Senate President Godswill Akpabio has endorsed Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno’s bid for a second term—barely 24 hours after the latter publicly endorsed President Bola Tinubu for re-election.

Governor Eno, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had on Tuesday declared his support for President Tinubu to serve a second term in office.

The gesture was reciprocated by Akpabio, a key leader within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking at a public lecture hosted by the Faculty of Social Science at the University of Uyo, Akpabio lauded the governor’s rare political gesture and pledged the support of the party in return.

“Sir, for doing that, I am a member of the All Progressives Congress. I am speaking for the elders and to tell you we are also going to support you for a second term,” the Senate President declared, leading to applause from attendees, including Governor Eno.

“We will support you in whatever aspiration you have. Yesterday, you broke a record by being the first opposition governor to declare support for a second term bid of Mr Tinubu,” Akpabio added during his goodwill remarks at the lecture.

Akpabio was represented at the event by Saviour Enyiekere, Chairperson of the National Assembly Service Commission.

The event also doubled as a celebration of Governor Eno’s recent academic achievement. The governor, an alumnus of the University of Uyo, had recently earned a doctorate in Political Science with a specialisation in Public Administration. He served as guest speaker at the event, delivering a speech on “Leading Economic Development in Sub-Nationals of the Nigerian Federation: The Arise Agenda.”

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Wednesday, April 16, called for peace and unity among Nigerians across all regions, ethnicities, and religions.

Shettima said Nigerians have no business fighting each other no matter the provocation.

The Vice President said this during the Validation Workshop on Framework for the Anticipatory Action for Nigeria at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja.

Condemning the repeated killings by some yet-to-be-identified gunmen in Plateau state, Shetiltima said Nigerians should rather be United in fighting poverty.

He said, “We have no business fighting each other. We should be fighting poverty. 

“The heart of the President bleeds, as does my heart and the heart of every conscientious Nigerian and African, with the tragedy unfolding in Plateau State.”

Pan-Yoruba sociopolitical organization, Afenifere, has criticized the policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying it is working against democratic federalism.

The group added that the actions of President Tinubu have been autocratic and targeted at silencing all dissenting voices.

Naija News reports that the position of Afenifere was made known by the faction loyal to late Pa Ayo Adebanjo in a statement signed by its leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan and National Publicity Secretary, Prince Justice Faloye.

The group argued that the current administration led by Tinubu is “de-structuring the Nigerian federation” and “stifling democratic freedoms.”

It accused the Tinubu government of usurping the federating units, the judiciary and the legislative arm, displaying unrestricted abuse of basic rights of freedom of speech and association, spiralling insecurity, and destruction of the country’s economic fabric, among other things.

It also specifically condemned the ban of the song, ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem.

According to the Afenifere faction, “Instead of restructuring towards a prosperous egalitarian federation, President Tinubu is destructuring Nigeria with his autocratic attack on the fundamental pillars of democratic federalism.

“With the blatant usurpation of the federating units, the judiciary and the legislative arm, the abuse of basic rights of freedom of speech and association, spiralling insecurity, and destruction of our economic fabric, and among other things, we can’t but wonder how much more can the federation take before imploding, and the wheels come off our manifest destiny.

“Freedom of speech, a basic tenet of democracy, has repeatedly been under attack. This suppression of democratic freedoms, most instantiated by the banning of ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem, a fair response to the atrocious claims made by Seyi Tinubu on the state of the nation.

“The autocratic ban signals a leadership tendency that is disconnected from citizens’ realities, essentially inclined to maintaining autocratic control than fostering a milieu of freedom and creativity. The ban destructs the principles of democracy, is evidence of the increasing disregard for dissenting voices in Nigeria, potentially silencing artists and stifling creativity and the progress we need to move forward as a society.”

Growing Insecurity

The group blamed the growing insecurity and attacks in some parts of the country on the inability of the government to manage the affairs of citizens, leading to frustration in many quarters.

“Insecurity incidents, as contained in the recent report of HumAngle’s Conflict Tracker, have accounted for the death of 1,420 Nigerians, with over 537 reportedly kidnapped across the country in the first quarter of 2025,” it said.

Demand For State Police

Afenifere, however, said the establishment of State Police would go a long way in addressing the various security challenges. It also called on the government to consider ranching as a way to prevent further clashes among farmers and herders in the country.

“The renewed unrestrained violence of Fulani herdsmen and bandits highlight the need for the government to address the root cause of these conflicts-open grazing- and outrightly ban it, while enforcing and promoting the more sustainable and safe alternative- ranching.”

“Specifically, we call on the government to deploy effective security strategies to protect lives and property, ensuring Nigerians can live without fear of violence or attack. We, again, call for the establishment of state police to complement existing internal security architecture.

“Politics aside, all management principles and best practices inform us that a single police hierarchy is not sufficient to provide the security required by a nation of our size and diversity.

“Yet due to personal political consideration, the Tinubu government has refused to create State Police as killings and kidnapping rise, threatening our national cohesiveness,” the group added.

A former House of Representatives minority leader and Muhammadu Buhari’s ally, Farouk Adamu Aliu has accused erstwhile governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai of undermining Northern unity for personal reasons.

Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television Politics Today, Aliu questioned El-Rufai’s shift in stance regarding President Bola Tinubu.

He pointed out how the former governor rallied Northern Governors to support Tinubu’s presidential candidacy, but has now decided to jump ship after failing to secure a ministerial position.

He said, “We the elites of this country are simply not being fair to the people. We don’t kill ourselves, so why do we allow the masses to kill themselves for our own selfish reasons?

“When Tinubu was contesting to be President, El-Rufai led the Governors of the North to challenge the Northern Elders to do the right thing and support President Tinubu.”

Aliu expressed disappointment at El-Rufai’s recent criticisms of Tinubu, suggesting that El-Rufai’s discontent stemmed from not securing a ministerial appointment.

“Now, because he didn’t get a ministerial appointment, Tinubu is suddenly a bad man?” Aliu questioned.

He reminded that Buhari’s victory was achieved with Tinubu’s assistance, questioning El-Rufai’s sudden shift in perspective, “Buhari got elected with Tinubu’s assistance, now because Tinubu is in government, all of a sudden he doesn’t like the North?”

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Ladan Salihu, has emphasised the necessity of a united opposition to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during a Thursday appearance on The Morning Brief on Channels Television, Salihu declared that collaboration among political parties is the only viable path to reclaim power from the APC.

“We all agreed during our meeting with Atiku and others that we should go into a coalition with other political parties to democratically rescue power from the APC. Coming together is strategic, helpful, and will generate the numbers necessary to succeed,” Salihu revealed.

Naija News reports that this aligns with recent remarks by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who signalled that any forthcoming opposition alliance ahead of 2027 will not be confined to just one political platform.

The former FRCN DG cautioned that without such alignment, President Bola Tinubu’s re-election would be almost guaranteed. “From where we stand today, there’s no way the PDP alone can secure victory. If we don’t collaborate and bring all stakeholders under one umbrella, Tinubu will return,” he warned.

Beyond coalition politics, Salihu also raised serious concerns about internal power dynamics within the PDP. He criticised the recent PDP Governors’ Forum meeting held in Ibadan, labelling it a breach of the party’s constitution.

“The PDP has a pedigree and history guided by its constitution, just like any country operates under the rule of law,” he said. “What we saw with the outcome of the governors’ meeting in Ibadan was a misstep. It appears to me that the Governors’ Forum has taken over the powers of the National Executive Committee (NEC), and that is unconstitutional.”

Salihu noted that the actions of the governors could weaken the party’s internal democracy. “To assume that a forum within the party can come up, organise a national convention, create committees with chairmen and members from within itself, and assume full control of the party structure — that is overriding and unconstitutional,” he stated.

He also pointed to the conspicuous absence of members from the National Working Committee (NWC) and NEC during the governors’ meeting, calling the development exclusionary.

“Everything I have seen in the actions of the Governors’ Forum is an abuse of the constitutionality of the PDP,” Salihu said.

Reflecting on the party’s past missteps, he issued a stern warning: “If this trend continues, it would be as though we are a party that shoots first and aims later. We end up in blame games when we lose, instead of taking timely and strategic decisions. The governors must not be dictatorial.”

Unknown hoodlums armed with cutlasses and firearms reportedly attacked the family residence of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in the early hours of Tuesday, April 16, 2025, in the Obeiba-Ihima area of Okehi Local Government Area, Kogi State.

According to intelligence sources, the attack occurred around 1:00 a.m., and at least three armed individuals were involved in vandalizing the building, including shattering window panes.

The incident was promptly reported by the Senator’s Chief Security Officer, Yakubu Ovanja, to the relevant security authorities.

Following a distress alert, security operatives from the Okehi Division were swiftly deployed to the scene.

While no casualties were reported and no arrests have been made, security teams have documented the damage, and preliminary investigations are underway.

According to Zagazola Makama, Police sources have indicated that the motive behind the attack remains unclear.

As of press time, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, a prominent political figure in Kogi Central Senatorial District, had not issued a public statement regarding the incident.

The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the attackers’ motives and identify those responsible for the attack.

The Apapa Magistrate Court, Court 9, sitting at Orege, Ajegunle—Sikiru Adagun Courthouse, has acquitted and discharged Alabi Quadri, the young Nigerian who became a national symbol of courage during the 2023 general elections.

Naija News reports that Quadri, who had boldly stood in front of Peter Obi’s campaign convoy, was cleared of conspiracy to commit felony and armed robbery.

The court ruled that Quadri had no case to answer, marking a significant legal victory for him after spending several months in Kirikiri Prison, Lagos.

His case had originally been scheduled for a hearing on April 28, 2025, but the court expedited the proceedings following requests from human rights lawyer and activist Inibehe Effiong, along with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which the court granted.

Quadri first gained widespread attention during the tense period of the 2023 presidential elections when a viral video showed him, a teenage boy at the time, fearlessly standing in front of Peter Obi’s campaign convoy. His act was interpreted by many Nigerians as a symbol of youthful defiance and hope amidst a charged political environment.

Despite this moment of national recognition, Quadri’s subsequent arrest and imprisonment were linked not to his actions during the election period but to a vendetta from local ‘area boys’ (thugs) who felt entitled to some of the financial support and goodwill Quadri received following his viral moment. Effiong, who recently visited the Apapa Magistrate Court with Quadri’s mother and legal colleagues, revealed that Quadri’s arrest in January was the result of prolonged threats and harassment by these individuals.

Effiong explained that Quadri was abducted while returning from work by the ‘area boys’ and taken to Amukoko Police Station (also known as Pako Police Station). He was later accused of being involved in street fights, despite being a minor at the time. He was subsequently arraigned with four strangers on charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, with the alleged victims said to have been robbed of N579,000 in cash and four mobile phones.

Despite his detention in Kirikiri Prison with adult prisoners, Effiong highlighted that the charges were unsubstantiated, and the legal system’s handling of Quadri’s case appeared to be the result of a personal vendetta rather than any criminal wrongdoing. The court’s ruling has been hailed as a victory for justice and human rights.

Following his acquittal, Effiong and other legal advocates expressed relief and satisfaction with the decision, emphasizing the importance of ensuring justice for individuals like Quadri, who have become symbols of resistance in a challenging political landscape.

Hundreds of international students across the United States, U.S are facing sudden visa cancellations and legal status terminations, sparking panic and confusion on college campuses nationwide.

“We thought it was unusual at first,” said Boston-based attorney Matthew Maiona. “Now it’s coming fast and furious.”

At least 901 students from 128 colleges have been affected, according to an Associated Press review, with advocacy groups warning the number may be even higher.

Many of the students are from India and China, but lawyers say no region appears to be exempt.

Some students were reportedly targeted over minor infractions like traffic violations.

Four students in Michigan are suing the government, claiming they were given no clear reason for their status termination.

Others across the country are filing similar lawsuits, and judges in states like New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Montana have temporarily restored some students’ legal status.

In a shift from past procedures, universities are now discovering terminations directly in the government’s immigration database, often before students are even notified.

The sudden crackdown has left students, some weeks from graduation or employment, uncertain about their future.

With no official comment from the State or Homeland Security Departments, confusion and fear are mounting.

Some students are being advised to leave the country, while others stay and appeal — hoping to avoid detention or deportation.

As legal limbo sets in, many are altering their routines, carrying immigration documents at all times and bracing for the unknown.

“It’s scary,” said a Chinese Ph.D. student at UNC Chapel Hill. “You don’t know if you’ll be the next one.”

With 6,101,533 votes representing 25.40 percent of the total votes cast in the 2023 Presidential election, the Labour Party, LP, and its Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, registered their presence as a force to be reckoned with on Nigeria’s national political landscape.

Observers of political events took note of the fact that Obi’s entrance into the LP after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, only weeks earlier turned the race for Nigeria’s topmost job from a two horse race to a three horse race.

Soon after the elections and the litigations which soon followed, the Labour Party descended into chaos with a struggle over leadership positions by power brokers who hitherto shelved their differences to prosecute the 2023 general election.

First, it was a dispute between the party’s former National Secretary, who later became National Chairman, Mr Julius Abure and the party’s Deputy National Chairman (South), Alhaji Lamidi Apapa, over the National Chairmanship.

After a series of litigation, the combatants suspended the fight.

Temporary ruptured truce

However, the temporary truce was ruptured when the party’s former National Treasurer, Ms. Oluchi Okpara launched a ferocious attack on Abure’s credibility and leadership.

She accused the party leader of failing to account for over N3.6 billion of party funds generated from the sale of nomination and declaration of interest forms as well as donors before, during and after the 2023 polls.

The accusations attracted the intervention of Peter Obi who demanded a forensic audit of the party’s finances and the publication of the outcome.

The outcome of this request is yet to see the light of day.

Amidst all these, the tenure of the Abure-led National Working Committee, NWC, which was extended by one year because of the 2003 elections, was nearing its end.

This set off a chain of reactions forcing the crisis to take a dramatic turn with several persons laying claim to the party’s leadership. The party became polarized into three main camps: those loyal to Julius Abure, the Obidient group, and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, as represented by the NLC- Political Commission.

The crisis reached its peak after Abure’s tenure as national chairman was said to have expired in March 2024.

Since then, things have been falling apart.

Before the expiration of Abure’s tenure as National Chairman, he and his loyalists converged on Nnewi, Anambra State on March 27, 2024, and held a national convention.

The Convention left out key party stakeholders including Obi, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti and the leadership of the NLC, among others.

It was at this event that Abure’s tenure was said to have been renewed for a four-year term.

In what appears to be a response to this development, Obi, Otti and other stakeholders met in Umuahia, the Abia State capital on September 4, 2024, and empanelled a 29-member National Caretaker Committee under the leadership of Senators Esther Usman and Darlington Nwokocha, as Chairman and Secretary respectively.

The committee was given 90 days within which to organise and conduct congresses at all levels and a national convention to elect new party leaders. This was not to be as Abure went to court to challenge the existence of this new body.

Unshaken, the Otti-led group, which fully supported the Usman-led LP-NCC, continued their activities under the radar while awaiting the court ruling.

They worked having been convinced that with Mr Abure’s emergence, on March 27, 2024, the Nnewi convention would not stand even in court.

Their position was strengthened by the fact that it was conducted in flagrant disregard for the terms agreed in a consent judgment it entered into by Abure and party leaders following the intervention of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the early stages of the leadership tussle.

This, according to the Otti-led group, created a vacuum in the party’s leadership.

It stated: “You will recall that the Labour Party has had a leadership crisis in recent times, culminating in the

de-recognition of the Abure-led National Working Committee, NWC, by INEC effective June 2024. This is after the settlement brokered by INEC on 27 June 2022.

“This settlement was founded on the consent court judgment by Justice Gabriel Kolawole on 20 March 2018.

“A major part of the settlement states that an all-inclusive national convention, preceded by Ward, LG, and State congresses, shall be convened not later than one year after signing the terms of the settlement. Because of the 2023 election, the implementation of this agreement was deferred by one year to 2024.”

Abure’s attempt to circumvent procedure

An Anambra State chieftain of the party, Senator Victor Umeh, accused Abure of attempting to circumvent procedure by side-stepping the process of convening a national convention which ought to begin from the ward up.

Umeh said: “The Process begins at the ward level with Ward congresses, Local Government Congresses, and State Congresses all these must happen before a national convention is conducted.”

Abure challenged this in court and “won” at the High Court and Appeal Court.

However, the LP-NCC took the matter to the Supreme Court and the court gave judgment in which it quashed Abure’s victory at the lower courts on the ground of lack of jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court judgment has been given various interpretations by the opposing camps.

While Abure has maintained that his chairmanship remains valid and grounded in the party’s constitution, Peter Obi, Governor Otti and other stakeholders think differently.

Ahead of the release of the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the Supreme Court judgment, the Abure-led National Working Committee convened a National Executive Council, NEC, meeting which not only affirmed his leadership via a vote of confidence on his leadership, it also threatened disciplinary action against Obi and Otti, should they go ahead with their planned parallel NEC meeting scheduled for last week Wednesday.

The release of the CTC of the Supreme Court judgment which was hailed by all the warring groups has again emboldened claimants to the chairmanship seat to make fresh moves to assert themselves on the party.

As things stand today, the party appears split into three camps, namely: those loyal to Julius Abure, those loyal to the LP-NCC and a small faction loyal to Alhaji Lamidi Apapa, who has emerged from the shadows to also stake a claim.

While all agree that the Supreme Court judgment grants political parties the autonomy to manage their internal affairs, opposing camps interpret this to suit their bias.

Abure’s faction claims the judgment validates his leadership, while the Obi-Otti group argues that the Court’s dismissal of Abure’s cross-appeal and upholding Senator Usman’s appeal, validates the position of stakeholders opposed to Abure’s continued stay in office as chairman.

At the just concluded NEC meeting and Stakeholders’ Interactive Town Hall, the party’s NEC declared that the Nnewi convention that produced Abure failed in every aspect because due process was ignored therefore his rule was legitimate.

Governor Otti, who is one of nine statutory members of the party’s NEC whose tenure still subsists following his election in 2023, reeled out a series of steps he and other party leaders took to make Abure see reason but he remained adamant.

According to him, Abure was offered the position of Board of Trustees Chairman in a bid to give him a soft landing to no avail.

Otti said: “He went ahead to stay when his tenure and those of the NWC (National Working Committee) had expired.

“The correct procedure if you still want to be national chairman is to start from the ward congress, state congress and zonal congress, where the delegates would emerge for the national convention and everyone is free to contest.”

Speaking in the same vein at the event, Obi said: “Our Governor has said it. Let’s do the right thing. Let’s go and do it from the ward to local government, to state, to zone, and then come and do it nationally. Everybody’s free to contest. Everybody’s free to contest. Nobody is excluded. I will ensure fairness.”

Defiant Abure

Abure has, however, remained defiant.

In a series of statements issued by his faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, told those who care to listen that Otti and Obi were deluding themselves into thinking that their attempt to hijack the party structure would succeed.

Ifoh said: “Those two and other party outlaws took their desperation to a ridiculous level by attempting to pressure INEC to accept their interpretation of the Supreme Court judgment.

“There is nowhere in the Constitution of our great party that a so-called National Caretaker Committee was mentioned in our leadership structure. Strangely, persons who have no constitutionally assigned roles will arrogate to themselves powers that don’t exist.”

The situation has become increasingly heated, with Abure’s faction threatening fire and brimstone.

The party’s internal conflicts have raised concerns about its ability to present a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections.

As the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center, CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim puts it, “Unless the opposition parties can put their house in order… it will be difficult for them to convince Nigerians to vote for them.”

The National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties CUPP, Chief Peter Ameh is, however, optimistic that sooner than later, the opposition which the LP was prepared to lead will get its acts together.

Ameh said: “I see an end to the trouble bedevilling the LP. The Supreme Court judgment has set the pace all the party needs now is to follow.

“All parties must respect the court judgment and move forward. The Caretaker Committee must now open the party’s doors for Nigerians who have something to offer to make meaningful progress.”

Music undeniably thrives in Nigeria and the black nation has produced emerging and celebrated award-winning artistes from across the globe.

There are several American artistes in music-loving nations like the United States of America (USA) who are of Nigerian descent and are leading acts in songwriting, production, and singing.

According to a recent US survey, Nigerian immigrants in the US have a high level of educational attainment, ranking among the most educated immigrant groups in the country. It is therefore not surprising that some of the talented musicians and rappers in America have Nigerian roots.

This article highlights ten popular American artistes who are of Nigerian descent, either by half parent, birth, or naturalisation.

1. Jidenna

Jidenna Theodore Mobisson, popularly known as Jidenna, is an American rapper and singer.

The singer was born in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, to Tama Mobisson, an accountant, and Oliver Mobisson, a Nigerian Igbo academic. He grew up partially in Nigeria, where his father worked as a professor of computer science at Enugu State University. When Mobisson was six years old, the family moved back to the United States.

Proud of his African roots, Jidenna is proud of his African heritage as he represents Nigerian culture through his music and unique sense of fashion. In 2019, his sophomore album “85 to Africa” featured guest appearances from Nigerian acts Mr. Eazi and Seun Kuti.

2. Tyler, The Creator

Tyler Gregory Okonma, born in Los Angeles, California, is an American rapper, and a founding member of the Hip-Hop collective, Odd Future.

Tyler, The Creator, as he is fondly called is of mixed descent, born to a Nigerian father and an American mother. His Nigerian father has Igbo ancestry, and his American mother is of mixed African-American and European-Canadian descent.

Tyler’s unique heritage has played a significant role in shaping his identity as an artist, and his music is a reflection of his diverse cultural background. He has also noted that his mixed Nigerian-American heritage is a source of inspiration for him, and also often referenced his Nigerian roots in his music and fashion.

Tyler is currently one of hip-hop’s most critically acclaimed acts having already won two Grammy Awards, three BET Hip Hop Awards, a BRIT Award, and an MTV Video Music Award.

Tyler’s mixed Nigerian-American heritage is a source of inspiration for him, and he has often referenced his Nigerian roots in his music and fashion.

3. Wale

Olubowale Victor Akintimehin was born in Northwest, Washington, D.C. His parents were both from the Yoruba ethnic group of South-western Nigeria, and migrated from Austria to the United States in 1979.

The rapper stated in an interview that growing up in a household of Nigerian culture, he looks at himself as a black man in America, but as a Nigerian first because those are his roots.

“Wale said: “..Cause that’s my blood, I’m 100% Nigerian.”

He first gained recognition in 2006, when his song “Dig Dug (Shake It)” became popular in his hometown, leading him to become locally recognized as he continued recording music for the regional audience. Wale has experimented with Afrobeats and has worked with several Nigerian artists including Wizkid, Davido and Olamide.

4. Rotimi

Olurotimi Akinosho, known professionally as Rotimi, is a talented musician and actor who was born in Maplewood, New Jersey to a Nigerian family of Yoruba heritage.

Rotimi has performed on stage, opening for Jennifer Hudson, T.I., Estelle, and NERD; he also performed on BET’s show 106 and Park and appeared in R&B singer Keyshia Cole’s music video “Trust and Believe” as Cole’s unfaithful boyfriend.

Rotimi is among the top foreign musicians of Nigerian heritage and he is known for his exceptional skills in both acting and music. With such diverse cultural roots, Rotimi grew up with a deep appreciation for both his Nigerian heritage and American upbringing. As a musician, Rotimi has made waves in the music industry with his unique blend of Afrobeat, R&B, and hip-hop sounds.

5. Chamillionaire

Chamillionaire, whose real name is Hakeem Temidayo Seriki, was born to a Muslim Yoruba father and an African-American Christian mother in Washington D.C, and moved to Houston, Texas at the age of four. Chamillionaire’s parents separated in his early teenage years.

The rapper was born and raised in the United States and proudly identifies with his Nigerian heritage. In 2002, Chamillionaire began his solo career with regional releases that caught the attention of the Houston rap scene.

6. Nas

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones is a renowned American rapper and composer, born to a father of Nigerian roots.

The son of jazz musician Olu Dara, Nas began his musical career in 1989 under the moniker “Nasty Nas”, and recorded demos under the wing of fellow East Coast rapper Large Professor.

His illustrious musical career began when he was just a teenager, and he quickly made a name for himself in the industry. Throughout his career, Nas has been nominated for a staggering twelve Grammy Awards, cementing his place as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Despite his success, Nas has remained humble and continues to create music that resonates with people from all walks of life.

7. Maxo Kream

Emekwanem Ogugua Biosah Jr, professionally known as Maxo Kream, is a Nigerian-American rapper and songwriter from Houston-Texas. Maxo Kream is of Nigerian descent through his father, who is a Nigerian immigrant to the U.S.

His debut album Punken was released in 2018, and the follow-up and major label debut, Brandon Banks, was released in 2019. Maxo Kream is known for his honest lyricism, speaking to his past life living in poor neighborhoods within Houston, Texas.

8. Chika

Jane Chika Oranika is an American rapper, songwriter, poet, model, and actress who garnered attention on social media for her viral freestyles before signing to Warner Records in 2019.

She rose to fame when her video dubbed “A Letter to Kanye Omari West” went viral in 2018, criticizing West for his public support of Donald Trump and endorsement of political commentator Candace Owens.

9. Tobe Nwigwe

Tobechukwu Dubem “Tobe” Nwigwe is an American rapper, singer and actor. He is of Nigerian descent, and hails from the Igbo ethnic group.

The rapper began to gain a following through his Instagram and YouTube posts and videos which he

usually posted every Sunday.

Nwigwe appeared on the BET Hip Hop Awards 2018 Cypher and in 2022, Tobe received a nomination for

Best New Artist at the 65th Grammy Awards.

10. Cozz

Cody Rashad Osagie is an American rapper currently signed to J. Cole’s label Dreamville Records and Interscope Records, with his debut studio album Cozz & Effect, being released on 3rd October 2014.

Cozz was born in Los Angeles, California to a Nigerian father and a mother with roots in Louisiana. His multicultural upbringing culminated in the rapper being influenced by several genres of music, from reggae to rap.