Celebrating British Nigerian Vanguards of Excellence – Part 5

Since October, 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 the last instalment of this series, Vivian Adeyemo concludes with a “bang” to usher in 2022. Check out the following 10 high profile vanguards of excellence.

1. Ade Adepitan

Adedoyin Olayiwola “Ade” Adepitan is a Nigerian-born British television presenter and wheelchair basketball player. Adepitan was born in Lagos. As an infant, he contracted polio, resulting in damage to his legs that left him a wheelchair user. At the age of three, he moved with his family to the United Kingdom, where he grew up in East London.

Adepitan is an accomplished wheelchair basketball player, for his club Milton Keynes Aces and as a member of the Great Britain team that won the bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens and the gold medal at the 2005 Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.

Adepitan has featured on many television programmes and series as an actor, presenter or guest. For services to disability sport; appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2005.

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2. Lemar

Lemar Obika, known as Lemar, is a British singer, songwriter and record producer. Obika was born in North London, to Nigerian parents. He rose to fame after finishing third in British reality talent show Fame Academy. Sony BMG signed him to their label; where he has released five studio albums, three of which are certified platinum or double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

Lemar has seen considerable chart success in the UK and Ireland, releasing ten top 20 singles, seven of which peaked in the top 10, and has sold over two million albums. Recognised as one of the most successful artists to come out of a reality TV show.

3. Alex Iwobi

Alexander Chuka Iwobi is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Everton and the Nigeria national team. Iwobi was born in Lagos, Nigeria before moving to England at the age of four. His maternal uncle is former professional footballer Jay-Jay Okocha.

Iwobi began his career at Arsenal, making 149 appearances and scoring 15 goals, and winning the FA Cup in 2017. In August 2019, he transferred to Everton for an initial £28 million fee.

Iwobi represented England up to under-18 level. He made his senior international debut for Nigeria in October 2015, and was part of their squads at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, coming third at the latter.

4. AJ Odudu

Onatejiro “AJ” Odudu is a British television presenter of Nigerian origin. Odudu was born in Lancashire. Her parents are Nigerian and she is one of eight children.

AJ has hosted a variety of television shows since 2009. More recently, in 2021, she was a competitor on the British dance show, Strictly Come Dancing.

5. Anne-Marie Imafidon

Anne-Marie Osawemwenze Ore-Ofe Imafidon is a British computing, mathematics and language child prodigy of Nigerian origin. Imafidon was born in London to Nigerian parents. She is one of the youngest to pass two GCSEs in two different subjects while in primary school. She passed two A level Examinations in mathematics and computer science at the age of 11.

At 13, in 2003, she received a British scholarship to study mathematics at Johns Hopkins University. She graduated from the University of Oxford with a Master of Mathematics and Computer Science (MMathComSci) degree in June 2010; aged 20, making her one of the youngest ever graduates from Oxford in those subjects. She speaks six languages.

Imafidon founded and became CEO of Stemettes in 2013, a social enterprise promoting women in STEM careers. She holds Honorary Doctorates from a variety of universities including the University of Bristol. For services to young women within STEM careers; appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), in the 2017 New Year Honours.

6. Femi Kuti

Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti, known as Femi Kuti, is a Nigerian musician born in London and raised in Lagos. He is the eldest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti and a grandchild of political campaigner, women’s rights activist and traditional aristocrat Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.

Femi Kuti began his musical career playing in his father’s band, Egypt 80. In 1986, Femi started his own band, Positive Force, establishing himself as an artist independent of his father’s legacy.

7. Mo Abudu

Mosunmola Abudu, aka as Mo Abudu, is a Nigerian Media Mogul, philanthropist, and former human resources management consultant. Abudu was born in London to Nigerian parents. Mo moved to Nigeria at 7 to live with her grandparents and returned to England at age 11.

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Described by Forbes as “Africa’s Most Successful Woman“; and rated as one of the “25 Most Powerful Women in Global Television” by The Hollywood Reporter.

8. Buchi Emecheta 

Florence Onyebuchi “Buchi” Emecheta was a Nigerian-born novelist, based in the UK from 1962, who also wrote plays, an autobiography and literature for children. She was born in Lagos, Nigeria, to Igbo parents.

Emecheta was the author of more than 20 books, including Second Class Citizen, The Bride Price, The Slave Girl and The Joys of Motherhood. Previously characterized as the first successful black woman novelist living in Britain after 1948. Following her success as an author, Emecheta travelled widely as a visiting professor and lecturer.

Consequently, most of her fictional works are focused on sexual discrimination and racial prejudice, informed by her own experiences as both a single parent and a black woman living in the United Kingdom

Emecheta suffered a stroke in 2010 and she died in London on 25 January 2017, aged 72.

9. Victor Moses

Victor Moses is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Russian club Spartak Moscow.

Moses was born in Lagos, Nigeria, the son of a Christian pastor. When he was 11, his parents were killed in religious riots in Kaduna when rioters invaded their home. His relatives paid for him to travel to the UK to claim asylum. He was placed with a foster family in South London.

Moses began his career in the Championship with Crystal Palace, before he made his Premier League debut with Wigan Athletic in 2010. He then signed for Chelsea in 2012. He spent his second season on loan to Liverpool, his third on loan at Stoke City and his fourth on loan at West Ham United.

Moses was recalled to Chelsea for the 2016–17 season where he made 34 appearances as Chelsea won the Premier League. Moses has spent subsequent loan spells with Fenerbahçe, Inter Milan and Spartak Moscow in the following seasons.

10. ENNY

Enitan Adepitan known professionally as ENNY, is an English rapper, singer and songwriter. ENNY was born in London to Nigerian parents.

She is best known for her 2020 single “Peng Black Girls” which gained popularity following a remix version with Jorja Smith. She is signed to Jorja Smith’s own record label FAMM. The song’s initial release had over a million views. With the collaboration with Jorja Smith, the song’s remix gained over 5 million more views.

If you have enjoyed this article, please check out Vivian’s previous instalments via the following links: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4