Nigeria is full of talented and gifted people. But do we really remember our cultural heritage? Naij.com editors decided to remind you about some of the outstanding Nigerians who were first in their area.
Here are the 7 Nigerian pioneers:


1. Ahmet Ali Çelikten



He was the first black pilot in the aviation history. He was one of only two black pilots in the World War I. His grandmother came from Bornu (now Borno State in Nigeria) to the Ottoman Empire as a slave. Ahmet was born in 1883 in İzmir, in the Aidin Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire. He aimed to become a naval sailor and entered the Naval Technical School named Haddehâne Mektebi (literally “School of the Blooming Mill”) in 1904. In 1908, he graduated from the school as a First Lieutenant. Then he joined the aviation courses in the Naval Flight School (Deniz Tayyare Mektebi) that was formed at Yeşilköy on June 25, 1914.

2. Jonathan Adagogo Green



He was the first professional photographer of Nigerian origin. Green was the chief photographer for the British as they lay the groundwork for colonization of Nigeria. He also took pictures of his own Ijo peoples’ struggle to maintain control of their land and to preserve their cultural identity. While most of the British collections of his photographs are now in archives, Green’s photographs live on among the Ijo who continually reprint and reuse them to reconstruct and celebrate their cultural traditions.

3. Emmanuel Arinze Ifeajuna



He was a Nigerian army major and high jumper. He became the first person from Africa to win a gold medal at an international sports event. He won the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. His winning mark and personal best of 6 ft 8 inches (2.03 m) was a games record and a British Empire record at the time. Emmanuel was an Igbo from Onitsha. Apart from sport achievements, he was also was a science graduate University College of Ibadan and became involved in politics, later joining the military.

4. Tesilimi Olawale “Teslim” Balogun





Balogun was the first African to qualify as a professional coach. He was a coach for Nigeria at the 1968 Summer Olympics. He played at both professional and international levels as a striker. The Teslim Balogun Stadium in the Nigerian city of Lagos is named in his honour. The Teslim Balogun Foundation was founded after his death to assist the families of Nigerian ex-international footballers who may have fallen on hard times.

5. Rosalind Balogun



She was a first Miss Nigeria to participate in the Miss World contest in 1967. There were four contestants from Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda.

6. Wole Soyinka



He is a Nigerian playwright and poet. He was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature, the first African to be so honored. Soyinka has strongly criticised many Nigerian military dictators, especially late General Sanni Abacha, as well as other political tyrannies. Wole Soyinka is among contemporary Africa’s greatest writers. He is also one of the continent’s most imaginative advocates of native culture and of the humane social order it embodies.

How i take de make fp dis days...E be like say na jazz
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4 sell

This shouldn't be in politics section.

Nice thread though.

7. Nnamdi Azikiwe



Chief Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe was the first President of Nigeria from 1963 to 1966, holding the presidency throughout the Nigerian First Republic. This man was one of the fundamentalists of modern Nigerian nationalism.

onila:
5. Rosalind Balogun



She was a first Miss Nigeria to participate in the Miss World contest in 1967. There were four contestants from Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda.

Lol...see their small yansh....

Those good ol' days of silicone-free figures...

In God we trust #GodblessNigeria

nice research... 1 day we shall make the list

Where is onila? It's been a while, hope you aren't dead

firstEVA:
Where is onila? It's been a while, hope you aren't dead

Why are you wishing her death. Are you a mo.ron?

Headlamp1:



Why are you wishing her death. Are you a mo.ron?

voltron, welldone.

firstEVA:
voltron, welldone.

Mtcheeeew! you never chop slap before abi

Headlamp1:


Mtcheeeew! you never chop slap before abi

e slap abi for real life?

Good people, great Nation "Giant of Africa"

....

I will make sure that I will do something great so I will be remembered like this

Interesting.....expecting more please

On o

You forgot our excellency Phd (GCFR) lecturer, ogogoro drinker Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Omootueke Bashiru Jonathan. The first incumbent president to lose an election...our "phone call" hero...

Will be great

onila:
3. Emmanuel Arinze Ifeajuna



He was a Nigerian army major and high jumper. He became the first person from Africa to win a gold medal at an international sports event. He won the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. His winning mark and personal best of 6 ft 8 inches (2.03 m) was a games record and a British Empire record at the time. Emmanuel was an Igbo from Onitsha. Apart from sport achievements, he was also was a science graduate University College of Ibadan and became involved in politics, later joining the military.

He sadly took part in the January 1966 coup (he led the detail of soldiers who arrested Prime Minister Balewa)...and was later executed on Ojukwu's orders...among five others...including Lt Col Banjo....for losing the Midwest region to Nigeria from Biafra in 1967.

Tragic and glorious life.

These Great Nigerians that brought honour and glory to their fatherland. Regardless of tribe and ethnicity, we should all join hands together to make this wonderful Country Great!

When you dream Big, you succeed Big. Let's make Nigeria proud, help her win Miss World and Miss AIT International, click this link and add ur like to the almost 2,000 likes she has already. https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1581204712128748&id=1556654834583736&set=pcb.1581205402128679&source=49&refid=13&fbt_id=1581204712128748&lul&ref_component=mbasic_photo_permalink_actionbar&_rdr#s_85c6635abebc519044b40c112e26f0b9
She's competing to: to Win Miss AIT and Miss World. You shall not lack help and favour when u need it most in ur Life. Click like, Invite and share. Thanks.

well nice.

Isnothing:
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