List of Nigerian Americans
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This is a list of notable
Nigerian American Nigerian Americans ( ig, Ṇ́dị́ Naìjíríyà n'Emerịkà; ha, Yan Najeriyar asalin Amurka; yo, Àwọn ọmọ Nàìjíríà Amẹ́ríkà) are an ethnic group of Americans who are of Nigerian ancestry. The number of Nigerian immigran ...
s, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants. ''To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Nigerian American and must have references showing they are Nigerian American and are notable.''


Academia


Science and engineering

* Kunle Olukotun, computer engineer and professor of
electrical engineering Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the l ...
and
computer science Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to Applied science, practical discipli ...
at
Stanford University Stanford University, officially Leland Stanford Junior University, is a private research university in Stanford, California. The campus occupies , among the largest in the United States, and enrolls over 17,000 students. Stanford is consider ...
and director of the Pervasive Parallelism Laboratory * Ilesanmi Adesida, physicist and material scientist * Victoria Chibuogu Nneji,
computer scientist A computer scientist is a person who is trained in the academic study of computer science. Computer scientists typically work on the theoretical side of computation, as opposed to the hardware side on which computer engineers mainly focus (al ...
and
roboticist Robotics is an interdisciplinary branch of computer science and engineering. Robotics involves design, construction, operation, and use of robots. The goal of robotics is to design machines that can help and assist humans. Robotics integrat ...
* Jimmy Adegoke, climatologist *
Omowunmi Sadik Omowunmi "Wunmi" A. Sadik (born 19 June 1964) is a Nigerian professor, chemist, and inventor working at New Jersey Institute of Technology. She has developed microelectrode biosensors for detection of drugs and explosives and is working on the de ...
, chemist * Wendy Okolo, aerospace research engineer at
NASA Ames Research Center The Ames Research Center (ARC), also known as NASA Ames, is a major NASA research center at Moffett Federal Airfield in California's Silicon Valley. It was founded in 1939 as the second National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) laborat ...
*
Akintunde Akinwande Akintunde Ibitayo Akinwande is a Nigerian United States, American engineering professor at the Electrical Engineering and Computer science, Computer Science Department of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was appointment as chairman of Ni ...
, professor of electrical engineering at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the ...
* Samson Jenekhe, chemical engineer and professor of chemistry at
University of Washington The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informally U-Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1861, Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast; it was established in Seattle a ...
*
Oluwatoyin Asojo Oluwatoyin (Toyin) Asojo currently Associate Director for Strategic Initiatives at Dartmouth Cancer Center was formerly Associate Professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Hampton University. She was formerly an Asso ...
, biochemist * Winston Wole Soboyejo, professor of
mechanical engineering Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines that may involve force and movement. It is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and mathematics principles with materials science, to design, analyze, manufacture, and ...
at
Princeton University Princeton University is a private university, private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial Colleges, fourth-oldest ins ...
and
Worcester Polytechnic Institute '' , mottoeng = "Theory and Practice" , established = , former_name = Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science (1865-1886) , type = Private research university , endowme ...
*
Deji Akinwande Deji Akinwande is a Nigerian-American professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering with courtesy affiliation with Materials Science at the University of Texas at Austin. He was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and E ...
, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the
University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 1883 and is the oldest institution in the University of Texas System. With 40,916 undergraduate students, 11,075 ...
, recipient of the
Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers The Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) is the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their independent research careers. The White ...
*
John Dabiri John Oluseun Dabiri is a Nigerian-American aeronautics engineer and the Centennial Chair Professor at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), with appointments in the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories (GALCIT) and Mechanical Engineering.
, professor of
aerospace engineering Aerospace engineering is the primary field of engineering concerned with the development of aircraft and spacecraft. It has two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering. Avionics engineering is si ...
at the
California Institute of Technology The California Institute of Technology (branded as Caltech or CIT)The university itself only spells its short form as "Caltech"; the institution considers other spellings such a"Cal Tech" and "CalTech" incorrect. The institute is also occasional ...
, recipient of
MacArthur Fellowship The MacArthur Fellows Program, also known as the MacArthur Fellowship and commonly but unofficially known as the "Genius Grant", is a prize awarded annually by the MacArthur Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation typically to ...
*
Alexander Animalu Alexander Obiefoka Enukora Animalu (born 28 August 1938) is a Nigerian academic, who is Professor Emeritus of Physics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He holds a BSc (London), M.A. (Cantab.) and PhD (Ibadan), FAS, NNOM, IOM A pioneer of ...
,
theoretical physicist Theoretical physics is a branch of physics that employs mathematical models and abstractions of physical objects and systems to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena. This is in contrast to experimental physics, which uses experimen ...
; member of the advisory board of the Physica journal *
Francisca Oboh Ikuenobe Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe is a geologist from Ubiaja in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State. She was born August 1962 She specialises in palynology and sedimentology, and is Professor of Geology in the Department of Geosciences ...
, geologist and professor of
geology Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Ear ...
at the
Missouri University of Science and Technology Missouri University of Science and Technology, or Missouri S&T, is a public research university in Rolla, Missouri. It is a member institution of the University of Missouri System. Most of its 7,645 students (fall 2020) study engineering, busin ...
*
Soni Oyekan Soni Olufemi Olubunmi Oyekan is a Nigerian-American chemical engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, author, mentor and educator. Oyekan is the President and CEO of Prafis Energy Solutions, an oil refining and energy consulting company. During his car ...
, chemical engineer * Bolaji Aluko, professor of chemical engineering at
Howard University Howard University (Howard) is a private, federally chartered historically black research university in Washington, D.C. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity" and accredited by the Middle States Commissi ...
*
Lola Eniola-Adefeso Omolola (Lola) Eniola-Adefeso is a Nigerian-American chemical engineer and the University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor of Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Macromolecular Science and Engineering at the Universi ...
, professor of chemical engineering at
University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...
*
Ndubuisi Ekekwe Ndubuisi Ekekwe (born July 1975) is a Nigerian business person. He is the founder of First Atlantic Semiconductors & Microelectronics – West Africa's leading embedded systems company. His working experience includes Analog Devices Corp where ...
, electrical and computer engineer *
Unoma Ndili Okorafor Unoma Ndili Okorafor is a Nigerian computer scientist and entrepreneur. Okorafor founded Working to Advance African Women, a non-profit that supports the education of African women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in 2007. She ...
, computer scientist, wife of Ekpe Okorafor, and daughter of nuclear physicist Frank Nwachukwu Ndili *
Philip Emeagwali Philip Emeagwali (born 23 August 1954) is a Nigerian computer scientist. He won the 1989 Gordon Bell Prize for price-performance in high-performance computing applications, in an oil reservoir modeling calculation using a novel mathematical formu ...
, computer scientist and 1989 recipient of
Gordon Bell Prize The Gordon Bell Prize, commonly referred to as the Nobel Prize of Supercomputing, is an award presented by the Association for Computing Machinery each year in conjunction with the SC Conference series (formerly known as the Supercomputing Conferen ...
* Tam David-West, academic and
virologist Virology is the scientific study of biological viruses. It is a subfield of microbiology that focuses on their detection, structure, classification and evolution, their methods of infection and exploitation of host cells for reproduction, their ...


Medicine

* Latunde Odeku, first Nigerian
neurosurgeon Neurosurgery or neurological surgery, known in common parlance as brain surgery, is the medical specialty concerned with the surgical treatment of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord and peri ...
trained in the United States; pioneer of neurosurgery in Africa *
Chidi Chike Achebe Chidi Chike Achebe (born 24 May 1967) is a Nigerian-American physician executive. He is currently the chairman and CEO of AIDE (African Integrated Development Enterprise). AIDE is a Boston-based organization dedicated to the development of the ...
, physician executive and son of
Chinua Achebe Chinua Achebe (; 16 November 1930 – 21 March 2013) was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic who is regarded as the dominant figure of modern African literature. His first novel and ''magnum opus'', ''Things Fall Apart'' (1958), occupies ...
* Bankole Johnson,
psychiatrist A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in psychiatry, the branch of medicine devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, study, and treatment of mental disorders. Psychiatrists are physicians and evaluate patients to determine whether their sy ...
; discoverer of topiramate, a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) facilitator and glutamate antagonist, as an effective treatment for alcoholism. * Olufunmilayo Olopade, hematology
oncologist Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the study, treatment, diagnosis and prevention of cancer. A medical professional who practices oncology is an ''oncologist''. The name's etymological origin is the Greek word ὄγκος (''ó ...
; director of the Cancer Risk Clinic at the
University of Chicago Medical Center The University of Chicago Medical Center (UChicago Medicine) is a nationally ranked academic medical center located in Hyde Park on the South Side of Chicago. It is the flagship campus for The University of Chicago Medicine system and was establis ...
* Ikenna Ihim, doctor * Ola Akinboboye, nuclear cardiologist *
Mojisola Adeyeye Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye is a Nigerian pharmacist and professor. She was appointed the Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on 3 November 2017 by the President of The Federal Republic of Nig ...
,
pharmacist A pharmacist, also known as a chemist (Commonwealth English) or a druggist (North American and, archaically, Commonwealth English), is a healthcare professional who prepares, controls and distributes medicines and provides advice and instructi ...
and professor of
pharmaceutics Pharmaceutics is the discipline of pharmacy that deals with the process of turning a new chemical entity (NCE) or old drugs into a medication to be used safely and effectively by patients. It is also called the science of dosage form design. The ...
at
Duquesne University Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit ( or ; Duquesne University or Duquesne) is a private Catholic research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened as the Pittsbu ...
*
Bennet Omalu Bennet Ifeakandu Omalu (born September 30, 1968"About Bennet Omalu"
, B ...
,
neuropathologist Neuropathology is the study of disease of nervous system tissue, usually in the form of either small surgical biopsies or whole-body autopsies. Neuropathologists usually work in a department of anatomic pathology, but work closely with the clinic ...
and professor at the
University of California, Davis The University of California, Davis (UC Davis, UCD, or Davis) is a public land-grant research university near Davis, California. Named a Public Ivy, it is the northernmost of the ten campuses of the University of California system. The institut ...
; first to discover and publish findings on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in American football players * Nelson M. Oyesiku, vice chairman of
neurological surgery Neurosurgery or neurological surgery, known in common parlance as brain surgery, is the medical specialty concerned with the surgical treatment of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord and peri ...
and professor of
endocrinology Endocrinology (from '' endocrine'' + '' -ology'') is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions known as hormones. It is also concerned with the integration of developmental event ...
at the
Emory University School of Medicine The Emory University School of Medicine is the graduate medical school of Emory University and a component of Emory’s Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center. Before it was established as the Emory School of Medicine in 1915, the school fi ...
*
Charles Rotimi Charles Nohuoma Rotimi (born 1957) is the Director of the Trans-National Institutes of Health (NIH) center for research in genomics and global health. He works to ensure that population genetics include genomes from African populations and founde ...
,
geneticist A geneticist is a biologist or physician who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and variation of organisms. A geneticist can be employed as a scientist or a lecturer. Geneticists may perform general research on genetic processe ...
and director of the
National Institutes of Health The National Institutes of Health, commonly referred to as NIH (with each letter pronounced individually), is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research. It was founded in the late ...
*
Olawale Sulaiman Professor Olawale Sulaiman, MD.,PhD., FRCS(C), ''CON'' is a Canadian and American-trained neurosurgeon, academician and physician Executive of Nigerian heritage. He is the CEO and Chief Medical Director of RNZ Global Ltd, a healthcare development, ...
, neurosurgeon; professor of neurosurgery at
Tulane University Tulane University, officially the Tulane University of Louisiana, is a private university, private research university in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded as the Medical College of Louisiana in 1834 by seven young medical doctors, it turned into ...
* Segun Toyin Dawodu, physician and professor of
pain medicine Pain management is an aspect of medicine and health care involving relief of pain (pain relief, analgesia, pain control) in various dimensions, from acute and simple to chronic and challenging. Most physicians and other health professionals pr ...
*
Samuel Dagogo-Jack Samuel E. Dagogo-Jack is a Nigerian American physician and the A.C. Mullins Endowed Professor in Translational Research, Professor of Medicine, and Chief, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at the University of Tennessee Health ...
, discoverer of the first
radioimmunoassay A radioimmunoassay (RIA) is an immunoassay that uses radiolabeled molecules in a stepwise formation of immune complexes. A RIA is a very sensitive in vitro assay technique used to measure concentrations of substances, usually measuring antigen conc ...
for
epidermal growth factor Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a protein that stimulates cell growth and differentiation by binding to its receptor, EGFR. Human EGF is 6-k Da and has 53 amino acid residues and three intramolecular disulfide bonds. EGF was originally descr ...
in human saliva * Elizabeth Ofili, physician and
cardiology Cardiology () is a branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the heart and the cardiovascular system. The field includes medical diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart d ...
researcher *
Chidi Chike Achebe Chidi Chike Achebe (born 24 May 1967) is a Nigerian-American physician executive. He is currently the chairman and CEO of AIDE (African Integrated Development Enterprise). AIDE is a Boston-based organization dedicated to the development of the ...
, physician executive * Jacqueline Nwando Olayiwola, Chair Professor of the Department of Family Medicine at
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is a multidisciplinary academic medical center located in Columbus, Ohio, United States, on the main campus of The Ohio State University. For 29 consecutive years, '' U.S. News & World Report'' has ...
* Clement Adebamowo,
epidemiologist Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and risk factor, determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population. It is a cornerstone of public health, and shapes policy decision ...
* Folakemi T. Odedina, professor of pharmacy and medicine at
University of Florida The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida, traces its origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its ...
*
Andrew Agwunobi Andrew Chuma Agwunobi (born 1965) is an American physician and administrator. He has been the CEO for UConn Health since 2014 and was appointed interim president of the University of Connecticut on May 19, 2021. He is the first non-white person ...
, CEO of
UConn Health UConn Health (formerly known as the UConn Health Center) is the branch of the University of Connecticut that oversees clinical care, advanced biomedical research, and academic education in medicine. The main branch is located in Farmington, Connect ...
* Oluyomi O. Olusanya, Physician Executive


Humanities and social sciences

*
Kola Tubosun Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún is a Nigerian linguist, writer, translator, scholar, and cultural activist.
, linguist and founder of The YorubaName Project *
Jacob Olupona Jacob K. Olupona is a Nigerian American professor at the Harvard Divinity School with a joint appointment as Professor of African and African American Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University. Biography Jacob K. Olupona ...
, professor of
African Studies African studies is the study of Africa, especially the continent's cultures and societies (as opposed to its geology, geography, zoology, etc.). The field includes the study of Africa's history (pre-colonial, colonial, post-colonial), demography ...
and African American Studies at
Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
*
Abiola Irele Francis Abiola Irele (commonly Abiola Irele, 22 May 1936 – 2 July 2017) was a Nigerian academic best known as the doyen of Africanist literary scholars worldwide. He was Provost at Kwara State University, founded in 2009 in Ilorin, Nigeria. Be ...
, literary scholar and former professor at
Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
*
Claude Ake Claude Ake (18 February 1939 in Omoku – 7 November 1996) was a Nigerian political scientist from Omoku, in Rivers State, Nigeria. Ake (pronounced AH-kay) was considered "one of Africa's foremost political philosophers." He specialized in polit ...
, political scientist, former professor at
Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
and
Yale University Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wo ...
*
Chinua Achebe Chinua Achebe (; 16 November 1930 – 21 March 2013) was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic who is regarded as the dominant figure of modern African literature. His first novel and ''magnum opus'', ''Things Fall Apart'' (1958), occupies ...
, award-winning novelist, professor, literary scholar, and author of
Things Fall Apart ''Things Fall Apart'' is the debut novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, first published in 1958. It depicts pre-colonial life in the southeastern part of Nigeria and the invasion by Europeans during the late 19th century. It is seen as the ...
* Nwando Achebe, historian, feminist scholar, and daughter of
Chinua Achebe Chinua Achebe (; 16 November 1930 – 21 March 2013) was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic who is regarded as the dominant figure of modern African literature. His first novel and ''magnum opus'', ''Things Fall Apart'' (1958), occupies ...
*
Farooq Kperogi Farooq Adamu Kperogi (born 1973), is a Nigerian-American professor, author, media scholar, newspaper columnist, blogger and activist. He was a reporter and news editor at many Nigerian newspapers including the ''Daily Trust'', ''Daily Triumph'' and ...
, journalist and professor of journalism at
Kennesaw State University Kennesaw State University (KSU) is a public research university located in the state of Georgia with two different campuses in the Atlanta metropolitan area, one in Kennesaw and the other in Marietta on a combined of land. The school was fou ...
* Nwando Achebe, historian and feminist scholar; professor of history at
Michigan State University Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the fi ...
*
Toyin Falola Toyin Omoyeni Falola (born January 1, 1953) is a Nigerian historian and professor of African Studies. Falola is a Fellow of the Historical Society of Nigeria and of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, and has served as the president of the African ...
, historian and professor of
African Studies African studies is the study of Africa, especially the continent's cultures and societies (as opposed to its geology, geography, zoology, etc.). The field includes the study of Africa's history (pre-colonial, colonial, post-colonial), demography ...
* Bamidele A. Ojo, political scientist and
professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who pr ...
of
Political science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...
and
International studies International relations (IR), sometimes referred to as international studies and international affairs, is the scientific study of interactions between sovereign states. In a broader sense, it concerns all activities between states—such as ...
*
John Ogbu John Uzo Ogbu (May 9, 1939 – August 20, 2003) was a Nigerian-American anthropologist and professor known for his theories on observed phenomena involving race and intelligence, especially how race and ethnic differences played out in educational ...
, anthropologist, "acting white" theorist *
Ekpo Eyo Ekpo Okpo Eyo (8 July 1931 – 28 May 2011) was a Nigerian scholar mostly known for his work on archeology of Nigeria. He worked at the interface of archeology, anthropology, and art history, and he was actively involved in and many years presidin ...
, archaeologist and professor of
African arts African art describes the modern and historical paintings, sculptures, installations, and other visual culture from native or indigenous Africans and the African continent. The definition may also include the art of the African diasporas, su ...
and
Archeology Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...
at
University of Maryland The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the University System of M ...
* Akinwumi Ogundiran, archaeologist, Chancellor's Professor and Professor of Africana Studies,
Anthropology Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including past human species. Social anthropology studies patterns of behavi ...
&
History History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...
at
UNC Charlotte The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte or simply Charlotte) is a public research university in Charlotte, North Carolina. UNC Charlotte offers 24 doctoral, 66 master's, and 79 bachelor's degree programs through nine colle ...
. *
Obiwu Obioma Paul Iwuanyanwu (born 1962) known mononymously as Obiwu, is a Nigerian-American writer and professor. He is a survivor of the Igbo genocide in Nigeria (1966–1970), and teaches World Literature and Critical Theory in the Humanities Depar ...
(Obioma Paul Iwuanyanwu), writer and professor of English and creating writing at
Central State University Central State University (CSU) is a public, historically black land-grant university in Wilberforce, Ohio. It is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Established by the state legislature in 1887 as a two-year program for te ...
*
Wendy Osefo Wendy Onyinye Osefo (née Ozuzu, born May 21, 1984) is a Nigerian-American political commentator, public affairs academic, and television personality. She is an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins School of Education. She is also a main cast memb ...
, public affairs academic, professor at the
Johns Hopkins School of Education The Johns Hopkins School of Education is one of nine academic divisions of the Johns Hopkins University. Established as a separate school in 2007, its origins can be traced back to the 1909 founding of Johns Hopkins’ College Courses for Teacher ...
, and television personality *
Emmanuel Chukwudi Eze Emmanuel Chukwudi Eze (18 January 196331 December 2007) was a Nigerian philosopher. Eze was a specialist in postcolonial philosophy. He wrote as well as edited influential postcolonial histories of philosophy in Africa, Europe, and the Americas. ...
, philosopher * Nkiru Nzegwu, philosopher and Distinguished Professor for Research at
State University of New York at Binghamton The State University of New York at Binghamton (Binghamton University or SUNY Binghamton) is a public research university with campuses in Binghamton, Vestal, and Johnson City, New York. It is one of the four university centers in the State ...
* Kalu Ndukwe Kalu, political scientist and Distinguished Research Professor of
Political Science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...
and National Security Policy at
Auburn University Auburn University (AU or Auburn) is a public land-grant research university in Auburn, Alabama. With more than 24,600 undergraduate students and a total enrollment of more than 30,000 with 1,330 faculty members, Auburn is the second largest uni ...
*
Stephen Adebanji Akintoye Stephen Adebanji Akintoye, also known as S. Banji Akintoye (born 1935), is a Nigerian-born academic, historian and writer. He attended Christ's School Ado Ekiti, Nigeria from 1951–1955, and studied history at the University College (Overseas Co ...
, academic, historian and writer * Saheed Aderinto, professor of history at
Western Carolina University Western Carolina University (WCU) is a public university in Cullowhee, North Carolina. It is part of the University of North Carolina system. The fifth oldest institution of the sixteen four-year universities in the UNC system, WCU was founded t ...
* Elechukwu Njaka, political scientist; author of ''Igbo Political Culture'' *
Olu Oguibe Olu Oguibe (born 14 October 1964) is a Nigerian-born American artist and academic.Olu Oguibe
Retrieve ...
, professor of art at the
University of Connecticut The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public land-grant research university in Storrs, Connecticut, a village in the town of Mansfield. The primary 4,400-acre (17.8 km2) campus is in Storrs, approximately a half hour's drive from Hart ...
and senior fellow at the
Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...
in
Washington, DC ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan ...
*
Chika Okeke-Agulu Chika Okeke-Agulu () is a Nigerian artist, art historian, art curator, and blogger specializing in African and African diaspora art history. He lives in Princeton, New Jersey. Biography Chika Okeke-Agulu was born in Umuahia in Nigeria in 19 ...
, art historian *
Joy Ogwu Joy Uche Angela Ogwu (born August 22, 1946) is a former foreign minister of Nigeria and a former permanent representative of Nigeria to the United Nations in New York 2008–2017. She is the first woman to hold the post of Permanent Representat ...
, political scientist * Leslye Obiora, professor of law at
University of Arizona The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a public land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it was the first university in the Arizona Territory. T ...
*
Tejumola Olaniyan Tejumola Olaniyan (April 3, 1959 – November 30, 2019) was a Nigerian academic. He was the Louise Durham Mead Professor of English and African Cultural Studies, and the Wole Soyinka Professor of the Humanities at the University of Wisconsin–Madi ...
, Louise Durham Mead Professor of English and African Cultural Studies, and the Wole Soyinka Professor of the Humanities at the
University of Wisconsin–Madison A university () is an educational institution, institution of higher education, higher (or Tertiary education, tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. Universities ty ...
*
Esiaba Irobi Esiaba Irobi (1960–2010) was a Nigerian poet, playwright, actor and academic. Biography Irobi was born on 10 January 1960. He held a Bachelor of Arts in English/Drama and a Master of Arts in Comparative Literature from the University of Niger ...
, Associate Professor of International Theatre and Film Studies at Ohio University, Athens, USA *
Babatunde Lawal Babatunde Lawal is an art historian and scholar of the arts of Nigeria. His research is focused on the visual culture of the Yoruba and its influences in the Americas. He is currently a professor of Art History Art history is the study of aesth ...
, a Professor of Art History at
Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a public research university in Richmond, Virginia. VCU was founded in 1838 as the medical department of Hampden–Sydney College, becoming the Medical College of Virginia in 1854. In 1968, the Virgini ...
.


Mathematics

* Nkechi Agwu, ethnomathematician and historian of mathematics * Abba Gumel, computational mathematician and
mathematical biologist Mathematical and theoretical biology, or biomathematics, is a branch of biology which employs theoretical analysis, mathematical models and abstractions of the Organism, living organisms to investigate the principles that govern the structure, dev ...
, professor at
Arizona State University Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the ...
*
Chike Obi Chike Obi (April 17, 1921 – March 13, 2008) was a Nigerian politician, mathematician and professor. The African Mathematics Union suggests that he was the first Nigerian to hold a doctorate in mathematics. Dr. Obi's early research dealt mainl ...
, pure mathematician * Kate Okikiolu, mathematical analyst * Yewande Olubummo, mathematical analyst *
Grace Alele-Williams Grace Alele-Williams (16 December 1932 – 25 March 2022) was a Nigerian professor of mathematics education, who made history as the first Nigerian woman to receive a doctorate, and the first Nigerian female vice-chancellor at the University ...
, professor of
mathematics education In contemporary education, mathematics education, known in Europe as the didactics or pedagogy of mathematics – is the practice of teaching, learning and carrying out scholarly research into the transfer of mathematical knowledge. Although rese ...


Academic administration

* Victor Ukpolo, chancellor of the
Southern University at New Orleans Southern University at New Orleans (also known as SUNO) is a public historically black university in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is a member of the Southern University System and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. History Southern University ...
*
Benjamin Akande Benjamin Ola Akande is a Nigerian-American academic, professor, and business leader. In May 2021, he was named Senior Vice President, Director Human Resources, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Stifel Financial, a wealth management and investmen ...
, president of
Champlain College Champlain College is a private college in Burlington, Vermont. Founded in 1878, Champlain offers on-campus undergraduate and online undergraduate courses through Champlain College Online, along with online certificate and degree programs and ma ...
and Westminster College *
Babatunde Ogunnaike Babatunde Ayodeji Ogunnaike (March 26, 1956 – February 20, 2022) was an American chemical engineer of Nigerian descent and the William L. Friend Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware (UD). He was the ...
, dean of the College of Engineering at the
University of Delaware The University of Delaware (colloquially UD or Delaware) is a public land-grant research university located in Newark, Delaware. UD is the largest university in Delaware. It offers three associate's programs, 148 bachelor's programs, 121 mas ...
* Joseph Abiodun Balogun, dean of the College of Health Sciences at
Chicago State University Chicago State University (CSU) is a predominantly black public university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1867 as the Cook County Normal School, it was an innovative teachers college. Eventually the Chicago Public Schools assumed control of t ...
* Ilesanmi Adesida, dean and professor emeritus of engineering at the
Grainger College of Engineering The Grainger College of Engineering is the engineering college of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It was established in 1868 and is considered one of the original units of the school. Every engineering program in the college is ...
(
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I, Illinois, University of Illinois, or UIUC) is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the Univ ...
), provost at
Nazarbayev University Nazarbayev University (NU) is an autonomous research university in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. Founded as a result of the initiative of the first President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2010 (June), it is an English-medium institu ...
(in
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...
) * Johnson O. Akinleye, chancellor of
North Carolina Central University North Carolina Central University (NCCU or NC Central) is a public historically black university in Durham, North Carolina. Founded by James E. Shepard in affiliation with the Chautauqua movement in 1909, it was supported by private funds from b ...
* ImeIme Umana, president of
Harvard Law Review The ''Harvard Law Review'' is a law review published by an independent student group at Harvard Law School. According to the ''Journal Citation Reports'', the ''Harvard Law Review''s 2015 impact factor of 4.979 placed the journal first out of 143 ...
* Nwando Achebe, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the College of Social Science at
Michigan State University Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the fi ...
*
Okwui Enwezor Okwui Enwezor (23 October 1963 – 15 March 2019) was a Nigerian curator, art critic, writer, poet, and educator, specializing in art history. He lived in New York City and Munich. In 2014, he was ranked 24 in the ''ArtReview'' list of the 100 m ...
, senior vice president of
San Francisco Art Institute San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) was a private college of contemporary art in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1871, SFAI was one of the oldest art schools in the United States and the oldest west of the Mississippi River. Approximately ...
*
John Dabiri John Oluseun Dabiri is a Nigerian-American aeronautics engineer and the Centennial Chair Professor at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), with appointments in the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories (GALCIT) and Mechanical Engineering.
, Centennial Chair Professor at
California Institute of Technology The California Institute of Technology (branded as Caltech or CIT)The university itself only spells its short form as "Caltech"; the institution considers other spellings such a"Cal Tech" and "CalTech" incorrect. The institute is also occasional ...
*
Andrew Agwunobi Andrew Chuma Agwunobi (born 1965) is an American physician and administrator. He has been the CEO for UConn Health since 2014 and was appointed interim president of the University of Connecticut on May 19, 2021. He is the first non-white person ...
, president of
University of Connecticut The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public land-grant research university in Storrs, Connecticut, a village in the town of Mansfield. The primary 4,400-acre (17.8 km2) campus is in Storrs, approximately a half hour's drive from Hart ...


Activism

* Chief Temitope Ajayi, activist * Morénike Giwa-Onaiwu, autism and HIV advocate *
Colion Noir Collins Iyare Idehen Jr. (born 1983), better known as Colion Noir, is an American gun rights activist, lawyer, and host of the web series ''NOIR''. In 2013, the National Rifle Association (NRA) recruited him to appear in NRA News videos in subse ...
(Collins Iyare Idehen Jr.), gun rights activist and spokesperson for the
National Rifle Association The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is a gun rights advocacy group based in the United States. Founded in 1871 to advance rifle marksmanship, the modern NRA has become a prominent Gun politics in the United States, gun rights ...
* Opeoluwa Sotonwa, disability rights activist * Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist *
Opal Tometi Opal is a hydrated amorphous form of silica (SiO2·''n''H2O); its water content may range from 3 to 21% by weight, but is usually between 6 and 10%. Due to its amorphous property, it is classified as a mineraloid, unlike crystalline forms ...
, social activist and co-founder of
Black Lives Matter Black Lives Matter (abbreviated BLM) is a decentralized political and social movement that seeks to highlight racism, discrimination, and racial inequality experienced by black people. Its primary concerns are incidents of police bruta ...


Business

*
Temie Giwa-Tubosun Temie Giwa-Tubosun (born Oluwaloni Olamide Giwa, December 1985) is a Nigerian-American health manager, founder of LifeBank (formerly One Percent Project), a business enterprise in Nigeria working to improve access to blood transfusions in the c ...
, founder of LifeBank * Kunle Olukotun, founder of
Afara Websystems Afara Websystems Inc. was a Sunnyvale, California, USA server company whose goal was to build servers surrounding a custom high-throughput CPU architecture, "developing IP traffic management systems that will bring quality-of-service to the next gen ...
* Pearlena Igbokwe, chairman of Universal Studios Group (division of
NBCUniversal NBCUniversal Media, LLC is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate corporation owned by Comcast and headquartered at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, United States. NBCUniversal is primari ...
) * Jessica O. Matthews, venture capitalist and co-inventor of Soccket * John O. Agwunobi, pediatrician, former fourth-star admiral of the
United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC), also referred to as the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service, is the federal uniformed service of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) and one of the ...
, former senior vice-president of
Walmart Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores from the United States, headquarter ...
, CEO of
Herbalife Herbalife Nutrition Ltd., also called Herbalife International, Inc. (with a U.S. subsidiary called Herbalife International of America) or simply Herbalife, is a global multi-level marketing (MLM) corporation that develops and sells dietary sup ...
* Lazarus Angbazo, president and CEO of
General Electric General Electric Company (GE) is an American multinational conglomerate founded in 1892, and incorporated in New York state and headquartered in Boston. The company operated in sectors including healthcare, aviation, power, renewable energ ...
in Nigeria * Tayo Oviosu, founder and CEO of Paga *
Ndubuisi Ekekwe Ndubuisi Ekekwe (born July 1975) is a Nigerian business person. He is the founder of First Atlantic Semiconductors & Microelectronics – West Africa's leading embedded systems company. His working experience includes Analog Devices Corp where ...
, founder and CEO of First Atlantic Semiconductors & Microelectronics *
Soni Oyekan Soni Olufemi Olubunmi Oyekan is a Nigerian-American chemical engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, author, mentor and educator. Oyekan is the President and CEO of Prafis Energy Solutions, an oil refining and energy consulting company. During his car ...
, CEO of Prafis Energy Solutions *
Bisi Ezerioha Ndubisi "Bisi" Ezerioha (born January 6, 1972) is a Nigerian Americans, Nigerian-American engineer, professional Auto racing, race car driver, entrepreneur and engine builder. He is the current CEO and Chief Engineer for Bisimoto Engineering. Ez ...
, automotive engineer, racecar driver, industrialist, and CEO of Bisimoto Engineering *
Adebayo Alonge Adebayo Alonge is a Nigerian pharmacist, inventor, deep tech entrepreneur, and market development professional. He is the winner of the 2019 Hello Tomorrow Global Deeptech Challenge, known as the BNP Paribas Group Deep Tech Award, for creating ...
, founder and CEO of RxAll Inc. *
Nneka Egbujiobi Nneka Colleen Egbujiobi is a Nigerian-American lawyer, best known as the founder and CEO of Hello Africa. Education Career Salary and Net Worth Egbujiobi graduated from University of Michigan with a degree in English language and literature, b ...
, founder and CEO of Hello Africa *
Michael Boulos Tiffany Ariana Trump (born October 13, 1993) is the fourth child of former U.S. President Donald Trump and his only child with his second wife, Marla Maples. She is a legal research assistant at Georgetown University Law Center. Early life an ...
, business executive and partner of
Tiffany Trump Tiffany Ariana Trump (born October 13, 1993) is the fourth child of former U.S. President Donald Trump and his only child with his second wife, Marla Maples. She is a legal research assistant at Georgetown University Law Center. Early life an ...
*
Adebayo Ogunlesi Adebayo "Bayo" O. Ogunlesi CON (born December 20, 1953) is a Nigerian lawyer and investment banker. He is currently Chairman and Managing Partner at the private equity firm Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). Ogunlesi was the former head of G ...
, investment banker, Chairman and Managing Partner at
Global Infrastructure Partners Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) is an infrastructure investment fund making equity and selected debt investments. GIP's main headquarters are located in New York City and its equity investments are based on infrastructure assets in the energ ...
* Maya Horgan Famodu, venture capitalist and founder of Ingressive *
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (; born 13 June 1954) is a Nigerian economist, who has been serving as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization since March 2021. Notably, she is the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organiza ...
, Director-General, World Trade Organization * Magnus L. Kpakol, Texas-based CEO and chairman of Economic and Business Strategies; former chief economic advisor to President
Olusegun Obasanjo Chief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu Obasanjo, , ( ; yo, Olúṣẹ́gun Ọbásanjọ́ ; born 5 March 1937) is a Nigerian political and military leader who served as Nigeria's head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as its pres ...
of Nigeria *
Chris Aire Christopher Aire (born December 25, 1964) is a Nigerian born African American jeweler and timepiece designer. He is the president of Solid 21 Incorporated and the founder of his eponymous brand, Chris Aire. Early years Chris Aire was born in I ...
, president of Solid 21 Incorporated *
Angelica Nwandu Angelica Nwandu (born 1989) is the founder of the Shade Room (TSR), an Instagram-based media company focused on celebrity gossip. The site has since branched out into covering politics and focusing on Black culture news. The Shade Room has over ...
, founder of
The Shade Room The Shade Room (TSR) is a media company, founded by Angelica Nwandu in March 2014. Instagram-based, The Shade Room offers celebrity and trending news on an hourly basis, predominantly within the African American community; The New York Times call ...
* Tiyan Alile, celebrity chef and restaurateur


Government and politics

*
Wally Adeyemo Adewale "Wally" Adeyemo (born May 20, 1981) is a Nigerian-American government official serving as the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, United States deputy secretary of the treasury. He was the first president of the Obama Foundation and also se ...
,
United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury The United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, in the United States government, advises and assists the Secretary of the Treasury in the supervision and direction of the Department of the Treasury and its activities, and succeeds the Secret ...
(2021-present) * Esther Agbaje, Democratic member of the
Minnesota House of Representatives The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house of the Legislature of the U.S. state of Minnesota. There are 134 members, twice as many as the Minnesota Senate. Floor sessions are held in the north wing of the State Capitol in Saint Pa ...
(2021-present) * John O. Agwunobi, former secretary of health for
United States Department of Health and Human Services The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch department of the U.S. federal government created to protect the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is ...
(2006-2007) *
Yinka Faleti Adeyinka Faleti (born June 20, 1976) is a Nigerian-American politician and United States Army veteran who was the Democratic candidate in the 2020 Missouri Secretary of State election. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the United Stat ...
, Democratic candidate for
Missouri Secretary of State The people below have served as the Secretary of State of the U.S. state of Missouri. List Gallery File:Warren E. Hearnes.jpg, Warren E. Hearnes File:James C. Kirkpatrick.jpg, James C. Kirkpatrick File:Rep Roy Blunt.jpg, Roy Blunt File:Matt ...
in the 2020 election * Carol Kazeem, Pennsylvania State Representative *
Richard Komi Richard N. Komi is an American immigrant from Nigeria who served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives as a member of the Democratic Party. Life Komi claims to have faced political persecution as a member of the Ogoni people in Nigeria. ...
, former Democratic member of the
New Hampshire House of Representatives The New Hampshire House of Representatives is the lower house in the New Hampshire General Court, the bicameral legislature of the state of New Hampshire. The House of Representatives consists of 400 members coming from 204 legislative district ...
(2018-2020) *
Emmanuel Onunwor Emmanuel Onunwor (born May 24, 1952, as Emmanuel Onunwa) is a Nigeria-born American who served as the mayor of East Cleveland, Ohio. Biography Onunwor was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria where he attended primary and secondary sch ...
, former mayor of East Cleveland,
Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
(1998-2004) *
Vop Osili Samuel Ifeanyi "Vop" Osili, Jr. (born 1963) is a Democratic politician from Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a member of the Indianapolis City-County Council from the 11th district, in the northwestern portion of Center Township. Since February 20 ...
, president of the
Indianapolis City-County Council The City-County Council of Indianapolis and Marion County is the legislative body of the combined government of the city of Indianapolis and the county of Marion in the state of Indiana. The council was established as part of the consolidation of ...
(2018-present) *
Oye Owolewa Adeoye "Oye" Owolewa (born 1989) is a Nigerian American politician, pharmacist, and a member of the Democratic Party. In November 2020, he was elected as the shadow representative of the United States House of Representatives from the District o ...
, Democratic shadow representative for the
District of Columbia ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
in the
United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...
(2021-present)


Journalism

*
Sade Baderinwa Folasade Olayinka Baderinwa (born April 14, 1969), known professionally as Sade Baderinwa ( ), is an American broadcast journalist. Since 2003, she has been a news anchor at WABC-TV, the ABC flagship station in New York, and currently co-anch ...
, TV news anchor * Lola Ogunnaike, entertainment journalist * Adaora Udoji, ''
Court TV Court TV is an American digital broadcast network and former cable television channel. It was originally launched in 1991 with a focus on crime-themed programs such as true crime documentary series, legal analysis talk shows, and live news cove ...
'' host;
CNN CNN (Cable News Network) is a multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable news channel, and presently owned by the M ...
''
CNN CNN (Cable News Network) is a multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable news channel, and presently owned by the M ...
'' correspondent * Bukola Oriola, journalist *
Ijeoma Oluo Ijeoma Oluo (; born 1980) is an American writer. She is the author of ''So You Want to Talk About Race'' and has written for ''The Guardian,'' ''Jezebel (website), Jezebel'', ''The Stranger (newspaper), The Stranger'', ''Medium (website), Medium' ...
, author and commentator *
Wendy Osefo Wendy Onyinye Osefo (née Ozuzu, born May 21, 1984) is a Nigerian-American political commentator, public affairs academic, and television personality. She is an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins School of Education. She is also a main cast memb ...
, political commentator * Alexis Okeowo, staff writer at
The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American weekly magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. Founded as a weekly in 1925, the magazine is published 47 times annually, with five of these issues ...
*
Chika Oduah Chikaodinaka Sandra Oduah (born March 14, 1986) is a Nigerian-American journalist who has worked as a television news producer, correspondent, writer and photographer. She is currently a correspondent for ''VICE News''. Known for her unique human ...
, correspondent for ''
VICE News Vice News (stylized as VICE News) is Vice Media's current affairs channel, producing daily documentary essays and video through its website and YouTube channel. It promotes itself on its coverage of "under-reported stories". Vice News was create ...
'' * Toluse Olorunnipa, White House Bureau Chief for ''The'' ''Washington Post'' * Chike Frankie Edozien, director of
New York University New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, the ...
,
Accra Accra (; tw, Nkran; dag, Ankara; gaa, Ga or ''Gaga'') is the capital and largest city of Ghana, located on the southern coast at the Gulf of Guinea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2021 census, the Accra Metropolitan District, , ...
* Karen Attiah, editor for ''The'' ''Washington Post''


Sports


Basketball

*
Ochai Agbaji Ochai Young Agbaji (born April 20, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). As a senior at the University of Kansas, Agbaji was named a consensus first-team All-American ...
*
Giannis Antetokounmpo Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo (born Adetokunbo; December 6, 1994) is a Greek-Nigerian professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Antetokounmpo's country of origin, in addition to his s ...
*
Suleiman Braimoh Suleiman Okhaifoede Braimoh Jr. (born October 19, 1989) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the Euroleague. He played college basketball for Rice University befo ...
*
Chamberlain Oguchi Chamberlain "Champ" Nnaemeka Oguchi (born April 28, 1986) is a Nigerian American professional basketball player who last played for Boulazac Basket Dordogne of the LNB Pro B. His name "Emeka" is an abbreviation of the Igbo name "Chukwuemeka" (mea ...
*
Arike Ogunbowale Arike Ogunbowale (born March 2, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Wings of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, before being drafted ...
*
Chiney Ogwumike Chinenye "Chiney" Ogwumike (born March 21, 1992) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). In 2020, she became the first Black woman and the first WNBA ...
*
Nneka Ogwumike Nnemkadi Chinwe Victoria "Nneka" Ogwumike (; born July 2, 1990) is a Nigerian-American basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), after being drafted No. 1 overall in the 2012 WNBA Draft. S ...
*
Semi Ojeleye Jesusemilore Talodabijesu "Semi" Ojeleye ( ; born December 5, 1994) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for Virtus Bologna of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for both Duke ...
*
Emeka Okafor Chukwuemeka Ndubuisi "Emeka" Okafor (born September 28, 1982) is an American former professional basketball player. Okafor attended Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas and the University of Connecticut, where in 2004 he won a national champ ...
*
Jahlil Okafor Jahlil Obika Okafor (pronounced ; born December 15, 1995) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for the Capitanes de Ciudad de México of the NBA G League. He played his freshman season of college basketball for the 2014–15 D ...
* Isaac Okoro *
Stan Okoye Stanley Onyekachukwu Okoye (born April 10, 1991) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for Scafati Basket of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). A 6'6" swingman, he was named the 2012–13 Big South Conference Men's Basketball Player of ...
*
Victor Oladipo Kehinde Babatunde Victor Oladipo (born May 4, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers, where in the 2012-2013 sea ...
*
Abi Olajuwon Alon Abisola Arisicate Ajoke Olajuwon, better known as Abi Olajuwon (born July 6, 1988) is a Nigerian-American basketball coach and former player. Currently, she is an assistant coach for Connecticut Sun in the WNBA. Olajuwon is the daughter of ...
*
Hakeem Olajuwon Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (; ; born January 21, 1963), nicknamed "the Dream", is a Nigerian Americans, Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played Center (basketball), center in the National Basketball Ass ...
*
Josh Akognon Joshua Emmanuel Akognon (born February 10, 1986) is a Nigerian–American professional basketball player who last played for Montakit Fuenlabrada of the Liga ACB. He played college basketball for Washington State and Cal State Fullerton. Standing ...
*
Al-Farouq Aminu Al-Farouq Ajiede Aminu (born September 21, 1990) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player who last played for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He plays internationally with the Nigeria national basketba ...
*
Alade Aminu Abdul Wahab "Alade" Aminu (born September 14, 1987) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player who most recently played for Gigantes de Carolina of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He played college basketball for the Georgia Te ...
*
Aloysius Anagonye Aloysius Anagonye (born February 10, 1981) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for ALM Évreux Basket of the LNB Pro B. Professional career Anagonye played for Italian Serie A sides Villaggio Solidago Livorno (2004–2005) and ...
* Isaac Okoro *
Udoka Azubuike Udoka Timothy Azubuike (; born September 17, 1999) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball, Kansas ...
*
Jordan Nwora Jordan Ifeanyi Nwora (born September 9, 1998) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Louisville Cardinals. He plays interna ...
*
Kelenna Azubuike Kelenna David Azubuike (born 16 December 1983) is a British-Nigerian-American former professional basketball player and currently the Golden State Warriors television analyst on NBC Sports Bay Area. Born in London, England and raised in Tulsa, ...
*
Ekpe Udoh Ekpedeme Friday "Ekpe" Udoh ( ; born May 20, 1987) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for Shimane Susanoo Magic of the Japanese B.League. He played college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines and the Baylor Bears. In the 201 ...
*
Ime Udoka Ime Sunday Udoka ( ; born August 9, 1977) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA), currently suspended by the team for the 2 ...
*
Mfon Udoka Mfon Sunday Udoka (born June 16, 1976) is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player who is an assistant coach for the Nigeria women's national basketball team, the D'Tigress. Born in Portland, Oregon, Udoka graduated from Benso ...
*
Bam Adebayo Edrice Femi "Bam" Adebayo (born July 18, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats before being selected by the He ...
*
Kenny Adeleke Andrew Kehinde "Kenny" Adeleke (born February 10, 1983) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player who has played 12 seasons in the NBA, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. In 2006–07 he was the top rebounder in the Israel Basketball P ...
*
Ekene Ibekwe Ekenechukwu Brian "Ekene" Ibekwe (born July 19, 1985) is a Nigerian American professional basketball player for Urunday Universitario of the Liga Uruguaya de Básquetbol. He played college basketball for the University of Maryland at College P ...
*
Gani Lawal Gani Oladimeji Lawal Jr. (born November 7, 1988) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for Trotamundos in the Venezuelan SuperLiga. He played college basketball for Georgia Tech. High school career During his time at Norcross Hig ...
*
Andre Iguodala Andre Tyler Iguodala ( ; born January 28, 1984) is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The swingman was an NBA All-Star in 2012 and has been named to t ...
*
Ike Diogu Ikechukwu Somtochukwu Diogu (born September 11, 1983) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for Piratas de La Guaira of the Superliga Profesional de Baloncesto in Venezuela. Family and early life Diogu's parents, natives of Nige ...
*
Obinna Ekezie Obinna Ralph Ekezie (born August 22, 1975) is a Nigerian former professional basketball player who played in the NBA and other leagues. His name, Obinna, means "Father's heart". He is a direct descendant of the 19th century Igbo warrior and bus ...
*
Shane Lawal Olaseni Abdul-Jelili "Shane" Lawal (born October 8, 1986) is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player. He played the center position. College career Lawal played college basketball for three years at Oakland University, with the ...
* Ebi Ere *
Festus Ezeli Ifeanyi Festus Ezeli-Ndulue (born October 21, 1989) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player. He previously played five seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Vanderbilt Commodores men' ...
*
Ike Nwankwo Ikenna Nwankwo (born December 27, 1973) is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. From Houston, Texas, he played college basketball with the UCLA Bruins, winning a national championship in 1995. College career Nwankwo played w ...
*
Derrick Obasohan Derrick Osamuyi Obasohan (born April 18, 1981) is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the University of Texas at Arlington. College career Obasohan played high school basketball at Alief E ...
*
Nick Okorie Nick Okorie (born July 22, 1988) is an American professional basketball player for Horse Owners Club in Alexandria, Egypt. He played college basketball for South Plains College and Texas Tech. High school career Okorie attended Kempner High Schoo ...


American Football

*
Victor Abiamiri Victor Ikechukwu Abiamiri (born January 14, 1986) is a former American football defensive end. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame. He is of Nigerian desce ...
*
Emmanuel Acho Emmanuel Chinedum Acho (born November 10, 1990) is a Nigerian-American former linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) and is currently working as an analyst for Fox Sports 1. He played college football at Texas before being dra ...
*
Sam Acho Samuel Onyedikachi Acho (born September 6, 1988) is a Nigerian-American ESPN sports analyst, a nine-year veteran of the NFL, a Vice President of the NFL Players Association, and author of ''Let the World See You: How to Be Real in a World Full ...
* Victor Aiyewa *
Jay Ajayi Jay Ajayi (born 15 June 1993) is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) and professional ''FIFA'' esports player. He played five seasons with the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles. He play ...
* Josh Aladenoye * Obed Ariri *
Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha ( ; born July 6, 1981) is an American actor, producer and former football cornerback. He played college football for the University of California, Berkeley, and was drafted in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Oakland ...
*
Jeremiah Attaochu Jeremiah Ojimaojo Attaochu (born January 17, 1993) is a Nigerian born American football outside linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2 ...
* Chidobe Awuzie *
Akin Ayodele Akinola James Ayodele (; born September 17, 1979) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, and Buffalo Bills. He was drafted by the Jacksonville J ...
*
Remi Ayodele Remilekun "Remi" Ayodele (born April 22, 1983) is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at Oklahoma. Early year ...
*
Prince Amukamara Prince Kelechi Amukamara (born June 6, 1989) is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football for Nebraska, and earned unanimous All-American honors. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of ...
*
Chris Banjo Ayokunmi Christopher Oluwaseun Banjo (born February 26, 1990) is a former American football safety and current assistant special teams coach for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU. Banjo ...
* Samuel Eguavoen * Isaiah Ekejiuba *
IK Enemkpali Ikemefuna Chinedum "IK" Enemkpali (born July 3, 1991) is a former American football defensive end. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisiana Tech. Enemkpali is most k ...
*
Tayo Fabuluje Olutayo "Tayo" Fabuluje (born July 17, 1991) is a former American football Tackle (American and Canadian football), tackle. He played college football for TCU Horned Frogs football, TCU. Fabuluje was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth roun ...
*
Samkon Gado Samkon Kaltho Gado (born November 13, 1982) is a Nigerian-American otolaryngologist. He is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Rams. He pla ...
*
Akbar Gbaja-Biamila Akbar Oluwakemi-Idowu Gbaja-Biamila (born May 6, 1979) is a former professional American football player in the National Football League (NFL) who is a commentator and co-host on the ''American Ninja Warrior'' television series. He is the forme ...
*
James Ihedigbo James Ugochu Ihedigbo ( ; born December 3, 1983) is a former American football safety. He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Massachusetts. Early years Ihedigbo played at Amherst R ...
*
Israel Idonije Israel Idonije (born November 17, 1980) is a retired Nigerian-Canadian defensive end in the National Football League and actor. Idonije was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cleveland Browns out of the University of Manitoba. A draft pi ...
* Buchie Ibeh * Bobby Iwuchukwu * Brian Iwuh *
Chidi Iwuoma Chidi Francis Iwuoma (born February 19, 1978) is a former American football cornerback who is currently a scout for BLESTO. He was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played college football at California. Iwuom ...
*
Ade Jimoh Adebola Olurotimi "Ade" Jimoh (born April 18, 1980) is a former American football cornerback. He was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at Utah State University. Jimoh has also bee ...
*
N. D. Kalu Ndukwe Dike "N. D." Kalu (born August 3, 1975) is a former American football defensive end. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Rice Owls football, Rice. Early years ...
*
Benson Mayowa Benson Babatunde Mayowa (born August 3, 1991) is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. He also was a member of the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, Oakland Raiders, and Seattle Seahawks. He played college football at the ...
*
Ovie Mughelli Ovie Phillip Mughelli (born June 10, 1980) is a former American football fullback who last played for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for Wake Forest University, he was drafted in the fo ...
*
Chinedum Ndukwe Chinedum "Nedu" Ndukwe ( ; born March 4, 1985) is a former American football safety. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Notre Dame. He also played ...
* Ike Ndukwe *
David Njoku David Njoku ( ; born July 10, 1996) is an American football tight end for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Miami (FL). He was drafted by the Browns in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft ...
* Ty Nsekhe *
Uzoma Nwachukwu Uzoma "E.Z." Nwachukwu (born December 15, 1990) is an American former American football, football wide receiver, sports marketing agent, and television personality. He played college football for Texas A&M Aggies football, Texas A&M. He was a m ...
* Uche Nwaneri * David Ojabo *
Chukky Okobi Chukwunweze Sonume "Chukky" Okobi (born November 18, 1978) is a former American football center and commercial actor. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue. O ...
* Amobi Okoye * Christian Okoye *
Chike Okeafor Chikezie Russell Okeafor (; born March 27, 1976) is a former American football player. During his National Football League career from 1999 to 2009, he played defensive end and linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, the Seattle Seahawks, and th ...
*
Alex Okafor Alex Okafor (born February 8, 1991) is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas, where he earned All-American ...
*
Iheanyi Uwaezuoke Iheanyi Uwaezuoke (/iːˈhɑːnji uːˈweɪzoʊkeɪ/ ee-HAHN-yee oo-WAY-zoh-kay; (born July 24, 1973) is a Nigerian former college and professional football player. Uwaezuoke played 5 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), chiefly for t ...
*
Chris Ogbonnaya Christopher Irem Ogbonnaya ( ; born May 20, 1986) is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Texas at Austin, Unive ...
*
Cedric Ogbuehi Cedric Ogbuehi (born April 25, 1992) is an American football offensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at Texas A&M, and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He has played in th ...
*
Vince Oghobaase Vince Oghobaase (born January 24, 1987) is a former American football defensive tackle who is the assistant defensive line coach for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Hartford Colonials as an undr ...
*
Eric Ogbogu Eric O. Ogbogu (born July 18, 1975) is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, and Dallas Cowboys. He previously played college football at the University of Marylan ...
*
Azeez Ojulari Azeez O. Ojulari (born June 16, 2000) is an American football outside linebacker and defensive end for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia and was drafted by the Giants in the second ro ...
*
Brian Orakpo Brian Ndubisi Orakpo (born July 31, 1986) is a former American football outside linebacker who played 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Texas, was recognized as a unanimous All-A ...
*
Kelechi Osemele Kelechi Keith Ayo Osemele (; ; born June 24, 1989) is an American football offensive guard who is a free agent. He played college football at Iowa State. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, and w ...
*
Babatunde Oshinowo Babatunde Oluwasegun Temitope Oluwakorede Adisa "Baba" Oshinowo, Jr. a-ba-TOON-day OH-shi-no-who(born January 14, 1983) is a former American football defensive tackle. His second name "Oluwasegun" means "God has been victorious" in the Yoruba la ...
*
Kenechi Udeze Kenechi Nduka Udeze (; born March 5, 1983) is an American football coach and former player who is the assistant defensive line coach for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the linebackers coach a ...
*
Cyril Obiozor Cyril Obiozor (born September 26, 1986) ( ) is a former American football linebacker. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Texas A&M. He also played for the Arizona Cardinals a ...
* Tony Ugoh *
Valerian Ume-Ezeoke Valerian Ume-Ezeoke (born February 14, 1993) is a former American football center. He is now a graduate assistant for the UMass Minutemen football program. He played college football at New Mexico State University. Early life Born the son of An ...
*
Cheta Ozougwu Chetachi "Cheta" Ozougwu (born November 18, 1988) is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Rice and was drafted with the final pick of the seventh round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans, his hometown te ...
*
Adewale Ogunleye Adewale Ogunleye (; born August 9, 1977) is a former American football defensive end who played eleven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2000 and also played for the ...
*
Russell Okung Russell Okung ( ; born October 7, 1988) is an American football offensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football for Oklahoma State University, and was twice recognized as an All-American. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks ...
* Christian Sam


Soccer

* Abuchi Obinwa *
Oguchi Onyewu Oguchialu Chijioke Onyewu (born May 13, 1982) is an American former soccer player who is the secretary-general of R.E. Virton. He was previously the sporting director for Orlando City B. During his professional career, he played as a defender ...
*
Bo Oshoniyi Adegboyega "Bo" Oshoniyi (born November 3, 1971) is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who spent eight seasons in Major League Soccer. He is now the head men's soccer coach at Dartmouth College. Career Oshoniyi's Nigerian father drowned whe ...
*
Ade Coker Ade Coker (born 19 May 1954) is a Nigerian-American former football player who played as a striker. Coker began with English club West Ham United then moved to the North American Soccer League and the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earne ...
*
Maurice Edu Maurice Edu (born April 18, 1986) is an American former professional soccer player. A highly touted prospect, Edu was the first overall pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft and won the MLS Rookie of the Year Award with Toronto. His performances for T ...
*
Jean Harbor Jean Harbor (born 19 September 1965 in Lagos, Nigeria) is a former Nigerian American soccer forward who played for numerous teams in Nigeria and the US He earned fifteen caps with the US national team after becoming a US citizen in 1992. Yout ...
* Folarin Balogun *
Amaechi Igwe Amaechi Dominic Igwe (born May 20, 1988) is an American retired professional soccer player who played as a defender. Career College Born in Belmont, California, Igwe played college soccer at Santa Clara University before signing a generat ...
*
Chioma Igwe Chioma Nisa Igwe (born July 21, 1986) is an American former soccer midfielder. The San Mateo, California native is a former member of the United States U-20 women's national soccer team. From the 2011/12 until 2014/15 she played in the Germa ...
*
Ugo Ihemelu Ugochukwu "Ugo" Ihemelu (born 3 April 1983 in Enugu) is a retired Nigerian-born American association football, football player. Career College Ihemelu grew up in the United States, attended Cedar Hill High School in Cedar Hill, Texas (a suburb ...
*
Chioma Ubogagu Chioma Grace Ubogagu (born 10 September 1992) is an English professional footballer who plays mainly as a forward for Women's Super League club Tottenham Hotspur and the England national team. She previously played for Orlando Pride, Brisban ...


Martial arts

* Sesugh Uhaa (Apollo Crews), professional wrestler *
Chike Lindsay Chike George Lindsay-Ajudua (born November 17, 1983) is an American Muay Thai kickboxer who competes in the Middleweight division. Lindsay is the former WKA North American Champion, WBC Muaythai International Champion, and IMTO Super Welterweigh ...
, kickboxer *
Anthony Njokuani Anthony Obinna Njokuani (born March 1, 1980) is a Nigerian-American professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer. A professional competitor since 2001, Njokuani has also formerly competed for the UFC, WEC, and ONE Championship. Background B ...
, kickboxer and mixed martial artist *
Muhammed Lawal Oklahoma State Cowboys Central Oklahoma Bronchos Muhammed Lawal (born January 11, 1981), also known as "King Mo", is an American professional wrestler and retired mixed martial artist currently signed to Major League Wre ...
, mixed martial artist *
Kamaru Usman Kamarudeen Usman (born May 11, 1987) is a Nigerian and American professional mixed martial artist, former freestyle wrestler and retired folkstyle wrestler. He currently competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championsh ...
, UFC fighter * Tolulope "Jordan" Omogbehin (Omos), professional wrestler and former college basketball player


Other

*
Tanitoluwa Adewumi Tanitoluwa Emmanuel Adewumi (born September 3, 2010; nicknamed Tani) is a Nigerian-American chess player who currently holds the title of FIDE Master (FM). A chess prodigy, he won the 2019 K-3 New York State chess championship at the age of 8 af ...
, chess player *
Foluke Akinradewo Foluke Atinuke Gunderson (née Akinradewo; born October 5, 1987) is an indoor volleyball player who plays as a middle blocker for Japanese club Hisamitsu Springs. Born in Canada, she represents the United States internationally. Gunderson won g ...
, volleyball player *
Jesse Iwuji Jesse Ekene Iwuji ( ; born August 12, 1987) is an American professional stock car racing driver and officer in the United States Navy Reserve. He competes part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 34 Chevrolet Camaro for Jesse Iwuji ...
, NASCAR driver *
Ogonna Nnamani Ogonna Nneka Nnamani (born July 29, 1983) is a physician, retired United States, American indoor volleyball player and former member of the United States women's national volleyball team, United States National and Olympic team. She was awarded ...
, volleyball player *
Mary Akor Mary Adah Akor Beasley (born September 24, 1976) is a Nigerian–American athlete who competed for the US at the 2005 and 2007 World Marathon Championships. In 2006, she was ranked the seventh fastest U.S. woman marathoner of the year; in 2007 ...
, long-distance runner * Ifeoma Mbanugo, long-distance runner * Tuedon Morgan, long-distance runner


Music

* Abiodun Koya, classical opera *
Tosin Abasi Oluwatosin Ayoyinka Olumide Abasi (born January 7, 1983), is an American musician, best known as the founder and lead guitarist of the instrumental progressive metal band Animals as Leaders. He has recorded and released five albums with Animal ...
, lead guitarist of
Animals as Leaders Animals as Leaders is an American instrumental progressive metal band from Washington, D.C. It currently consists of guitarists Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes and drummer Matt Garstka, having been formed by Abasi in 2007. They are a prominent band ...
*
Tunde Adebimpe Babatunde Omoroga Adebimpe (born February 26, 1975) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, actor, director, and visual artist best known as the lead singer of the Brooklyn-based band TV on the Radio. Early life Adebimpe was born into a Nige ...
, musician, actor *
Tunji Balogun Tunji Balogun is a Nigerian American record label executive. He was a co-founder of Keep Cool, and is the CEO of Def Jam Recordings. Career Balogun began his career as a marketing intern at Warner Brothers Records and was hired as an assistant ...
, record label executive *
Chamillionaire Hakeem Temidayo Seriki (born November 28, 1979), better known by his stage name Chamillionaire (), is an American rapper. He was the founder and an original member of The Color Changin' Click from 2001 until the group split in 2005. He began his ...
, rapper * eLDee, musician, record label executive * Chika, rapper *
Cozz Cody Rashad Osagie, (born October 1, 1994), better known by his stage name Cozz, is an American rapper from Los Angeles, California. He is signed to J. Cole's label Dreamville Records and Interscope Records. His debut studio album ''Cozz & Effe ...
, rapper *
Davido David Adedeji Adeleke (born November 21, 1992), popularly known by his stage name Davido, is an American-Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. His music blends traditional African elements with global mainstream pop. Davido is widel ...
, musician * Fat Tony, rapper * Ilacoin, musician, creator of the "Pause" game *
Jidenna Jidenna Theodore Mobisson (born May 4, 1985), known mononymously as Jidenna, is an American rapper and singer. In 2015, Jidenna released two singles, "Classic Man" (featuring Roman GianArthur and Kendrick Lamar) and " Yoga" (with Janelle Monáe ...
, rapper * Kami de Chukwu, rapper *
Lil' O Lil' O (born Ore Magnus Lawson; November 22, 1977 in Lagos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian-American rapper, raised in Southwest Houston, Texas. He is an original member of DJ Screw's Screwed Up Click. He was also known as O or Da Fat Rat Wit Da Cheeze. ...
, rapper *
Fela Sowande Chief Olufela Obafunmilayo "Fela" Sowande MBE (29 May 1905 – 13 March 1987) was a Nigerian musician and composer. Considered the father of modern Nigerian art music, Sowande is perhaps the most internationally known African composer of works i ...
, musician and composer *
Maxo Kream Emekwanem Ogugua Biosah Jr. (born March 29, 1990), known professionally as Maxo Kream, is an American rapper from Houston, Texas. His debut album ''Punken'' was released in 2018, and the follow-up and major label debut, ''Brandon Banks (album), ...
, rapper *
Kevin Olusola Kevin Oluwole Olusola, also known as K.O., (born October 5, 1988) is an American singer-songwriter, beatboxer, and cellist. Olusola is best known as the beatboxer of the a cappella group Pentatonix. After the group won NBC's ''The Sing-Off'' in ...
, cellist and singer-songwriter *Toby Foyeh , Guitarist, Singer, Composer, Producer, a world touring Nigerian American musician with his band Orchestra Africa who has performed at many countries from USA, Canada, Japan, Malta, Jamaica, Grenada, Bahamas, Curacao etc *
Tony Okungbowa Anthony Victor Okungbowa (born c. 1967/1968) is an English-American actor, film producer, and DJ. He was the resident DJ for ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' from 2003 to 2006 and again from 2008 to 2013 when he was replaced by Stephen "tWitch" Boss ...
, DJ *
Kevin Olusola Kevin Oluwole Olusola, also known as K.O., (born October 5, 1988) is an American singer-songwriter, beatboxer, and cellist. Olusola is best known as the beatboxer of the a cappella group Pentatonix. After the group won NBC's ''The Sing-Off'' in ...
, musician, beatboxer *
Sonny Digital Sonny Corey Uwaezuoke (born March 5, 1991), better known by his stage name Sonny Digital, is an American record producer, rapper, and DJ.
, music producer *
Tyler, The Creator Tyler Gregory Okonma (born March 6, 1991), known professionally as Tyler, the Creator, is an American rapper and record producer. He is one of the founding members of the music collective Odd Future. Okonma self-released his debut mixtape Bast ...
, rapper *
Michael Uzowuru Michael Uzowuru (born November 10, 1991) is an American record producer. He has produced and written for SZA, Frank Ocean, Beyoncé, Donald Glover, Vince Staples, Earl Sweatshirt, and Rosalía, among others. Life and career Michael Uzowuru was ...
, music producer * Wale, rapper * Wande, rapper, A&R *
Patrice Wilson Patrice Iteke Wilson is a Nigerian-American record producer, songwriter, and singer. He has also adopted the stage name Pato for some of his performances. He founded ARK Music Factory with Clarence Jey in 2010. While there, he produced songs such ...
, music producer * Fred Onovwerosuoke, composer * Ahamefule J. Oluo, jazz trumpeter *
Tobe Nwigwe Tobechukwu Dubem "Tobe" Nwigwe (born March 8, 1987) is an American rapper, singer and actor. As of 2022, Nwigwe co-stars in the Netflix television series '' Mo'' and received a nomination for Best New Artist at the 65th Grammy Awards. Persona ...
, rapper *
VanJess VanJess was a Nigerian-American R&B duo composed of sisters Ivana and Jessica Nwokike. The duo began their career on YouTube performing cover songs. After one of their videos, a cover of Drake's "Headlines", had viral success, they decided to p ...
, R&B duo *
Dot da Genius Oladipo Omishore, known professionally as Dot da Genius is an American record producer and audio engineer from Brooklyn, New York City. He first gained recognition in 2008 for producing "Day 'n' Nite" by American musician Kid Cudi, with whom he ...
, music producer


Film

*
Uzo Aduba Uzoamaka Nwanneka Aduba (; born February 10, 1981) is an American actress. She gained wide recognition for her role as Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren on the Netflix original series '' Orange Is the New Black'' (2013–2019), for which she won an ...
, actress *
Sope Aluko Sope may refer to: People * Barak Sopé (born 1951), Vanuatu politician * Sope Aluko (born 1975), Nigerian-born British American actress * Sope Dirisu (born 1991), British Nigerian actor * Sope Johnson * Sope Willams Elegbe (born 1975), Nigerian ...
, actress *
Gbenga Akinnagbe Olugbenga Enitan Temitope Akinnagbe ( ; born 12 December 1978) is an American actor and writer, best known for his roles as Chris Partlow on the HBO series ''The Wire'' and as Larry Brown on the HBO series '' The Deuce''. Early life Akinnagbe ...
, actor *
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (, ; born 22 August 1967) is an English actor, director, and former fashion model known for his roles as Lock-Nah in ''The Mummy Returns'', Nykwana Wombosi in '' The Bourne Identity'', Heavy Duty in '' G.I. Joe: The R ...
, actor *
Chet Anekwe Chet Anekwe is an actor and filmmaker who was born in Nigeria and raised in New York City. His work spans Hollywood, Nollywood and the New York Theater. Filmography Awards and nominations Other awards *1997 AUDELCO award nomine ...
, actor *
David Oyelowo David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo ( ; born 1 April 1976) is a British actor, director and producer. His accolades include a Critics' Choice Award and two NAACP Image Awards as well as nominations for two Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, ...
, actor *
Megalyn Echikunwoke Ebubennem Megalyn Ann Echikunwoke ( ; born May 28, 1983), also known as Megalyn E.K., is an American actress, known primarily for her roles in television and film. Born in Spokane, Washington, she was discovered while performing in a theatri ...
, actress *
Rick Famuyiwa Rick Famuyiwa (born June 18, 1973) is an American director, producer and screenwriter of productions including ''The Wood'' (1999), ''Brown Sugar'' (2002), '' Talk to Me'' (2007), '' Dope'' (2015), and ''Confirmation'' (2016). His films have bee ...
, director *
Osas Ighodaro Osas Ighodaro (Osariemen Martha Elizabeth Ighodaro; born 26 October) is a Nigerian American actress, producer, host and humanitarian. She won the Miss Black USA Pageant in 2010, and founded the Joyful Joy Foundation, an initiative that raises f ...
, actress *
Annie Ilonzeh Annette Ngozi Ilonzeh (born August 23, 1983) is a Nigerian-American actress. From 2010 to 2011, she played Maya Ward on the ABC daytime soap opera ''General Hospital'', and later starred as Kate Prince in the short-lived ABC reboot of ''Charlie' ...
, actress *
Nyambi Nyambi Nyambi Nyambi (born April 26, 1979) is an American character actor of Nigerian heritage. His most prominent role has been Samuel in the CBS sitcom ''Mike & Molly''. He has played investigator Jay DiPersia in the Paramount+ legal drama ''The Good ...
, actor *
Adepero Oduye Adepero Oduye ( ) (born January 11, 1978) is an American actress, director, singer, and writer. She is known for '' Pariah'' (2011), '' 12 Years a Slave'' (2013), ''The Big Short'' (2015), and ''Widows'' (2018). Life and career Adepero Oduye w ...
, actress *
Dayo Okeniyi Oladayo A. Okeniyi (; born June 14, 1988) is a Nigerian-American actor, popularly known for playing the role of Thresh in ''The Hunger Games'' and Danny Dyson in ''Terminator Genisys''. Life and career Dayo was born in Jos and grew up in Lagos, ...
, actor *
Chiké Okonkwo Chiké Okonkwo (; born 18 March 1982)IMDB – Biography
Retrieved 2010-03-05.
is a British people, ...
, actor *
Folake Olowofoyeku Folake Olowofoyeku (born 26 October 1983) is a Nigerian actress and musician. She currently stars in the Chuck Lorre CBS sitcom ''Bob Hearts Abishola''. Early life, family and education Olowofoyeku was born in Nigeria to Nigerian politician ...
, actress *
Okieriete Onaodowan Okieriete "Oak" Onaodowan ( ; born August 16, 1987) is an American actor and singer known for originating the dual roles of Hercules Mulligan and James Madison in the 2015 musical ''Hamilton'' and the role of Dean Miller in the ABC drama and ''Gr ...
, actor *
Yvonne Orji Yvonne Anuli Orji (born 2 December 1983) is a Nigerian-American actress and comedian. She is best known for her role in the television series '' Insecure'' (2016–2021), for which she has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and three NAAC ...
, actress * Rotimi, actor *
Chet Anekwe Chet Anekwe is an actor and filmmaker who was born in Nigeria and raised in New York City. His work spans Hollywood, Nollywood and the New York Theater. Filmography Awards and nominations Other awards *1997 AUDELCO award nomine ...
, actor *
Chuku Modu Chukuma Modu (born 19 June 1990) is an English actor best known for his roles in ''Game of Thrones'', '' The Good Doctor'' and ''The 100''. Biography Modu was born to a Nigerian-German father and an Anglo-Irish mother in Chiswick, West London. ...
, actor *
Sam Adegoke Samuel Oluwaseyi Adegoke is a Nigerian-American actor known for playing Jeff Colby in the ''Dynasty'' reboot series. Personal life Adegoke was born in Lagos, Nigeria, but raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota and St. Paul, Minnesota. His parents w ...
, actor *
Chinonye Chukwu Chinonye Chukwu ( ; born May 19, 1985) is a Nigerian-American film director best known for the drama films ''Clemency'' and ''Till''. She is the first African-American woman to win the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. Early life and ...
, director * Susan Nwokedi, filmmaker *
Ego Nwodim Egobunma Kelechi Nwodim (; born March 10, 1988) is a Nigerian-American actress and comedian. Nwodim has been a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' since 2018, beginning with the show's 44th season. Life and career ...
, actress, comedian *
Gina Yashere Regina Obedapo "Gina" Iyashere is a British comedian who has made many appearances on British and American television. Early life Yashere was born and raised in Bethnal Green London to Nigerian parents. Before becoming a comedian, she worked ...
, actress, comedian *
Jovan Adepo Jovan Adepo (born September 6, 1988) is a British-American actor. He is known for his role as Cory Maxson in the film adaptation of ''Fences'' (2016), and also had starring roles in the 2018 film ''Overlord'' and as Lionel Jefferson in CBS' '' ...
, actor


Literature

*
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ( ; born 15 September 1977) is a Nigerian writer whose works include novels, short stories and nonfiction. She was described in ''The Times Literary Supplement'' as "the most prominent" of a "procession of criticall ...
,
MacArthur Fellow The MacArthur Fellows Program, also known as the MacArthur Fellowship and commonly but unofficially known as the "Genius Grant", is a prize awarded annually by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation typically to between 20 and 30 ind ...
*
Nnedi Okorafor Nnedimma Nkemdili "Nnedi" Okorafor (formerly Okorafor-Mbachu; born April 8, 1974) is a Nigerian-American writer of science fiction and fantasy for both children and adults. She is best known for her ''Binti Series'' and her novels ''Who Fears ...
, recipient of
Nebula A nebula ('cloud' or 'fog' in Latin; pl. nebulae, nebulæ or nebulas) is a distinct luminescent part of interstellar medium, which can consist of ionized, neutral or molecular hydrogen and also cosmic dust. Nebulae are often star-forming regio ...
and
Hugo Award The Hugo Award is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention and chosen by its members. The Hugo is widely considered the premier a ...
*
Chris Abani Christopher Abani (born 27 December 1966) is a Nigerian-American and Los Angeles- based author. He says he is part of a new generation of Nigerian writers working to convey to an English-speaking audience the experience of those born and raise ...
, writer and poet *
Tomi Adeyemi Tomi Adeyemi (born August 1, 1993) is a Nigerian-American novelist and creative writing coach. She is known for her novel ''Children of Blood and Bone'', the first in the ''Legacy of Orïsha'' trilogy published by Henry Holt Books for Young Reade ...
, novelist * Adaeze Atuegwu, writer *
Tochi Onyebuchi Tochi Onyebuchi (born October 4, 1987) is a Nigerian American science fiction and fantasy writer and former civil rights lawyer. His novella, '' Riot Baby'', received an Alex Award from the American Library Association and the World Fantasy Awa ...
, novelist *
Jordan Ifueko Jordan Ifueko (born August 16, 1993) is a Nigerian American writer of fantasy and young adult fiction. She is best known for her novel '' Raybearer'', which became a ''New York Times'' bestseller, and its sequel, ''Redemptor.'' She also writes sh ...
, novelist *
Teju Cole Teju Cole (born June 27, 1975) is a Nigerian-American writer, photographer, and art historian. He is the author of a novella ''Every Day Is for the Thief'' (2007), a novel ''Open City'' (2011), an essay collection ''Known and Strange Things'' (20 ...
, writer and artist *
Akwaeke Emezi Akwaeke Emezi is a Nigerian fiction writer and video artist, best known for their novels ''Freshwater'', '' Pet,'' and their ''New York Times'' bestselling novel ''The Death of Vivek Oji''. Emezi is a generalist who writes speculative fiction, r ...
, writer * Chinelo Okparanta, novelist * Uzodinma Iweala, novelist * Uche Nduka, poet * Jeffrey O, Jeffrey Obomeghie, Writer * Bayo Ojikutu, creative writer


Visual arts

* Ibiyinka Alao, architect * Toyin Ojih Odutola, graphic artist * Ade A. Olufeko, technologist and international curator * Kehinde Wiley, portrait painter * Marcia Kure, artist * Izzy Odigie, choreographer * Amarachi Nwosu, documentary filmmaker and photographer * Mobolaji Dawodu, fashion designer * Oshoke Abalu, architect and futurist * Suzanna Ogunjami, artist * Mendi & Keith Obadike, artists *Adejoke Tugbiyele, sculptor


Other

* Olivia Anakwe, model * Luvvie Ajayi, comedian and blogger * Kimberly Anyadike, pilot * Uzo Asonye, partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell *
Yinka Faleti Adeyinka Faleti (born June 20, 1976) is a Nigerian-American politician and United States Army veteran who was the Democratic candidate in the 2020 Missouri Secretary of State election. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the United Stat ...
, United States Army officer * Godfrey (comedian), comedian * Mayowa Nicholas, model


References

{{Lists of African Americans Lists of American people by ethnic or national origin, Nigerian Americans Lists of African-American people, Nigerian Americans American people of Nigerian descent, * Lists of Nigerian people, Americans Lists of people by ethnicity, Nigerian