Nigeria
Historical figures born in Nigeria
3,414 notable historical figures were born in Nigeria. These are the most notable:
Nigeria ranks #37 of 197 countries by number of historical figures on Histiphy, just behind Ireland, Serbia and Iran.
By occupation
- Politician: 19
- Head of State/President: 13
- Writer/Author: 13
- Minister/Cabinet Official: 8
- Soldier/Officer: 5
- Singer/Musician: 5
- Entrepreneur/Executive: 5
- Novelist: 4
- Muhammadu Buhari (1942 to 2025, Politics)
- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (born 1977, Literature)
- Fela Kuti (1938 to 1997, Arts & Music)
- Chinua Achebe (1930 to 2013, Literature)
- Aliko Dangote (born 1957, Business)
- Olusegun Obasanjo (born 1937, Politics)
- Wole Soyinka (born 1934, Literature)
- David Olusoga (born 1970, Literature)
- Goodluck Jonathan (born 1957, Politics)
- Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904 to 1996, Politics)
- Yakubu Gowon (born 1934, Politics)
- Umaru Musa Yar'Adua (1951 to 2010, Politics)
- Amina J. Mohammed (born 1961, Politics)
- Ken Saro-Wiwa (1941 to 1995, Literature)
- Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (1900 to 1978, Politics)
- Murtala Muhammed (1938 to 1976, Politics)
- Yemi Osinbajo (born 1957, Politics)
- TB Joshua (1963 to 2021, Religion)
- Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1912 to 1966, Politics)
- Atiku Abubakar (born 1946, Politics)
- Shehu Shagari (1925 to 2018, Politics)
- Kashim Shettima (born 1966, Politics)
- Abdulsalami Abubakar (born 1942, Politics)
- Chris Oyakhilome (born 1963, Religion)
- Christopher Gwabin Musa (born 1967, Politics)
- Joshua Selman (born 1980, Other)
- Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (born 1961, Politics)
- Ahmadu Bello (1910 to 1966, Politics)
- Mike Adenuga (born 1953, Business)
- Saffron (singer) (born 1968, Arts & Music)
- Herbert Macaulay (1864 to 1946, Politics)
- Ernest Shonekan (1936 to 2022, Politics)
- King Sunny Adé (born 1946, Arts & Music)
- Pete Edochie (born 1947, Entertainment)
- Akwaeke Emezi (born 1987, Literature)
- Adekunle Gold (born 1987, Arts & Music)
- Buchi Emecheta (1944 to 2017, Literature)
- Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (born 1974, Business)
- Theophilus Danjuma (born 1938, Military)
- Ibukun Awosika (born 1962, Business)
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