIL) www.onlinenigeria.com/notable_nig.asp
5. Mr Tony Elumelu (Banker) http://www.newswatchngr.com/editorial/Notable%20Leaders/leaders11115175327.htm
6. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Writer) http://www.nigeriavillagesquare1.com/BOOKS/adichie_interview.html
7. King Sunny Ade (Musician) http://www.mesabluemoon.com/Mesa/King_Sunny_Ade/

i don't see my name any where so i am not voting for anyone else

@ Ocho

I nominate you!

@ smooth jazz, Chimamanda is more known as a writer anyways.

I saw someone nominating Late M.K.O, Late Fela and papa Awo. Abeg make we reframe the topic say na for living notable Nigeria. Abi?!

elphem, you cannot reframe the topic because you did not start the topic. Why don't you nominate your own entries instead of looking for ways to disqualify other peoples' entries?

I don nominate but as number of late come dey go higher na im dey vex me. I know say evergreen award dey 4 d deads. Shey

Elphem I share your sentiments. Nevertheless, I think it will also be a good idea for us to have both the living and those who have gone ahead of us, primarily for the benefit of those who did not have the opportunity to learn about "our heroes past" especially if such nominations relevant bios.

If at the end of the day however, we end up with the "heroes past" making up the bulk of our list of Outstanding Nigerians, then it will be a shameful indictment on us all, and a clear indication that we truly have no living role models, living heroes. No one we can point as and say, "he or she 'is MAKING' a difference in my lifetime, I can be like that" or "this is our Mandela" a symbol of character, hope, can-do attitude and the Nigerian ideal.

thanks fabian

I nominate Fela Anikulapo Kuti
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fela

For having the courage to speak the truth during the military regimes in Nigeria. For creating a high-quality genre of music. For sheer bravery that trascends that of an average man. For promoting the Greater Good. For being a true African.

Let's join in celebrate the Great Fela Anikulapo Kuti. May his soul rest in peace. Amin.

1. Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala (Nigeria's Minister of Finance, former Vice President, World Bank, New York for her role in securing the $18 billion debt relief with the Paris Club. http://www.time.com/time/europe/hero2004/iweala.html
2. Prof. Dora Nkem Akunyili (Director General, NAFDAC) http://www.nafdacnigeria.org/dg.html
3. Chief Obafemi Awolowo (Politician, Nationalist) To know more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obafemi_Awolowo
4. Chief Mike Adenuga Jr (Businessman, CEO Globacom, CONOIL) www.onlinenigeria.com/notable_nig.asp
5. Mr Tony Elumelu (Banker) http://www.newswatchngr.com/editorial/Notable%20Leaders/leaders11115175327.htm
6. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Writer) http://www.nigeriavillagesquare1.com/BOOKS/adichie_interview.html
7. King Sunny Ade (Musician) http://www.mesabluemoon.com/Mesa/King_Sunny_Ade/
8. Fela Anikulapo Kuti (Musician, socio-political activist) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fela

Donald Duke - Governor of Cross River State

Hi Otokx, I presume you have not read the first post setting out the ground rules. When you make a nomination, please give a convincing reason why your nominee should be on the list. In addition, it will be useful to have some more info, bio etc. for the benefit of those who don't know anything about your nominee. Cheers!

Late Chief obafemi Awolowo R.I.P
Late Fela Anikulapo-kuti
Late chief M.K.O Abiola
Late Gen. Tunde Idiagbon
Late Ken Saro wiwa

THE POOR MASSES OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA(EVER STRUGGLING BUT ALWAYS SMILING)

SUNDAY EHINDERO
FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI
SUNNY ADE

My nominees are the over 80 million nigerians who have put up with the present state of this country. but on a more specific note for this year i'll nominate Dr Dora Akunyuli,Dr Okonjo Iweala,Dr Oby Okwesezili, Alhaji Aliko Dangote etc....

there is no doubting the fact that this name WOLE SOYINKA should be the first on this list.

Well emmmmmmmm.....I nominate
SNAZZYDAWN-Honourable member of the Nairaland

Artist Erhabor Emokpae for changing the way nigerian artists are looked at abroad.