In the real world, an influential person’s opinion is always sought after and re-echoed by many. These powerfully influential people can usually inform and help shape peoples opinions about a certain topic or issue.

On Twitter, these social influencers take on a more magnified dimension. With just 140 characters - the word limit of a tweet- they can send out a message to potentially thousands of people around the world cuasing an interaction that can be postive, negative, enlightening, inspiring or simply informative. Below we've identified the top 10 most influential Nigerians so far for the year 2012 on Twitter. You may not agree with this list because some people may have more followers and yet didn’t make it, but from our criteria these are Nigeria’s top 10 most influential folks on twitter in this order.

#1 Nasir El-rufai

Twitter Profile: “Chartered Quantity surveyor, Certified ruffler of feathers & opposition politician. My views about Nigeria based on 50+ years…… Retweets are NOT endorsements!!”

Twitter Handle: @elrufai

Average daily retweets: 90

Daily Handle Mentions:  between 700 and 1000

Followers: 118,100+

#2 Don Jazzy

Twitter Profile: Music Producer and record label executive

Twitter handle: @DONJAZZY

Average daily retweets: 130

Daily Handle Mentions: between 500 and 700

Followers: 433,142

#3 Wizkid

Twitter Profile: STAR BOY!

Twitter Handle: @wizkidayo

Average daily retweets: 128

Daily Handle Mentions: between 300 and 500

Followers: 394,900+

#4 Banky W

Twitter Profile: They hit the high notes... I hit the right notes.

Twitter handle: @BankyW

Average daily retweets: 90

Daily Handle Mentions: between 300 and 500

Followers: 269,200+

#5 Innocent Idibia

Twitter Profile: Music and me. One life. One love

Twitter Handle: @2faceidibia

Average daily retweets : 80+

Daily handle mentions: between 300 and 500

Followers: 247,100+

#6 Tonto Dikeh

Twitter Profile: “Who eva said Succezz waz a slow procezz waz mos defntly not talking abt Mii/Businez tycoon/A petro/chemical engr/IAMNollywood*#IAMPOKO#Tlovethyself#I luv TerryG”

Twitter Handle: @Tontolet

Average daily retweets: 50+

Daily handle mentions: between 300 and 500

Followers: 116,000 +

#7 Japhet Omojuwa

Twitter profile: “I asked Google…….Guess what Google said………. {Retweets = endorsement} One City at a time……

Twitter Handle: @omojuwa

Average daily retweets: less than 30

Daily handle mentions: over 200

Followers: 43,000 +

#8 Eldee the Don

Twitter Profile: Song writer, record label exec, music producer and performing artist

Twitter Handle: @elDeeTheDon

Average daily retweets: 20+

Daily handle mentions: 200+

Followers: 223,760

#9 Linda Ikeji

Twitter Profile: Ex-model, entrepreneur and blogger

Twitter handle: @lindaikeji

Average daily retweets: 30+

Daily handle mentions: Over 200

Followers: 60,400+

#10 Dino Melaye

Twitter profile: ACN chieftain, former member house of representatives, human right activist, social worker.

Twitter Handle: @Dino_Melaye

Average daily retweets: N/A

Daily handle mentions: less than 200

Followers: 18,600+

Others that almost made the list;

#11 Gbenga Sesan

Twitter profile: African. Social Entrepreneur. ICT for Development (ICT4D) Consultant

Twitter Handle: @gbengasesan

Average daily retweets: 30+

Daily handle mentions: Less than 200

Followers: 17,700+

#12 Adamu Hassan

Twitter profile Message: I am very humble, calm and reliable. I always tell the truth on all issues. My tweets are very inspiring, informative, educative and motivating... Global

Twitter Handle: @Tweetwizzard

Average daily retweets: 25+

Daily handle mentions: under 100

Followers: 52,100+

http://www.abujafood.com/people/be-inspired/1018-top-10-most-influential-nigerians-on-twitter.html

Average daily retweets for every tweet not gross pls take note!

gud for them

....

I thought I would see #SEUNOSEWA

Now where do u put @iamdbanj??

ajailer: Now where do u put @iamdbanj??

It's not about the numbers bro, it's about influence! How many people can you affect with your tweets!

Na lie abeg. How many times do they come online daily? Abi you take style dey show us your twitter followers?

graciella: Na lie abeg. How many times do they come online daily? Abi you take style dey show us your twitter followers?

Silly talk, so how many times they come online daily is what determines how influential they are on twitter? In that case one can spend his/her whole life doing nothing but tweets so as to become influential!

Free advice: Think before you criticize!

See the Official Top 10 Most Popular Nigerian Celebrities On Twitter on http://totnaija..com/2013/04/top-10-most-popular-nigerian.html

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, one of the most charismatic televangelists in the world is the most followed Nigerian celebrity on Twitter with over one million followers.

Orikinla: See the Official Top 10 Most Popular Nigerian Celebrities On Twitter on http://totnaija..com/2013/04/top-10-most-popular-nigerian.html

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, one of the most charismatic televangelists in the world is the most followed Nigerian celebrity on Twitter with over one million followers.

Hmm... So there's an official and unofficial list interesting. But you're talking of most popular not most influential judging by level of engagement the number of followers you have on twitter doesn't necessarily translate to influence, rather it's the engagement between handles and their followers that determines influence. So ask yourself does Pastor Chris, Wizkid etc have more engagement than Nasir el-rufai?