Celebrating British Nigerian Trailblazers – Part 3

Nigerians have formed long established communities in the UK for over 200 years as a direct result of the transatlantic slave trade. NRTC have been celebrating the contributions of high profile British public figures of Nigerian origin; by running through a list of 50 notable icons.

In this next instalment, Vivian Adeyemo highlights the achievements of 10 vanguards of brilliance.

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1. Daley Thompson

Francis Morgan Ayodélé Thompson, known as Daley Thompson, is a British former decathlete. Born in London, to a British Nigerian father and Scottish mother. Thompson is considered to be one of the greatest decathletes of all time. He won the decathlon gold medal at the 1980 and 1984 Olympic games and broke the world record for the event four times. Thompson won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 1982. Appointed an MBE in the 1983 New Year Honours. Promoted to the CBE in the 2000 New Year Honours.

2. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu

Adeshola Mos-Shogbamimu aka Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, is a British Nigerian activist, lawyer, political commentator and author. Mos-Shogbamimu was born in Hackney, London, and raised in Nigeria and the United States.

She is a qualified US Attorney and Solicitor of England and Wales. An advocate on diversity, inequality and exclusion, women’s rights, law and politics. Mos-Shogbamimu’s first book, This Is Why I Resist: Don’t Define My Black Identity, was published in January 2021; and tackles the nuances and intricacies of race.

3. Eku Edewor

Georgina Chloe Eku Edewor-Thorley, known as Eku Edewor, is a British Nigerian actress, model and television presenter. Edewor was born in London, along with her twin sister Kessiana to a Nigerian mother and British father. Raised in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, Georgina’s first television appearance was in 2006 when she competed in Britain’s Next Top Model. She has since returned to Nigeria where she has co-hosted and acted in numerous television shows, including Castle and Castle as well as featured in a variety of Nollywood films.

4. Skepta

Joseph Junior Adenuga , known professionally as Skepta, is a British Grime MC, rapper, songwriter and record producer. Adenuga was born to Nigerian parents, of respective Yoruba (paternal) and Igbo (maternal) backgrounds, in Tottenham, North London. He is the eldest of four children which includes fellow musician Jme and radio presenter Julie.

Nominated for three Brit Awards, including the Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist. In 2016, he won the Mercury prize for his fourth studio album entitled Konnichiwa. Ordained as a chief in his Nigerian hometown in Ogun State in 2018, receiving the chieftaincy title of the Amuludun of Odo-Aje.

5. Tinie Tempah

Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu better known by his stage name Tinie Tempah, is a British rapper. Tinie was born in London, the son of Igbo parents from Nigeria. Tinie is famed for hit songs such as “Pass out” and “Written in the stars” which both topped the UK charts. His debut album Disc-Overy was released in 2010.

The album went to number one in the UK album charts and was certified Platinum the next year. In 2011, he won two Brit Awards for Best British Breakthrough Act and Best British Single. Tinie has had six UK number one singles, surpassing Dizzee Rascal as the most by any UK rap artist.

6. David Oyelowo

David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo is a British actor and producer. Oyelowo was born in Oxford, England, to Nigerian parents. David grew up in South London until he was six, when his family moved to Nigeria and his family returned to London when Oyelowo was fourteen.

Oyelowo rose to prominence for portraying Martin Luther King Jr. in the biographical drama film Selma and Peter Snowdin in the HBO film Nightingale, both of which garnered him much critical acclaim. Oyelowo’s accolades include a Critics’ Choice Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and nominations for two Golden Globe Awards and two Primetime Emmy Awards. Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to drama in 2016.

7. Julie Adenuga

Julie Adenuga is a British broadcaster and radio host. Born to Nigerian parents, she is also the younger sister of UK Grime artist Skepta (who also features above in this list). She was one of the three lead DJs for Beats 1, Apple’s 24/7 radio station as part of Apple Music. Adenuga has been noted and recognised with mentions in Forbes 30 under 30, NME’s 500 Most Influential People in Britain and in Debrett’s 500 List: Music.

8. Helen Grant 

Helen Grant is a British Conservative Party politician. Grant was born in London to an English mother and a Nigerian father. She grew up in a single parent family after her parents separated and her father emigrated to the United States.

Grant was the first black woman of mixed heritage to be elected as a Conservative MP. She first served in government as jointly Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women and Equalities from 2012 to 2015 and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice from 2012 to 2013. Helen also became Minister for Sports and Tourism in 2013, a post she held until after the 2015 general election.

Appointed as Special Envoy of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Girls’ Education, in January 2021.

9. Vick Hope

Victoria Nwayawu Nwosu-Hope aka Vick Hope, is a British TV and radio presenter, journalist and published author. Hope was born and raised in Newcastle upon Tyne by her English father and Nigerian mother. She is best known for her work presenting the Capital Breakfast Show on Capital FM radio station from 2017 to 2020.

Hope has co-hosted numerous British TV shows, including as backstage presenter on the ITV’s The X Factor. In 2018, She was a contestant on BBC’s hit dance show, Strictly Come Dancing. In 2020, she released her debut children’s novel, Listen Up: Rule the Airwaves, Rule the School.

Hope received a TRIC Award in 2019 and 2020 for Best Radio Show for Capital Breakfast and she also received a TRIC Award for Best Entertainment Show for Strictly Come Dancing in 2019.

10. Gina Yashere

Regina Obedapo Iyashere better known as Gina Yashere, is a British comedian who has made many appearances on British and American television. Yashere was born in London to Nigerian parents and uses the surname “Yashere” due to encountering common mispronunciation of her original surname.

She has appeared in a number of television programmes, including in the comedy series The Lenny Henry Show. In 2008, she became the first Briton to perform on Def Comedy Jam. In September 2019, Yashere appears in a supporting role on the 2019 Chuck Lorre CBS sitcom, Bob Hearts Abishola, which Lorre created with Yashere. Yashere writes for the show and plays Folake Olowofoyeku’s character Abishola’s best friend, Kemi. Bob Hearts Abishola is the first American sitcom to feature a Nigerian family.