YORUBAS – THE PIONEER EXTRAORDINAIRE
ENTERTAINMENT
Father of Theatre – Hubert Ogunde
Creator of Fuji Music – Sikiru Ayinde Barrister
Afrobeats – Fela Anikulapo-Kuti
Jùjú Music – Tunde King
Highlife – Bobby Benson
Àpàlà – Haruna Ishola
Pioneer of Home Video Production – Alade Aromire
POLITICS
Nigeria’s first Indigenous political party – Herbert Macaulay
First formal Leader of the Opposition – Chief Obafemi Awolowo
Most industrialized and advanced society of the First Republic – Western Region
Most enduring political ideology – Awoism
Greatest politician of the Fourth Republic – Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
INDUSTRY / FINANCE
Most advanced state in Nigeria – Lagos State – Salute the ancient foresight of our forebears – they chose the sea’s embrace over the evil forest’s snare. Vision sharper than their era, revelation deeper than their time, a blueprint etched for eternity.
Nigeria’s first major indigenous industrialist – Chief Michael Adeniyi Odutola
A pioneer who built factories, plantations, retail chains, ranches, and export businesses – turning industry into inheritance.
First Indigenous Telecommunication Giant – Globacom (Mike Adenuga)
Foremost pioneer of Nigerian banking – Chief Matthew Adekoya Okupe,
Founder of Agbonmagbe Bank (1945), West Africa’s first fully indigenous commercial bank – built without colonial crutches.
First Chartered Accountant in Nigeria – Akintola Williams, FCA
LEGAL / ACTIVISM
First Senior Advocate of Nigeria – Chief F. R. A. Williams
First Chief Justice of Nigeria – Sir Adetokunbo Ademola
Most renowned Human Rights lawyer – Chief Gani Fawehinmi
Most prominent female activist – Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti
HEALTH / MEDICINE
First Nigerian Medical Doctor – Dr. William Broughton Davies (of Yoruba parentage)
First Nigerian Surgeon – Sir Samuel Layinka Ayodeji Manuwa
EVEN IN SCHOLARSHIP AND INTELLECT
We had Prof. Wole Soyinka Africa’s first and Nigeria’s only Nobel Prize Winner in Literature.
And the scroll unfurls endlessly – add your own in comments and quotes.
Indeed we are special – The Prize – The Catch….
I am proud to come from a tribe of long term thinkers.
