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Israel Adesanya is a Nigerian-born New Zealand kickboxer, mixed martial artist, and former boxer. Considered one of the best strikers in MMA, Adesanya has won multiple championships and is the current UFC Middleweight Champion. In 2019, Israel Adesanya was named New Zealand Sportsman of the Year at the Halberg Awards.
Hakeem Olajuwon is a former basketball player. Nicknamed The Dream, because of his dream-like ability to dunk effortlessly, Olajuwon is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketballers of all time. Apart from leading the Houston Rockets to two back-to-back NBA championships, Hakeem Olajuwon also helped the US national team win the Olympic gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
After losing his parents in communal clashes in Nigeria, Victor Moses found home with a foster family in the U.K. Over the years, he has played for top-notch clubs such as Chelsea, winning the Premier League and FA Cup titles. He represented Nigeria in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigerian singer Wizkid soared to fame with chart-busting tracks such as Holla at Your Boy. A performer who has revolutionized the Afrobeats genre, Wizkid supported Nigeria’s End SARS protests against police brutality, on social media. In 2011, he was part of a paternity scandal but denied having fathered a child.
Tiwa Savage is a Nigerian singer, actress, and songwriter. After having created an opportunity to establish herself in the United Kingdom, Savage returned to Nigeria and played an important role in elevating the Nigerian music industry. In 2018, she became the first woman to win the MTV Europe Music Award under the Best African Act category.
Nigerian statesman and lawyer Chief Ernest Shonekan GCFR, served simultaneously as head of government and head of transitional council under Ibrahim Babangida. Following crisis of Third Republic, the Interim National Government was established with Shonekan as interim Head of State. Shonekan’s largely powerless government was eventually overthrown in the 1993 Nigerian coup d'état led by Defence Minister General Sani Abacha.
Born in London, Nigerian media magnate Mo Abudu is known for her pathbreaking contribution to the African media. She launched EbonyLife TV, Africa’s first global all-black lifestyle channel, and executive-produced Fifty, the highest-grossing Nigerian film of 2015. A former recruitment consultant, she is also part of the British Psychological Society.
Born in Nigeria, Joshua Kayode was raised in Ireland and began his career with the youth team of Rotherham United. Though eligible to play for the Nigerian national football team, he chose to represent the Republic of Ireland U21 team. He now also plays for the EFL League One team Rotherham United.
Nigerian politician, banker Femi Pedro served as Deputy Governor of Lagos State and during such tenure was appointed as Chairman of Lagos State Revenue Mobilization committee. An experienced banker, Pedro helped in increasing internally-generated-revenue of Lagos State. He served as CEO of First Atlantic Bank (presently FinBank) and currently serves as Chairman of SMEDAN and Lagos State Sports Trust Fund.
