Biographies & Cultural Icons of Nigeria
Life stories of Nigerian political leaders, monarchs, activists, writers, artists, and other influential historical figures.
Chief Oluwa in London, The Apapa Land Case That Challenged Colonial Power
In 1920, Chief Amodu Tijani Oluwa of Lagos travelled to London in connection with one of the most important land disputes in colonial Nigerian...
Flora Azikiwe and the Quiet Burden of Nigeria’s First First Lady
Flora Ogbenyeanu Ogoegbunam Azikiwe occupies a delicate but important place in Nigerian history. She is remembered most often as the first wife of Dr...
The Tiv Had Government Before the Tor Tiv, But It Was Not Built Around a Throne
The history of Tiv leadership is often misunderstood because the Tor Tiv is today one of the most visible traditional offices in Benue State....
Biyi Bandele, The Nigerian Storyteller Who Carried Memory, Exile and History Into World Art
Biyi Bandele was one of the most versatile Nigerian creative figures of his generation. He was a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, theatre adapter, film director,...
S.B. Bakare, the Ilesha Soldier Who Became a Lagos Dock Labour Powerhouse
Chief Saliu Mobolaji Bakare, widely remembered as S.B. Bakare, belonged to an older generation of Nigerian businessmen whose wealth grew through trade, labour organisation,...
Chief S. A. Ajayi and Kabba’s Search for Recognition in Northern Nigeria
Chief Samuel Aliyu Ajayi stands among the notable public figures from the old Kabba Province whose life connected education, civil service, regional politics and...
The Forgotten Mbadiwe Millionaire Whose Wealth Helped Shape Nigeria’s Nationalist Generation
Chief James Green Ugbaja Mbadiwe occupies a quieter but important place in Nigerian history. He was not a public politician in the dramatic mould...
The Nigerian Professor Who Drove a Peugeot 504 from London to Kano
Professor Aminu Mohammed Dorayi’s name remains tied to one of Nigeria’s most memorable travel stories. He is remembered as the scholar who bought a...
Oba Michael Kuye Arójòjoyè II and the Royal Reawakening of Ijebu-Jesha
Oba Michael Kuye Arójòjoyè II stands among the most important twentieth century rulers of Ijebu-Jesha. His reign came at a time when Yoruba towns...
Buhari and the Ogareku Title of Ebiraland
In 1985, Muhammadu Buhari stood at the height of military power in Nigeria. He was then Major General Muhammadu Buhari, Head of State of...