For me it i think is IBB. The gap-tooth evilgenius is known from every corner of the country.

IBB   International Bank Broker?

abacha or fela maybe Obj.

Philip Emeagwali

I think you guys need to understand the difference between being popular and being famous.

Being popular means liked or admired by many

Being famous means known to or by many

Methinks the current most famous Nigerian is Obasanjo. Every Nigerian knows him, while the most popular Nigerian is Pastor Adeboye. Wonder why he's one of the most influential people in the world.

Obasanjo is the most notorious and infamous nigerian,followed by IBB.The most popular could be either soyinka or kanu.

Nigeria is not known for nothing apart from corruption.

redsun:

Obasanjo is the most notorious and infamous nigerian,followed by IBB.The most popular could be either soyinka or kanu.

Nigeria is not known for nothing apart from corruption.

agreed

the most popular person in Nigeria? that would be, ME!! me, MARIETTA HERMOSA the one and only, OBJ, IBB, GSCE, BBD, the OPP, whateva, it's just plain old ME!!!

If only people knew the person behind the username 'donspony'

Genevieve Nnaji

donspony:

If only people knew the person behind the username 'donspony'

who cares ?

~Bluetooth:

who cares ?

Soyinka cannot be the most popular Nigerian. More than half of the population which are illiterates do not know him. Kanu or Okocha or even some Nollywood actors/actress are more popular than any other Nigerian. The other popular Nigerians would of course be IBB, Obasanjo and Ojukwu. Anybody who knows about the Biafra war must know the name Ojukwu, and from what we see on nairaland, Ojukwu is a very popular name (for good or bad, depending on where you belong). The muslim Nigerians (at least 50% of the population) do not know Adeboye, let alone him being popular amongst them.

Chinua Achebe

niger(ia) is a dead man walking. zombi ni niger koni dafun.lol

As long as Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest illiteracy rates (translates to ignorance) Chibua Achebe and Wole Soyinka are not going to be among the popular Nigerians. It is all about numbers.