Wakịrịkẹ who made their mark.

Remembered as the last sovereign Amanyanabo of Okrika before British rule. He signed a treaty of protection with Britain in 1888 and is credited with clearly defining Okrika’s territorial boundaries. His life is told in a 2016 biography, King Ibanichuka – The last of Okrika’s sovereign Rulers, and in the 2023 film Amanyanabo: The Eagle King.

Amanyanabo of Okrika from 1964 until his death, a reign of 33 years and 7 months. Before the throne he served in the Royal Signals from 1944, becoming the first West African instructor in the British Army. He built Nigeria’s first electronic public-address system in 1949 and in 1952 founded what became New Era Technical College. He stayed with his besieged people through the civil war, and in 1978 the Ado stool was raised to first class.

One of Nigeria’s foremost historians. He was a professor at the University of Ibadan from 1971 and its Vice-Chancellor from 1975 to 1979. His books include The Evolution of the Nigerian State (1972) and Herbert Macaulay, Nigerian Patriot (1975). He began his schooling at St Peter’s in his hometown of Okrika.

Seventh Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (2010–2015) and pioneer director of its Institute of Petroleum Studies. In 2014/15 he chaired both the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities. He received the SPE African Regional Award for Production and Operations in 2008.

Professor of Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management. He was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University in March 2025, and the Amanyanabo of Ancient Ogoloma honoured him with a civic reception at home.

A pioneer of Nigerian art music. He trained at Trinity College of Music in London, where he earned a fellowship in composition, and on his return became Head of Music at the Voice of Nigeria. His best-known work is the opera Opu Jaja, on the life of King Jaja of Opobo.

Documentary photographer and filmmaker, described as “Nigeria’s iconic photographic genius”. In the United States he was the first New Music/Electronic Music editor of DownBeat and a close associate of Sun Ra, whom he invited to Lagos for FESTAC ’77. His 1974 film Odum and Water Masquerades was screened at FESTAC. He was a founding executive of the Photographers’ Association of Nigeria.

Governor of Rivers State from January 1992 to November 1993, until the Abacha coup ended the Third Republic. A fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, he had been Assistant Chief Accountant at Shell and Secretary to the Rivers State Government.

Federal Minister of Transportation from 2003 to 2007, after serving as Secretary to the Rivers State Government from 1999 to 2003. A medical doctor, he ran St Michael’s Clinic in Port Harcourt for thirteen years before entering government.

Represented the Ogu/Bolo/Okrika constituency in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007, then became Senator for Rivers East in 2007. In the Senate he chaired the Committee on Solid Minerals.

Pioneer Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), appointed in 2006. She built the agency from the ground up, introducing more than twenty national environmental regulations, the NESREA Green Corps and the West African Network on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement.

Born in Okrika to Sierra Leonean Creole parents, he became one of West Africa’s leading nationalists. He founded the Aurora newspaper (1918), was a founder member of the National Congress of British West Africa (1920), won election to Sierra Leone’s Legislative Council (1924) and inspired the founding of the West African Students’ Union in London.

Defender who captained Nigeria at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, where the team reached the last eight. The same year he played at the Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria finished runners-up. His club career took him to Paris Saint-Germain B, Waregem, FC Sion and Servette.

Set the world youth best for the 100 metres in March 2002 and held it for more than ten years, until October 2012.

In 2025 he ran 6.57 seconds for the 60 metres, breaking the Nigerian record and the African under-20 record, and went on to represent Nigeria at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing.