Vanguard and Silverbird Group today unveil the first 15 of 20 outstanding and acclaimed Nigerians, who have had illustrious and extraordinary callings, and have made exceptional and phenomenal achievements. Five of them will eventually be proclaimed  Nigeria’s five greatest living legends.

Objectives


•To celebrate the greatness, achieved by illustrious Nigerians, in various fields of human endeavour.
•To identify real role models, worthy of emulation.
•To honour Nigerians, who have done remarkably and exceedingly well, in different walks of life.
• To celebrate, our unsung heroes.
•To honour Nigerians, who through hard work, honesty, perseverance, resilience and integrity have risen, to exceptional heights.


For too long, in Nigeria, so  much emphasis has been placed on materialism and wealth, which in turn, has led to the get rich quick syndrome and the erroneous praise of visibly corrupt and irresponsible individuals, a situation that has led to undeserving and unworthy people, being bestowed with National Awards, while the real Heroes of our time, who have contributed selflessly to the upliftment and development of our fatherland have had their achievements gone un-noticed because of the present day celebration of mediocrity and corruption.

Criteria For Nomination
•Selfless Service
•Enduring Achievements
•Sincerity of Purpose
•Resilience
•Patriotism
•Uprightness
•Respectability
•Incorruptibility

Get Ready To Vote
The remaining five names would be revealed on March 9, so be ready to vote for your choice of Nigeria’s 5 greatest living legends. Voting starts on March 10.

What do u guys think about the list.

David DAFINONE: David Dafinone is a Nigerian accountant and patriarch of an accounting family listed in the Guinness book of records as having the largest number of accountants in one family. He was born on March 12, 1927 in Sapele, Delta State. He attended the Benin Government School, (1934_1938), Edo College, (1939_19420, and Abeokuta Grammar School, (1943_1945). He later went to the University of Exeter and then the University of Hull, (1953_1956). In 1966, he founded the accounting firm, D.O. Dafinone and Co

King Sunny ADE: Born in 1946, Oshogbo, Nigeria, in 1966 he formed his first band the Green Spots, in 1974 he renamed the band the African Beats. By 1975, he felt sufficiently powerful and financially secure to set up his own label, Sunny Alade Records which was his main recording vehicle through 1990. In 1982, Island Records signed Adé for Europe and North America (promoting him as ‘the African Bob Marley’). The three albums were - Juju Music, Synchro System and Aura.

Cardinal Anthony OKOGIE:He was born on the 16th of June 1936. Ordained a Priest on the 11th of December 1966 in Lagos, appointed an Archbishop on the 13th of April 1973 and made a Cardinal on the 21st of October 2003. He is the Cardinal Priest of Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel of Mostacciano. He holds a licentiate in sacred theology.

Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe MUSA :Politician, accountant, farmer, publisher, born August 21, 1936 in Kaya, Kaduna State, married to Murjanatu, has four sons and a daugther. Was First Civilian Governor of Kaduna State from 1979 to 1981. Educated severally at the Primary School, Kuya Kaduna (1943-47), Zaria Middle School (1947-52), Institute of Administration, Zaria (1952-53). He was a member of the People’s Redemption Party.

Chief Emeka ANYAOKU :He was born on the 18th of January 1933 in Obosi, Nigeria. He joined the Commonwealth Development Corporation on a diplomatic level and was posted to its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. In 1983 he became Nigeria’s Foreign Minister. In 1989 he was elected the third Commonwealth Secretary-General. He holds the traditional title of Ugwumba Idemili.

Professor Dora Nkem AKUNYILI :She was in July 14, 1954, and an internationally renowned pharmacist and Minister of Information. The high point of her career was stay as Head of NAFDAC She became the albatross of most fake drugs merchants. Committed and decided, she says, with tears in her eyes, “False drugs, is the massacre of innocent lives and is a crime against humanity. We can protect ourselves against aids but we can do nothing against a deadly drug”.

Chief Emeka ANYAOKU :He was born on the 18th of January 1933 in Obosi, Nigeria. He joined the Commonwealth Development Corporation on a diplomatic level and was posted to its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. In 1983 he became Nigeria’s Foreign Minister. In 1989 he was elected the third Commonwealth Secretary-General. He holds the traditional title of Ugwumba Idemili.

Nwankwo KANU:Nwankwo Christian Kanu was born August 1, 1976 in Owerri. He is the most highly decorated African footballer in the history of football, with over 10 awards to boast of, including a UEFA Champions League medal, World Club title with Ajax, a UEFA Cup medal and two-African Player of the Year awards. Kanu has been a member of the Nigerian national team since 1994. As well as winning the Olympic gold in the football event at Atlanta (1996), Kanu participated in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.

Gani FAWEHINMI:Abdul-Ganiyu “Gani” Oyesola Fawehinmi was born on the 22nd of April 1938 into the Fawehinmi family of Ondo, Ondo State. He is an author, publisher, philanthropist, social critic, human and civil rights lawyer and politician. He studied law in London. In 1994 he and some other notable Nigerians formed the National Conscience Party of Nigeria He was a presidential election in 2003 of the National Conscience Party. Gani Fawehinmi became a holder of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and the highest legal title in Nigeria in September, 2001.

Wole SOYINKA: He was born on 13 July 1934 in Abeokuta. He studied at the University College, Ibadan and the University of Leeds, where, later, in 1973, he took his doctorate. He was a dramaturgist at the Royal Court Theatre in London 1958-1959. In 1960, he was awarded a Rockefeller bursary and returned to Nigeria to study African drama. At the same time, he taught drama and literature at various universities in Ibadan, Lagos, and Ife, where, since 1975, he has been professor of comparative literature. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature 1986.

Aliko DANGOTE: Alikote Dangote (b. on April 10,1957), is the Nigerian founder and president of Dangote Aliko Dangote is the ‘golden child’ of Nigerian business circles. The Dangote consortium spans across many sectors of the Nigerian economy. The Dangote Group provides , cements ,sugar, salt, flour , rice, spaghetti, textile etc. Born in Kano, his grand father, the late Alhaji Sanusi Dantata provided him with a small capital to start his own business, as was the practice then. He thus started business in Kano in 1977 trading in commodities and building materials. Alhaji Aliko Dangote moved to Lagos in June 1977 and continued trading in cement and commodities. These and others that followed now make up the conglomerate known as Dangote Group.

Pastor Enoch ADEBOYE: He started dreaming as a child. He has pursued his dreams with total commitment and with the aid of some hardly revealed leadership tools. He was born into the Adeboye household of Ifewara in Osun.

Hakeem OLAJUWON: He was born in January 21, 1963 in Lagos. During his 18-year basketball career, Hakeem Olajuwon staked his claim as one of the greatest players in NBA history. He finished second to Michael Jordan in Rookie of the Year balloting. He was the NCAA Final Four MVP in 1983 and an All-American selection in 1984 while at the University of Houston and was the overall 1st pick by the Houston Rockets in the 1984 NBA draft. He was selected in 1996 as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Akintola WILLIAMS: Akintola Williams is the doyen of Accounting profession in Nigeria. He is the founder of Nigeria’s oldest indigenous accounting firm and one of the country’s largest professional services firm, Akintola Williams Deloitte. He is a pioneer member and co-founder of the Institute of Chartered Accountant and the Music Society of Nigeria and he was also involved in the founding He started education through private studies and then attended Baptist Academy, Methodist School Olowogbowo and C.M.S. Grammar School, Lagos. He also studied at the Yaba Higher College where he earned a U.A.C. scholarship. He has been honoured as an officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, OFR.

General Olusegun OBASANJO:General Obasanjo enlisted into the Nigerian Army in 1958 and trained at the Mons Officers Cadet School, Aldershot, England. He trained in the following institutions: Royal College of Defence Studies, London; Indian Army School of Engineering; Indian Defence Staff College; School of Survey, Newbury, England; Royal College of Engineering; Regular Officers Special Training School, Teshie, Ghana. he was commissioned into the Nigerian Army, 1959; he served with the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in the Congo, 1960-1961; Commander, Engineering Corps, 1963;General Officer Commanding, Third Marine Commando Division during the Nigerian Civil War; led the Division to end the war. He was Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria from1976-1979. He was elected President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007.

Excellent thread!

I don't know why Obasanjo was added to the list

whether we like it or not, Obasanjo tried for Nigeria. Remember everyone has his/her own bad side, thats what we saw most of him

pheesayor:

whether we like it or not, Obasanjo tried for Nigeria. Remember everyone has his/her own bad side, thats what we saw most of him

That's not enough reson to call him a legend. "LEGEND" is a very strong word

afam4eva:


I don't know why Obasanjo was added to the list

prolly because his influence and patronage is one of the reasons silverbird group exists today

legend obj. mmmmm

Got dis-interested with the inclusion of Obasanjo in that line-up. The Murray-Bruce family have an inkling towards Obasanjo which I know of. So I am not surprised, they would include his name in that list.

Nigerians and patronage.

Where is Achebe?

Good work indeed!

Crude Oil:

Where is Achebe?

I aksed myself the same question

OBJ is definitely the greatest living Nigerian, no one comes close to his record of achievements

I read the criteria for nomination over again and I don't see how OBJ and Aliko Dangote (and any other one of the younger generation of super "investors" currently making the wave in Nigeria) could make this list.

There are surely many other names that should have come up in this list (someone just mentioned Achebe). Anyway Ben Bruce na business man sha and silverbird na profit making organisation. Same goes for Vanguard.

Mowire:

I read the criteria for nomination over again and I don't see how OBJ and Aliko Dangote (and any other one of the younger generation of super "investors" currently making the wave in Nigeria) could make this list.

There are surely many other names that should have come up in this list (someone just mentioned Achebe). Anyway Ben Bruce na business man sha and silverbird na profit making organisation. Same goes for Vanguard.

What you fail to realize is that a lot of Nigerians still consider OBJ a national hero despite his few shortcomings and the unprecedented amount of bad press(propaganda) waged against him

Aliko Dangote is a business man, everything he does is to further the course of his business empire. He's not a legend in my opinion.

By my assessment the following will pass from the current list:

-Akintola Williams (for building institutions like ICAN, MUSON, Lagos stock exchange (now NSE), t mention a few)
-Gani Fawehinmi ( for his fight for under-privilege)
-Kanu Nwankwo (coming back to play for Niaja after abandoning him & his heart foundation)
-Wole Soyinka (Human right activism)
-Dora Akunyili (for what she did before at NAFDAC, not her job for this clueless Yar'Adua)
-Obasanjo (if they extend the list to 6)

What happened to Cardinal Arinze, he's not in the list.