This is a list of notable Nigerian people. It includes some but not all notable Nigerians.
Administrators and civil servants
Charles Abani – resident coordinator of the United Nations Yarima Ibrahim Abdullahi – Nigerian administrator, served as the Nigerian high commissioner to Malaysia and Brunei Sarki Auwalu director general of the Department of Petroleum Resources Adamu Abdu-Kafarati – former chief judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria Suleiman Kassim – aviation secretary for the Ministry of Transportation Bamidele Solomon former director general and CEO of NABDA
Politicians
A–M
Abba Kyari – late chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari Abdulkadir Kure Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq Abdulsalami Abubakar Abiola Ajimobi Abubakar Momoh Abubakar Tafawa Balewa – prime minister of Nigeria Adebayo Alao-Akala Adedeji Adeleke Adelere Adeyemi Oriolowo Adebayo Adepoju Adebayo Alao-Akala Adebayo Johnson Bankole Adeoye Aribasoye Adewale Egbedun Adolphus Wabara Ahmadu Bello Ahmed Marafa Ahmed Musa Dangiwa Ajibola Basiru Akanu Ibiam Akinwunmi Ambode Akinwumi Adesina Alex Ekwueme Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye - Nigerian jurist Alhaji Idi Farouk Ali Isa Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi Alvan Ikoku Aminu Tambuwal Anamero Sunday Dekeri Anyim Pius Anyim Atiku Abubakar Augustine Ukattah Ayo Fayose Azuka Okwuosa Babajide Sanwo-Olu Babajimi Adegoke Benson Babalola Borishade Babatunde Fashola Benjamin Anyene Benjamin Kalu Bisayo Busari-Akinnadeju Blessing Agbebaku Bola Tinubu Patrick Ekpotu Bonaventure Enemali Bukola Saraki Bunmi Dipo Salami Busari Adelakun Chike Obi Chimaroke Nnamani Chris Ekiyor Christopher Okojie Christopher Pere Ajuwa Chuba Okadigbo Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Cornelius Adebayo Dele Belgore Dangiwa Umar Dapo Folorunsho Asaju Dipo Dina David Umahi David Dafinone David Edevbie David Mark Dennis Osadebay Desmond Elliot Dimeji Bankole Dora Akunyili Edwin Clark Effiong Okon Eyo Emem Usoro Emomotimi Agama Ernest Shonekan Evan Enwerem Elvert Ayambem Enitan Badru Fadjimata Maman Dioula Sidibé Fela Kuti Festus Okotie-Eboh Florence Ita Giwa Franca Afegbua Gbenga Daniel Ghali Umar Na'Abba Godwin Obaseki Goodluck Jonathan Gordian Ezekwe Hadiza Bala Usman Hadiza Seyni Zarmakoye Hajiya Nàja'atu Mohammed Herbert Macaulay Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba Ibrahim Babangida Ike Ekweremadu Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim Isa Mohammed Bagudu Issoufou Assoumane Iyorchia Ayu Jaja Wachuku Janet Akinrinade Jibrin Ndagi Baba Joe Acha John Bonzena Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi Joseph Wayas Joy Emodi Julius Abure K. O. Mbadiwe Kande Balarabe Kayode Ajulo Kayode Fayemi Ken Erics Ladoke Akintola Lateef Adegbite Lola Abiola-Edewor Love Ezema Khalil Halilu Ken Nnamani Malik Ado-Ibrahim Margaret Ekpo Michael Ajegbo Michael Okpara Michael Opeyemi Bamidele Mohammed Bello-Koko Mohammed Barkindo Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi Mohammed Mustapha Namadi Moshood Abiola Muhammadu Buhari Murtala Muhammed Musa Babayo
N–Z
Namadi Sambo Nasir Adhama Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Nnamdi Azikiwe first president of Nigeria Nwafor Orizu Nigeria's second head of state (1965–1966) Nyesom Wike Obafemi Awolowo Ogbonnaya Onu Okechukwu Enelamah Oladipo Diya Oloye Akin Alabi Oludaisi Elemide Olusegun Obasanjo Olusola Saraki O. C. Adesina – professor of history at the University of Ibadan and Global Professor of History at the University of Manchester Owoidighe Ekpoatai Patricia Etteh Patrick Asadu Patrick Obahiagbon Paul Ururuka Peter Obi Peter Odili Philip Agbese Philip Effiong Philip Ikeazor Princess Pat Ajudua Remi Babalola Reno Omokri Richard Bamisile Rochas Okorocha Rotimi Amaechi Rukayya Dawayya S. A. Ajayi Saidu Musa Abdullahi Saleh Mamman Salihu Yakubu-Danladi Sam Obi Samuel Adesina Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi Sanusi Ado Bayero Segun "Aeroland" Adewale Shehu Shagari Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem Soji Adejumo Stephen Adewale Stephen Makoji Achema Sullivan Chime Tajudeen Adeyemi Adefisoye Tele Ikuru Timi Alaibe Tonto Dikeh Tony Ene Asuquo Tayo Alasoadura Temitope Aluko Tijani Adetoyese Olusi Tunde Eso Tunde Idiagbon Umaru Musa Yar'Adua Usman Mamman Durkwa Uzoma Emenike William Nwankwo Alo Wilson Sabiya Yahaya Madawaki Yakubu Gowon Yul Edochie Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed Zainab Abubakar Alman
Military
Adekunle Fajuyi Akinloye Akinyemi Alexander Ogomudia Aliyu Mohammed Gusau Alwali Kazir Benjamin Adekunle (Black scorpion) Buba Marwa C. Odumegwu Ojukwu Chris Alli Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu Dangiwa Umar Halilu Akilu Hamza al-Mustapha Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida Idris Alkali Idris Garba Ike Nwachukwu Jamila Abubakar Sadiq Malafa John Nmadu Yisa-Doko first indigenous chief of air staff Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi Mamman Vatsa Martin Luther Agwai M. I. Wushishi M. Ndatsu Umaru Mohammed Sani Sami Muhammadu Buhari Muhammed Shuwa Murtala Mohammed Oladipo Diya Olusegun Obasanjo Owoye Andrew Azazi Paul Omu Salihu Ibrahim Sani Abacha Sani Bello Theophilus Danjuma Tunde Idiagbon Victor Malu Yahaya Abubakar Yakubu Gowon
Musicians
Actors
Artists
Media
Ifeoma Aggrey-Fynn (died 2015) – radio and television personality Sam Amuka-Pemu – founder of the Vanguard newspaper, co-founder of The Punch Nicole Asinugo screenwriter and presenter Nenny B media personality Lekan Fatodu publisher of Checkout magazine Dul Johnson (born 1953) filmmaker and author Babatunde Jose (1925–2008) – journalist and newspaper editor; considered the "grandfather of Nigerian journalism" Farooq Kperogi – author, columnist, journalism professor at Kennesaw State University Dele Momodu – publisher, writer/journalist; entrepreneur, CEO of Ovation International magazine George Noah (born 1957) – journalist and former state official Benneth Nwankwo (born 1995) – photographer, film director, talk show host Cornelia O'Dwyer – talk show host Femi Oke – journalist and television presenter; former CNN International television anchor Bobby Ologun – television personality in Japan and martial artist Adenike Oyetunde (born 1986) – Nigerian lawyer turned radio host and amputee advocate Tunde Rahman – journalist, editor, and media advisor to president of Nigeria Aisha Salaudeen (born 2017) – Nigerian journalist and feminist Ikechi Uko – publisher, Akwaaba African Travel Market, ATQnews.com; author; travel and tourism media consultant
Educators Abubakar Surajo Imam Joseph Agbakoba – professor of practical philosophy Atinuke Olusola Adebanji – professor of statistics and public Claude Ake professor of political economy Cletus Nzebunwa Aguwa professor of clinical pharmacy Dennis Chima Ugwuegbu (born 1942) professor of psychology Etannibi Alemika Emenike Ejiogu professor of electrical and electronics engineering Jude Rabo vice-chancellor of Federal University, Wukari Olutayo Charles Adesina (born 1964) – professor of History Tessy Okoli Kate Omenugha (born 1965) – educator and politician Thomas Adesanya Ige Grillo (1927–1998) professor of anatomy
Lawyers Kayode Ajulo Richard Ayodele Akintunde Shaibu Atadoga Segun Jegede Helen Ogunwumiju Christopher Sapara Williams (1855–1915) first indigenous Nigerian Lawyer
Writers
Chinua Achebe Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Lesley Nneka Arimah Seinde Arogbofa Adaeze Atuegwu Ogaga Ifowodo Nnamani Grace Odi Wole Soyinka Mamman Jiya Vatsa
Business people
Sowemimo Abiodun founder/CEO of CapitalMetriQ Swift Bank Taofik Adegbite CEO of Marine Platforms Bolaji Akinboro Nigerian entrepreneur Daere Akobo Obi Asika Aliko Dangote Halima Dangote Theophilus Adebayo Doherty (1895–1974) Founding of the Nigerian Stock Exchange & the National Bank of Nigeria. Businessman, Politician & Lawyer. Alhaji Habu Adamu Jajere former president of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and winner of the Dr. Kwame Nkurumah African Leadership Award in Ghana. Ben Murray-Bruce politician and Chairman of Silverbird Group Johnel Nnamani — co-founder of Nnamani Music Group Mary Nzimiro (1898–1993) businesswoman, politician and women's activist Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu (1909–1966) Nigerian business tycoon Segun Ogunsanya CEO of Airtel Nigeria Femi Otedola – Nigerian businessman Candido Da Rocha (1860–1959) – Nigerian businessman Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi – Nigerian businesswoman Akintola Williams (1919–2023) First Nigerian to qualify as a chartered accountant. Founding of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Religion
Wande Abimbola academician; Ifá priest Abubakar Gumi (1924–1992) Islamic scholar Enoch Adeboye – pastor; general overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God Sheikh Abu-Abdullah Adelabu academician; Asi Archibong-Arikpo president of the Presbyterian Women's Guild in Nigeria, 1975–1982 Benson Idahosa Charismatic Pentecostal preacher; founder, Church of God Mission International Bimbo Odukoya pastor; televangelist; founder, Fountain of Life Church Chris Okotie Chris Oyakhilome televangelist; founding president of Christ Embassy Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi beatified by Pope John Paul II David Obadiah Lot pastor, Church of Christ Bishop David Oyedepo preacher; writer; founder and presiding bishop, Winners' Chapel (also known as Living Faith Church Worldwide); chancellor, Covenant University Deborah Omale pastor, Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministry Dominic Ekandem Emmanuel Omale founder, Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministry Francis Arinze Catholic cardinal John Onaiyekan Catholic cardinal Ibrahim Zakzaky outspoken Shi'a leader Joseph Ayo Babalola founder, Christ Apostolic Church Joshua Selman apostle, founder, Eternity Network International ENI, Koinonia Global Matthew Ashimolowo senior pastor, Kingsway International Christian Centre (London, England) Peter Akinola Anglican emeritus primate, Church of Nigeria Samuel Ajayi Crowther Sheikh Dahiru Usman Islamic scholar, Dariqat Tijjaniya Movement T. B. Joshua Christian minister; televangelist and faith healer; founder, Synagogue, Church of All Nations; founder, Christian television station Emmanuel TV Taiwo Odukoya senior pastor, The Fountain of Life Church William Kumuyi pastor, televangelist; writer; founder and general superintendent, Deeper Life Bible Church Joshua Iyemifokhae pastor and author
Sports people
Human-rights activists
Aminu Kano Ayodele Awojobi Beko Ransome-Kuti Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi Dele Giwa Fela Kuti Funke Abimbola Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti Gani Fawehinmi Kayode Ajulo Kiki Mordi Olikoye Ransome-Kuti Olisa Agbakoba Omoyele Sowore Segun Awosanya Sonny Okosun Festus Keyamo Ken Saro-Wiwa
Bloggers
Kemi Adetiba Uche Pedro
International models
Agbani Darego winner, Miss World 2001 Ibife Alufohai winner, Miss Valentine International 2010 and founder of Miss Polo International Mary Timms face of Next Generation Entertainment Awards 2017 Nelson Enwerem model, television personality and winner of Mr Nigeria 2018 Oluchi Onweagba winner, M-Net Face of Africa competition 1998 Omowunmi Akinnifesi
Science
Engineers
Sulyman Age Abdulkareem academic and chemical engineer Esther Titilayo Akinlabi professor of mechanical engineering Sarki Auwalu chemical engineer Ayodele Awojobi polymath and mechanical engineer Olufemi Bamiro professor of mechanical engineering Philip Emeagwali 1989 Gordon Bell Prize winner Ozak Esu electrical engineer Gordian Ezekwe mechanical engineer notable for supervising the construction of the Biafran rocket during the Nigerian Civil War Akii Ibhadode mechanical engineer Tele Ikuru mechanical engineer Ekei Essien Oku – first Nigerian woman chief librarian Gbenga Sesan Nigeria's first Information Technology Youth Ambassador Bamidele Solomon Chemical engineer prominent in Nigeria's biotechnology industry Rhoda Gumus – professor of Chemical Engineering and National Electoral Commissioner of INEC
Mathematicians