List of Nigerian Americans

This is a list of notable Nigerian Americans, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants. To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Nigerian American and must have references showing they are Nigerian American and are notable.

Academia[edit]

Science and engineering[edit]

Kunle Olukotun, computer scientist and Cadence Design Systems Professor of the Stanford School of Engineering, professor of electrical engineering and computer science at Stanford University

Kunle Olukotun, computer engineer and professor of electrical engineering and computer science at Stanford University and director of the Pervasive Parallelism Laboratory
Ilesanmi Adesida, physicist and material scientist
Victoria Chibuogu Nneji, computer scientist and roboticist
Jimmy Adegoke, climatologist
Omowunmi Sadik, chemist
Wendy Okolo, aerospace research engineer at NASA Ames Research Center
Akintunde Akinwande, professor of electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Samson Jenekhe, chemical engineer and professor of chemistry at University of Washington
Oluwatoyin Asojo, biochemist
Winston Wole Soboyejo, professor of mechanical engineering at Princeton University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Deji Akinwande, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
John Dabiri, professor of aerospace engineering at the California Institute of Technology, recipient of MacArthur Fellowship
Alexander Animalu, theoretical physicist; member of the advisory board of the Physica journal
Francisca Oboh Ikuenobe, geologist and professor of geology at the Missouri University of Science and Technology
Soni Oyekan, chemical engineer
Bolaji Aluko, professor of chemical engineering at Howard University
Lola Eniola-Adefeso, professor of chemical engineering at University of Michigan
Ndubuisi Ekekwe, electrical and computer engineer
Unoma Ndili Okorafor, computer scientist, wife of Ekpe Okorafor, and daughter of nuclear physicist Frank Nwachukwu Ndili
Philip Emeagwali, computer scientist and 1989 recipient of Gordon Bell Prize
Tam David-West, academic and virologist

Medicine[edit]

Latunde Odeku, first Nigerian neurosurgeon trained in the United States; pioneer of neurosurgery in Africa
Chidi Chike Achebe, physician executive and son of Chinua Achebe
Bankole Johnson, psychiatrist; discoverer of topiramate, a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) facilitator and glutamate antagonist, as an effective treatment for alcoholism.
Olufunmilayo Olopade, hematology oncologist; director of the Cancer Risk Clinic at the University of Chicago Medical Center
Ikenna Ihim, doctor
Ola Akinboboye, nuclear cardiologist
Mojisola Adeyeye, pharmacist and professor of pharmaceutics at Duquesne University
Bennet Omalu, neuropathologist and professor at the University of California, Davis; first to discover and publish findings on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in American football players
Nelson M. Oyesiku, vice chairman of neurological surgery and professor of endocrinology at the Emory University School of Medicine
Charles Rotimi, geneticist and director of the National Institutes of Health
Olawale Sulaiman, neurosurgeon; professor of neurosurgery at Tulane University
Segun Toyin Dawodu, physician and professor of pain medicine
Samuel Dagogo-Jack, discoverer of the first radioimmunoassay for epidermal growth factor in human saliva
Elizabeth Ofili, physician and cardiology researcher
Chidi Chike Achebe, physician executive
Jacqueline Nwando Olayiwola, Chair Professor of the Department of Family Medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Clement Adebamowo, epidemiologist
Folakemi T. Odedina, professor of pharmacy and medicine at University of Florida
Andrew Agwunobi, CEO of UConn Health

Humanities and social sciences[edit]

Kola Tubosun, linguist and founder of The YorubaName Project
Jacob Olupona, professor of African Studies and African American Studies at Harvard University
Abiola Irele, literary scholar and former professor at Harvard University
Claude Ake, political scientist, former professor at Columbia University and Yale University
Chinua Achebe, award-winning novelist, professor, literary scholar, and author of Things Fall Apart
Nwando Achebe, historian, feminist scholar, and daughter of Chinua Achebe
Farooq Kperogi, journalist and professor of journalism at Kennesaw State University
Nwando Achebe, historian and feminist scholar; professor of history at Michigan State University
Toyin Falola, historian and professor of African Studies
Bamidele A. Ojo, political scientist and professor of Political science and International studies
John Ogbu, anthropologist, "acting white" theorist
Ekpo Eyo, archaeologist and professor of African arts and Archeology at University of Maryland
Akinwumi Ogundiran, archaeologist, Chancellor's Professor and Professor of Africana Studies, Anthropology & History at UNC Charlotte.
Obiwu (Obioma Paul Iwuanyanwu), writer and professor of English and creating writing at Central State University
Wendy Osefo, public affairs academic, professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Education, and television personality
Emmanuel Chukwudi Eze, philosopher
Nkiru Nzegwu, philosopher and Distinguished Professor for Research at State University of New York at Binghamton
Kalu Ndukwe Kalu, political scientist and Distinguished Research Professor of Political Science and National Security Policy at Auburn University
Stephen Adebanji Akintoye, academic, historian and writer
Saheed Aderinto, professor of history at Western Carolina University
Elechukwu Njaka, political scientist; author of Igbo Political Culture
Olu Oguibe, professor of art at the University of Connecticut and senior fellow at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC
Chika Okeke-Agulu, art historian
Joy Ogwu, political scientist
Leslye Obiora, professor of law at University of Arizona
Tejumola Olaniyan, Louise Durham Mead Professor of English and African Cultural Studies, and the Wole Soyinka Professor of the Humanities at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
Esiaba Irobi, Associate Professor of International Theatre and Film Studies at Ohio University, Athens, USA
Babatunde Lawal, Professor of Art History at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Mathematics[edit]

Nkechi Agwu, ethnomathematician and historian of mathematics
Abba Gumel, computational mathematician and mathematical biologist, professor at Arizona State University
Chike Obi, pure mathematician
Kate Okikiolu, mathematical analyst
Yewande Olubummo, mathematical analyst
Grace Alele-Williams, professor of mathematics education

Academic administration[edit]

Victor Ukpolo, chancellor of the Southern University at New Orleans
Benjamin Akande, president of Champlain College and Westminster College
Babatunde Ogunnaike, dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Delaware
Joseph Abiodun Balogun, dean of the College of Health Sciences at Chicago State University
Ilesanmi Adesida, dean and professor emeritus of engineering at the Grainger College of Engineering (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), provost at Nazarbayev University (in Kazakhstan)
Johnson O. Akinleye, chancellor of North Carolina Central University
ImeIme Umana, president of Harvard Law Review
Nwando Achebe, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the College of Social Science at Michigan State University
Okwui Enwezor, senior vice president of San Francisco Art Institute
John Dabiri, Centennial Chair Professor at California Institute of Technology
Andrew Agwunobi, president of University of Connecticut
Toyin Tofade, president of Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Activism[edit]

Chief Temitope Ajayi, activist
Morénike Giwa-Onaiwu, autism and HIV advocate
Colion Noir (Collins Iyare Idehen Jr.), gun rights activist and spokesperson for the National Rifle Association
Oluwatoyin Salau, activist and murder victim
Opeoluwa Sotonwa, disability rights activist
Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist
Opal Tometi, social activist and co-founder of Black Lives Matter

Business[edit]

Tope Awotona, billionaire CEO and founder of Calendly, estimated net worth of 1,4 billion as of 2024. Forbes has described Awotana as one of the wealthiest immigrants and one of richest black tech entrepreneurs [1]
Temie Giwa-Tubosun, founder of LifeBank

Kunle Olukotun, founder of Afara Websystems
Pearlena Igbokwe, chairman of Universal Studios Group (division of NBCUniversal)
Jessica O. Matthews, venture capitalist and co-inventor of Soccket
John O. Agwunobi, pediatrician, former fourth-star admiral of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, former senior vice-president of Walmart, CEO of Herbalife
Lazarus Angbazo, president and CEO of General Electric in Nigeria
Tayo Oviosu, founder and CEO of Paga
Ndubuisi Ekekwe, founder and CEO of First Atlantic Semiconductors & Microelectronics
Soni Oyekan, CEO of Prafis Energy Solutions
Bisi Ezerioha, automotive engineer, racecar driver, industrialist, and CEO of Bisimoto Engineering
Adebayo Alonge, founder and CEO of RxAll Inc.
Nneka Egbujiobi, founder and CEO of Hello Africa
Michael Boulos, business executive and partner of Tiffany Trump
Adebayo Ogunlesi, investment banker, Chairman and Managing Partner at Global Infrastructure Partners
Maya Horgan Famodu, venture capitalist and founder of Ingressive
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, World Trade Organization
Magnus L. Kpakol, Texas-based CEO and chairman of Economic and Business Strategies; former chief economic advisor to President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria
Chris Aire, president of Solid 21 Incorporated
Angelica Nwandu, founder of The Shade Room
Tiyan Alile, celebrity chef and restaurateur

Government and politics[edit]

Wally Adeyemo, United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury (2021–present)
Esther Agbaje, Democratic member of the Minnesota House of Representatives (2021–present)
John O. Agwunobi, former Secretary of United States Department of Health and Human Services (2006-2007)
Yinka Faleti, Democratic candidate for Missouri Secretary of State in the 2020 election
Carol Kazeem, Pennsylvania State Representative
Richard Komi, former Democratic member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives (2018-2020)
Emmanuel Onunwor, former mayor of East Cleveland, Ohio (1998-2004)
Vop Osili, president of the Indianapolis City-County Council (2018–present)
Oye Owolewa, Democratic shadow representative for the District of Columbia in the United States House of Representatives (2021–present)
Yemi Mobolade, mayor of Colorado Springs, Colorado (2023-present)

Journalism[edit]

Sade Baderinwa, TV news anchor
Lola Ogunnaike, entertainment journalist
Adaora Udoji, Court TV host; CNN correspondent
Bukola Oriola, journalist^[1]
Ijeoma Oluo, author and commentator
Wendy Osefo, political commentator
Alexis Okeowo, staff writer at The New Yorker
Chika Oduah, correspondent for VICE News
Toluse Olorunnipa, White House Bureau Chief for The Washington Post
Chike Frankie Edozien, director of New York University, Accra
Karen Attiah, editor for The Washington Post

Sports[edit]

Basketball[edit]

American football[edit]

Soccer[edit]

Abuchi Obinwa
Oguchi Onyewu
Owen Otasowie
Bo Oshoniyi
Ade Coker
Maurice Edu
Jean Harbor
Folarin Balogun
Amaechi Igwe
Chioma Igwe
Ugo Ihemelu
Chioma Ubogagu * Daryl Dike * Bright Dike ^[5]

Martial arts[edit]

Sesugh Uhaa (Apollo Crews), professional wrestler^[6]
Chike Lindsay, kickboxer
Anthony Njokuani, kickboxer and mixed martial artist
Muhammed Lawal, mixed martial artist
Kamaru Usman, UFC fighter
Tolulope "Jordan" Omogbehin (Omos), professional wrestler and former college basketball player

Other[edit]

Tanitoluwa Adewumi, chess player
Foluke Akinradewo, volleyball player
Jesse Iwuji, NASCAR driver
Ogonna Nnamani, volleyball player
Mary Akor, long-distance runner
Ifeoma Mbanugo, long-distance runner
Tuedon Morgan, long-distance runner

Music[edit]

Abiodun Koya, classical opera
Tosin Abasi, lead guitarist of Animals as Leaders
Tunde Adebimpe, musician, actor
Tunji Balogun, record label executive
Chamillionaire, rapper
eLDee, musician, record label executive
Chika, rapper
Chikezie, singer
Cozz, rapper
Davido, musician
Fat Tony, rapper
Ilacoin, musician, creator of the "Pause" game
Jidenna, rapper
Kami de Chukwu, rapper
Lil' O, rapper
Fela Sowande, musician and composer
Maxo Kream, rapper
Kevin Olusola, cellist and singer-songwriter
Toby Foyeh, guitarist, singer, composer, and producer
Tony Okungbowa, DJ
Kevin Olusola, musician, beatboxer
Shaboozey, rapper, singer, and music producer
Sonny Digital, music producer
Tyler, The Creator, rapper
Michael Uzowuru, music producer
Wale, rapper
Wande, rapper, A&R
Patrice Wilson, music producer
Fred Onovwerosuoke, composer
Ahamefule J. Oluo, jazz trumpeter
Tobe Nwigwe, rapper
VanJess, R&B duo
Dot da Genius, music producer

Film[edit]

Uzo Aduba, actress
Sope Aluko, actress
Gbenga Akinnagbe, actor
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, actor
Chet Anekwe, actor
David Oyelowo, actor
Megalyn Echikunwoke, actress
Rick Famuyiwa, director
Osas Ighodaro, actress
Annie Ilonzeh, actress
Nyambi Nyambi, actor
Adepero Oduye, actress
Dayo Okeniyi, actor
Olatunde Osunsanmi, director
Chiké Okonkwo, actor
Folake Olowofoyeku, actress
Okieriete Onaodowan, actor
Yvonne Orji, actress
Rotimi, actor
Chet Anekwe, actor
Chuku Modu, actor
Sam Adegoke, actor
Chinonye Chukwu, director
Susan Nwokedi, filmmaker
Ego Nwodim, actress, comedian
Gina Yashere, actress, comedian
Jovan Adepo, actor
Myles Grier, TV actor, producer, writer
Joy Sunday, actress
Ayo Edebiri, actress, writer

Literature[edit]

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, MacArthur Fellow
Nnedi Okorafor, recipient of Nebula and Hugo Award
Chris Abani, writer and poet
Tomi Adeyemi, novelist
Adaeze Atuegwu, writer
Tochi Onyebuchi, novelist
Jordan Ifueko, novelist
Teju Cole, writer and artist
Akwaeke Emezi, writer
Chinelo Okparanta, novelist
Uzodinma Iweala, novelist
Uche Nduka, poet
Bayo Ojikutu, creative writer

Visual arts[edit]

Victor Ekpuk, artist
Ibiyinka Alao, architect
Toyin Ojih Odutola, graphic artist
Ade A. Olufeko, technologist and international curator
Kehinde Wiley, portrait painter
Marcia Kure, artist
Izzy Odigie, choreographer
Amarachi Nwosu, documentary filmmaker and photographer
Mobolaji Dawodu, fashion designer
Oshoke Abalu, architect and futurist
Suzanna Ogunjami, artist
Mendi & Keith Obadike, artists
Adejoke Tugbiyele, sculptor

Other[edit]

Olivia Anakwe, model
Luvvie Ajayi, comedian and blogger
Kimberly Anyadike, pilot
Uzo Asonye, partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell
Yinka Faleti, United States Army officer
Godfrey Danchimah, Jr., comedian
Mayowa Nicholas, model

References[edit]

^ "Bukola". Imprisoned Show. December 8, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
^ Sierra, Jorge. "Kenny Adeleke: "I don't think anybody plays harder than me"". Hoops Hype. USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
^ Scheiber, Dave (July 27, 2004). "Low profile Most don't recognize the man driving them in a cab. Only a few find out Obed Ariri set records as a Bucs kicker". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
^ "Samkon Gado" (PDF). Tennessee Titans. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
^ Kiefer, David (September 18, 2014). "Stanford's Chioma Ubogagu chases one more shot on soccer journey".
^ "WWE Performance Center welcomes new class of recruits". WWE. April 13, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.

[1] "Bukola". Imprisoned Show. December 8, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2013.

[2] Sierra, Jorge. "Kenny Adeleke: "I don't think anybody plays harder than me"". Hoops Hype. USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties. Retrieved March 14, 2013.

[3] Scheiber, Dave (July 27, 2004). "Low profile Most don't recognize the man driving them in a cab. Only a few find out Obed Ariri set records as a Bucs kicker". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 14, 2013.

[4] "Samkon Gado" (PDF). Tennessee Titans. Retrieved February 15, 2013.

[5] Kiefer, David (September 18, 2014). "Stanford's Chioma Ubogagu chases one more shot on soccer journey".

[6] "WWE Performance Center welcomes new class of recruits". WWE. April 13, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.

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v t e African immigrants to the United States
Central Africa	Angolan Americans Congolese Americans
Horn of Africa	Eritrean Americans Ethiopian Americans Somali Americans
North Africa	Coptic Americans Egyptian Americans Moroccan Americans Sudanese Americans
Southeast Africa	Kenyan Americans
Southern Africa	South African Americans
West Africa	Cape Verdean Americans Ghanaian Americans Nigerian Americans
Portal:Africa