Like Shakespeare wrote about greatness in one of his classic plays, Macbeth, “Some were born great, while others had greatness thrust upon them”. I am not sure where these twenty wonderful Nigerians we have featured in this piece belong to in the greatness chart; I leave you to figure that out. One thing remains unambiguous they belong to different but are great all the same. Yes, they are great people, great Nigerians.

We have selected them from different strata of society. Each one has contributed immensely to influencing Nigerians in various ways. Is it Oluwole Akinwande, the poet whose ———-, gets you dizzy? Or Asa, the one whose African lyrics hit high notes on the air waves of Champse de Elise in Paris? Or Pastor Enoch Adeboye, whose genteel manner is said to break down the fiercest of strongholds.

These are Nigerian men and women we admire. And, as we continue to celebrate Nigeria at 50, thinking despondent thoughts, these great achievers give us hope: that there is much more to us than what people in citadels of power spew at us. Join us to celebrate these 20 influential Nigerians as part of the achievements of our dear country at 50.

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1.Asa
2.Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
3.Mallam Nuhu Ribadu
4.Deola Sagoe
5.philip Emeagwali
6.Emeka Anyaoku
7.Oluwole Akinwande(Soyinka)
8.Ngozi okonjo-Iweala
9.Genevieve Nnaji
10.Oluchi Onweagba
11.Agbani darego
12.Babatunde R fashola
13.Adenike ‘Nike’ Oshinowo-Soleye
14.Aliko Dangote
15.Nwankwo Kanu
16.Biodun Shobanjo
17 & 18 P-Square brothers(Peter and Paul Okoye)
19.Michael Adenuga
20.Enoch Adeboye (G.O)

Nuhu is Nos. 3 nd 20. Is d Mallam different from the Mr.?

I'm not sure they know the meaning of "Influential".

Skidoc:

I'm not sure they know the meaning of "Influential".

exactly! this list is just a big joke.

Skidoc:

I'm not sure they know the meaning of "Influential".

the people on the list are influential in their areas of expertise.read the whole article

This list is absolutely INCOMPLETE with my name, but soon, very soon, my name will be added to this list.

MrPrsdent:

the people on the list are influential in their areas of expertise.read the whole article

No, they can't just invent their own new meaning to the word "influential" just because they want to include some people who are not really influential in the real sense of the word.

This list is complete gibberish.

A breakdown of the list gives you 18 southerners and only 2 northerners.Further breakdown into geo-political zones gives

South-south. 1

South-east. 9

South-west. 8

North-west. 2

They are just famous names or should I say names in vogue   --- would not consider over 95% of those influential, not even in any area of expertise(if they can even be considered experts in any field).

Scam !

I dont even know 75% of the ppl on that list.

How are they influential? Are we talking abt the same lying, deceitful Pastor Adeboye? Dear gawd!

In the field of Music, 2face is far more influential than Asa. That alone tells me that this list is a joke.

Kobojunkie:

They are just famous names or should I say names in vogue   --- would not consider over 95% of those influential, not even in any area of expertise(if they can even be considered experts in any field).

Soyinka not influential in the literary field

G.O(though i dislike him) not the top church leader/money collector in the country

hmmm,have a look again

MrPrsdent:

Soyinka not influential in the literary field

G.O(though i dislike him) not the top church leader/money collector in the country

hmmm,have a look again

You are kidding me, right? Wole soyinka is not even on the list. Read it, you posted it! lol

GO? A Church pastor? Sure, he could be considered influential but that is not even right.

Kobojunkie:

You are kidding me, right? [b]Wole soyinka is not even on the lis[/b]t. Read it, you posted it! lol

GO? A Church pastor? Sure, he could be considered influential but that is not even right.

He's number 7.

Oh . . . I didn't see that! I apologize @MrPres.

But I still remain that most 95% of those on the list are not in any way influential. Wole Soyinka, as far as I am concerned, is NOT influential, in the same way Gani wasn't.  These men spoke up on issues, but when it came to actually INFLUENCING people, not a lot.

Kobojunkie:

Oh . . . I didn't see that! I apologize @MrPres.

But I still remain that most 95% of those on the list are not in any way influential. Wole Soyinka, as far as I am concerned, is NOT influential in the same way Gani wasn't. These men spoke up on issues, but when it came to actually INFLUENCING people, not a lot.

I agree with you.

All Wole Soyinka and the rest did was write a book or butterfly story about the war and this and that. Next. Well, apart from the political Youth movement program he tried start, am still yet to SEE the influence.

There is problem with defining influential here. Is it by the respect they command or by followership or by popularity or by power they wield?

Ileke-Idi you disappoint me o!

Did you say that all Wole Soyinka did was write a book?

That man has been at the forefront of the human rights struggle in Nigeria ever since he was a young lad. He tried to broker peace between Biafra and Nigeria, and was jailed for doing this by Yakubu Gowon.

A whole General (Rtd) Obasanjo's name is not on the list? The list is definately a joke

Epiphany:

A whole General (Rtd) Obasanjo's name is not on the list? The list is definately a joke

I guess the "whole bank" worth of money he stole from you guys was influential enough
Nigerians never learn.
We might as well add IBB and Abacha to the list.

EzeUche0:

Ileke-Idi you disappoint me o!

Did you say that all Wole Soyinka did was write a book?

That man has been at the forefront of the human rights struggle in Nigeria ever since he was a young lad. He tried to broker peace between Biafra and Nigeria, and was jailed for doing this by Yakubu Gowon.

I guess. . . .

Skidoc:

I'm not sure they know the meaning of "Influential".

influential   

in·flu·en·tial [ìn floo énshəl]
adjective
able to influence: able to have a powerful effect on people and what they do, or on events.

Microsoft® Encarta® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Based on htis definftion, I guess its easy to how those names got on the list. I mean lets face it, they've all had a powerful effect on us. However, whether its a good or bad effect. . . well that's another story altogether. 

Abagworo:

A breakdown of the list gives you 18 southerners and only 2 northerners.Further breakdown into geo-political zones gives

South-south. 1

South-east. 9

South-west. 8

North-west. 2

The main problem with Nigeria. Always seeing everything through an ethnic lens.

Of course, the list is rubbish. I wish some of our news outlets would stop reading People magazine.

excanny:

The main problem with Nigeria. Always seeing everything through an ethnic lens.

Even when the whole thing doesn't make sense,his point was to show us that ibo have the highest number.na wa o

Mai Suya:

Based on htis definftion, I guess its easy to how those names got on the list. I mean lets face it, they've all had a powerful effect on us. However, whether its a good or bad effect. . . well that's another story altogether. 

Apart from Adeboye who one can say has a powerful effect mainly because he is a pastor . . . what POWERFUL effect does anyone else on that list have on the you, or any other Nigerian group out there?

^^^Please ask him again. I wonder what powerful effect Nike Oshinowo, Agbani Darego, Asa, Deola Sagoe, etc. have had on me or him? Even if they've had their tiny bits of "powerful effects" in one way or the other, this is supposed to be the list of 20 most powerful effects in the whole of Nigeria! Are you kidding me?

Ileke-IdI:

I guess the "whole bank" worth of money he stole from you guys was influential enough
Nigerians never learn.
We might as well add IBB and Abacha to the list.

I guess. . . .

am not a fan of his but70% of animal feed in Nigeria is from his farm,30%of cassava in Nigeria from there,that farm employes 3000 workers.thats a lot of influence

There is definitely a definition problem here. They should have just called them 'Some honorable Nigerians'; may be 50% of them will qualify.

Ileke-IdI:

I dont even know 75% of the ppl on that list.

How are they influential?  Are we talking abt the same lying, deceitful  Pastor Adeboye? Dear gawd!

whao!   strong words. any evidence?

OAM4J:

There is definitely a definition problem here. They should have just called them 'Some honorable Nigerians'; may be 50% of them will qualify.

whao! strong words. any evidence?

It appears the stronger the derogatory words used on Men of God the more popular you are on Nairaland. Help us God.