By Olayinka Iroye
It was a simple video, yet deeply symbolic. Shared with me by a younger brother, Babajide Abbas, it captured England’s Women’s National Football Team celebrating their historic European Championship win. What stood out profoundly was the presence of Nigeria’s own global music sensation, Burna Boy, who was invited to perform at the celebration, an electrifying display of Nigerian talent on the world stage.
Watching the video, I couldn’t help but utter, “God bless Burna Boy for Nigeria.” In that moment, I was reminded yet again that, despite our challenges, Nigeria remains the greatest black nation in the history of mankind.
In the spirit of “Nigeria Happens to Me”, a stirring mantra advocated by Mallam Isa Onilu, Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and daily echoed by my brother and friend, Mr. Olusegun Adeyemi, the retired but still passionate former Kwara State Director of NOA, we both remains a firm believers in Nigeria’s greatness. Even in the face of our “kuje kuje” (shortcomings, as the Yoruba would say), our national spirit refuses to be diminished.
A vivid demonstration of that spirit came just days ago when our Super Falcons, led by stars like Esther Okoronkwo and Jennifer Echegini, shocked the world by coming from two goals down to win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the tenth time, another glorious chapter in Nigeria’s history.
Again, just this last Sunday, Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, made history by clinching their fifth consecutive title at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship, further solidifying their dominance in African basketball.
Across all fields of human endeavor; sports, entertainment, education, technology, finance, literature, science, and governance Nigerians are not just present; they are excelling. Here are just a few of the many inspirational figure I can capture for now.
Burna Boy, Grammy-winning artist performing globally to sold-out arenas.
Tems, who featured in global hits with Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Future.
Wizkid, Davido, and Rema ,Topping Billboard and Apple Music charts globally.
Tunde Kelani, Genevieve Nnaji and Kunle Afolayan and others have elevated Nigerian cinema to global platforms like Netflix.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Award-winning author of Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah.
Wole Soyinka, Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in Literature, global intellectual icon.
In world sports, we have Tobi Amusan, world record holder in the 100m hurdles; Nigeria’s first world athletics champion. Victor Osimhen, serie A top scorer; led Napoli to its first league title in 33 years. Ademola Lookman, second-highest Nigerian goal scorer in Italy’s Serie A history.
Israel Adesanya & Kamaru Usman, both UFC champions of Nigerian descent who dominated global mixed martial arts.
Nigerian scholars are professors and researchers at Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Yale. Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi, TIME 100 Next Honoree and anti-sexual violence advocate.
Numerous other Nigerians have won Rhodes, Chevening, Commonwealth, and Fulbright scholarships. Flutterwave, Paystack, and Andela, founded by Nigerians, these Tech startups are redefining Africa’s digital economy.
Nigerian software engineers are being recruited by Google, Meta, Microsoft, and other global tech giants. Innovators are also emerging in AI, blockchain, agri-tech, and health tech.
For Fashion & Design, Lisa Folawiyo, Kenneth Ize, and Tokyo James are Nigerian designers who featured on Paris, Milan, and New York Fashion Week runways. Indigenous fashion like Ankara, Adire, and Aso Oke are now celebrated worldwide as emblems of African identity.
Youth-led agri-tech ventures are revolutionizing food systems across Nigeria. Innovations in farm management, post-harvest storage, and smart irrigation are increasing food production and export capacity. My friend, Taiwo Adeoye, a veteran animal scientist with vast expertise in poultry farming and livestock production, is a USA registered professional whose work exemplifies Nigeria’s global excellence in agricultural science.
In Banking, Finance & Global Leadership we have Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina , President of the African Development Bank and former Minister of Agriculture.
Kuda Bank, Opay, and Moniepoint ,Nigerian fintech firms driving Africa’s mobile banking revolution.
Nigerian-born politicians and professionals hold leadership positions in the UK, US, Canada, and beyond.
Domestically, a new generation of civic-minded leaders and reformers are advocating for good governance and institutional integrity.
In the inspiring words of Bishop David Oyedepo, “Nigeria will not remain just the giant of Africa, but become a global giant.” This promise isn’t mere rhetoric, it is manifesting through the achievements of Nigerians at home and abroad.
As the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo once declared in one of his book Voice of Courage “It is not life that matters, but the courage you bring into it.” Let us find inspiration in these achievements. Let us believe again. Let us work together toward a nation that lives up to its immense potential.
Nigeria is not just rising it is already shining.
Nigeria will be great. Nigeria is great.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.