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Igbo people |
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The list of Igbo people includes notable individuals who have full or significant ancestry traced back to the Igbo people of South-East and South-South geopolitical regions of Nigeria. [1]
This page also contains names of people who traced their African heritage through DNA testing to the Igbo ethnic group.
Name | Born | Death | Notability |
---|---|---|---|
Maria Louisa Bustill | 8 November 1853 | 20 January 1904 | Quaker schoolteacher; the mother of Paul Robeson; and the wife of the Reverend William Drew Robeson [67] |
Michael Echeruo | 14 March 1937 | – | |
Tessy Okoli | – | – | |
E. Nolue Emenanjo | 1943 | – | |
Uche Nduka | 14 October 1963 | – | |
Eni Njoku | 6 November 1917 | 22 December 1974 | The first Nigerian Vice Chancellor |
Onuora Nzekwu | 19 February 1928 | 21 April 2017 | |
P. N. Okeke-Ojiudu | 1914 | 1995 | |
Kenneth Dike | 17 December 1917 | 26 October 1983 | The pioneer Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos and University of Nigeria Nsukka |
John Ogbu | 9 May 1939 | 20 August 2003 | |
Ogwo E. Ogwo | 7 June 1949 | – | |
Emeka Enejere | 8 August 1944 | The 14th Pro Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka | |
Zephrinus Chidubem Njoku | 15 May 1959 | ||
Emmanuel Chinwokwu | - | Professor of New Testament Studies at University of Nigeria, Nsukka | |
Patrick Obi Ngoddy | Nigerian professor of Food Engineering and Processing at the Faculty of Agriculture | ||
Sonny Chidebelu | Professor of Agribusiness | ||
Sophia Obiajulu Ogwude | Professor of English and Comparative studies | ||
Florence Orabueze | 30 March 1966 | – | Professor of English and literary studies |
Edith Nwosu | 22 March 1962 | – | Professor of Corporate Law |
Basil Ezeanolue | 17 November 1953 | – | Professor of Otorhinolaryngology |
Emenike Ejiogu | Professor of electrical and electronics engineering from University of Nigeria Nsukka | ||
Ogbonna Oparaku | Professor of electronic engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka |
Name | Born | Death | Notability | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adiele Afigbo | 22 November 1937 | 9 March 2009 | Historian known for the history and historiography of Africa, more particularly Igbo history | |
Kenneth Dike | 17 December 1917 | 26 October 1983 | ||
Paul Robeson, Jr. | 2 November 1927 | 26 April 2014 | [26] |
Name | Born | Death | Notability | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Emmanuel Chukwudi Eze | 18 January 1963 | 30 December 2007 |
Pearlena Igbokwe | President of Universal Television, a subsidiary of NBCUniversal Television Group, first woman of African descent to head a major U.S. television studio | [68] [69] [70] | |||
Nduka Obaigbena | Media mogul, founder of Nigerian-based African newspaper THISDAY, African -focused style & culture magazine Arise and Lagos-based Nigerian 24-hour international news channel Arise News | ||||
Jim Ovia | Nigerian businessman; founder of Zenith Bank | ||||
Jerome Udoji | |||||
Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu | 1909 | 1966 | Business mogul and father of Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, the former governor of the Eastern Region and leader of Biafra | ||
P. N. Okeke-Ojiudu | 1914 | 1995 | |||
Omu Okwei | 1872 | 1943 | Merchant queen of the River Niger | [71] | |
C. T. Onyekwelu | 1898 | ||||
Mathias Ugochukwu | 1926 | 1990 | |||
Evelyn Okere | 4 November 1973 | Nigerian businesswoman, publisher, fashion designer and the Managing Director/CEO of St. Eve Concepts. | |||
Godwin Maduka | Nigerian doctor, businessman, philanthropist and the founder of Las Vegas Pain Institute and Medical Center | ||||
Emeka Offor | Businessman and Philanthropist. The founder and Chairman and The Sir Emeka Of for Foundation of Chrome Group | ||||
Kennedy Okonkwo | Businessman and philanthropist | ||||
Charles Nwodo Jr. | Businessman and philanthropist | ||||
Aku Odinkemelu | Nigerian lawyer and corporate entrepreneur | ||||
Nwamaka Okoye | Nigerian businesswoman and serial entrepreneur, founder of Housessories Ltd, Gearshift Africa, former president of Stanford Seed Transformation Program Nigeria | [72] [73] |
Name | Born | Death | Notability | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adaora Udoji | 1967 | – | ||
Chinweizu | 1943 | |||
Christina Anyanwu | 1951 | – | ||
Chude Jideonwo | ||||
Chima Simone | 28 July 1976 | |||
Joseph Egemonye | 1933 | 2011 | ||
Name | Born | Death | Notability | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gogo Chu Nzeribe | ||||
Okey Ndibe | 1960 | – | Novelist, poet, political activist from Yola, Nigeria. He is the author of Arrows of Rain, a critically well-reviewed novel published in 2000. | |
Uzor Ngoladi | 1977 | - | Nwriter, journalist, and activist. | |
Chidi Odinkalu | 1968 | - | Writer, Lawyer, activist, Professor, International Human Rights Law |
Name | Born | Death | Notability | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nnamdi Azikiwe | 1904 | 1966 | 1st president of Nigeria | |
Kasim Reed | 57th Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, US (2010-2018) | |||
Azuka Okwuosa | 3 November 1959 | Former Anambra State Commissioner for Works and Transport | ||
Benjamin Kalu | Member of House of Representatives, representing Bende federal constituency | |||
Enyinnaya Abaribe | ||||
Chuka Umunna | 17 October 1978 | – | ||
Catherine Obianuju Acholonu | ||||
Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi | 3 March 1924 | 29 July 1966 | First military and second substantial Head of State of Nigeria | |
Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu | ||||
John Abraham Godson | 25 November 1970 | First Black Member of the Polish Parliament in Polish history. Nigerian Senatorial Candidate. | ||
Frank Ajobena | ||||
Dora Akunyili | 14 July 1954 | 7 June 2014 | Former Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of Nigeria and current (since 17 December 2008) Nigerian Minister of Information and Communications. | |
Rotimi Amaechi | 27 May 1965 | – | former Governor of Rivers State and current minister of transportation | |
Bonaventure Enemali | 21 June 1984 | – | Commissioner for Youth Empowerment and Creative Economy in Anambra State | |
Chris Okewulonu | 24 December 1960 | – | Current Chief of Staff to Imo State Government | |
Collins Nweke | 14 July 1965 | – | Municipal Legislator Ostend City Council Belgium and former Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Europe | |
Emeka Anyaoku | 18 January 1933 | – | Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations | |
Nnamdi Azikiwe | 16 November 1904 | 11 May 1996 | Nigeria's foremost President and the Owelle of Onitsha | |
Chukwuemeka Chikelu | ||||
Uche Chukwumerije | ||||
Edward Wilmot Blyden | 3 August 1832 | 7 February 1912 | Americo-Liberian educator, writer, diplomat, and politician in Liberia and Sierra Leone. | [76] |
Kema Chikwe | Academic and politician; former federal minister of transport and later minister of aviation; and former Nigeria's ambassador to Ireland | |||
Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme | 1932 | – | Renowned architect, lawyer, and politician. Formerly, vice-president of the 2nd federal republic of Nigeria (1979 - 1983) | |
Martin Elechi | Former Governor of Ebonyi State | |||
Dave Umahi | Current Governor of Ebonyi State | |||
Evan Enwerem | 29 October 1935 | 2 August 2007 | ||
Virginia Etiaba | Educator; politician; former deputy governor (and briefly governor) of Anambra State. | |||
Herbert Eze | ||||
Akanu Ibiam | 29 November 1906 | December 1995 | Medical missionary who later became the first governor of the Eastern Region from 1960 to 1966. The Enugu International Airport is named after him. | |
Toni Iwobi | ||||
Maurice Iwu | 21 April 1950 | – | Former head of INEC | |
Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu | 4 September 1942 | – | ||
Orji Uzor Kalu | 21 April 1960 | – | Oligarch and former governor of Abia State | |
K. O. Mbadiwe | ||||
Ojo Maduekwe | 6 May 1945 | – | Former Federal Minister under Obasanjo and Yar'Adua administrations. | |
Chinwoke Mbadinuju | ||||
Sam Mbakwe | 1929 | 5 January 2004 | One of the chief former governors of Imo State. The international cargo airport in Owerri is named after him. | |
Chris Ngige | 8 August 1952 | – | Former governor of Anambra State | |
Akachukwu Sullivan Nwankpo | 1962 | Former Special Advisor to the President Goodluck Jonathan on Technical Matters | ||
Nkechi Justina Nwaogu | 1956 | Senator who represents the People's Democratic Party in Abia State. | ||
Chimaroke Nnamani | 10 April 1959 | – | Former governor of Enugu State | |
Obiageli Ezekwesili | 28 April 1963 | – | Former Vice President of the World Bank and Education Minister as well as a co-founder of Transparency International. | |
Ike Nwachukwu | ||||
Frank Nweke | ||||
Chinyere Ike Nwosu | ||||
Zacheus Chukwukaelo Obi | ||||
Peter Obi | 19 July 1961 | – | Former Governor of Anambra State, the Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Governors' Forum and the Chairman of the Southeast Governors' Forum. | |
George Obiozor | ||||
Peter Odili | 15 August 1948 | – | Former governor of Rivers State. | |
Igwegbe Odum | ||||
Frank Ogbuewu | ||||
Vincent Eze Ogbulafor | ||||
Joy Ogwu | ||||
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu | 4 November 1933 | 26 November 2011 | Military officer and politician who served as the military governor of the Eastern Region of Nigeria in 1966 and the leader of the breakaway Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970. | |
Prince B.B Apugo | 5 November 1951 | Nigerian politician, philanthropist and businessman, one of the founding fathers of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and a current Board of Trustees Member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) | ||
Chuba Okadigbo | ||||
Edward Ikem Okeke | ||||
P. N. Okeke-Ojiudu | ||||
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala | 13 June 1954 | – | Current Finance Minister and former Foreign Minister of Nigeria, notable for being the first woman to hold either of those positions. | [74] |
Richard Okonye | 1943 | 1999 | ||
Ifeanyi Okowa | Governor of Delta State, fmr senator of Nigeria | |||
Jaycee Okwunwanne | 8 October 1985 | – | ||
Nwafor Orizu | ||||
Alex Otti | 18 February 1965 | Nigerian economist, banker, investor, philanthropist, and politician, serving as the current Governor of Abia State in Nigeria | ||
Theodore Orji | 11 November 1950 | – | Former governor of Abia State. | |
Dennis Osadebay | 29 June 1911 | 26 December 1994 | Nigerian politician, poet, journalist and former premier of the now defunct Mid-Western Region of Nigeria, which now comprises Edo and Delta State. | |
Edward James Roye | 3 February 1815 | 11 February 1872 | Fifth President of Liberia from 1870 to his overthrow and subsequent death in 1871. | [77] |
Andy Uba | ||||
Achike Udenwa | 1948 | – | Former governor of Imo State. | |
Onyema Ugochukwu | ||||
Sylvester Ugoh | ||||
Charles Ugwuh | ||||
Emmanuel Ukaegbu | ||||
Jaja Wachuku | 1918 | 1996 | ||
Chukwuemeka Ngozichineke Wogu | – |
Name | Born | Death | Notability | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Okoro Idozuka | ||||
Emeka Onwuamaegbu | ||||
Aguiyi Ironsi | 1924 | 1966 | The first military head of state of Nigeria. He assumed power after the 1966 military coup that killed the then Prime Minister, Sir Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. After 6 months in power, he was killed in a counter coup led by his eventual successor, General Yakubu Gowon and General Theophilus Danjuma. | |
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu | ||||
Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu | ||||
Azubuike Ihejirika | ||||
Ebitu Ukiwe | ||||
Ejike Obumneme Aghanya |
Name | Born | Death | Notability | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chigozie C. Asiabaka | 29 September 1953 | Agricultural scientist | ||
Charles Ejogo | ||||
Philip Emeagwali | 1954 | – | Computer scientist/geologist, one of two winners of the 1989 Gordon Bell Prize, a prize from the IEEE, for his use of the Connection Machine supercomputer | |
Bisi Ezerioha | 6 January 1972 | Engineer, entrepreneur | ||
Ejikeme Patrick Nwosu | 4 February 1983 | Scientist, Inventor | ||
Bartholomew Nnaji | ||||
John Ogbu | 9 May 1939 | 20 August 2003 | ||
Chike Obi | 7 April 1921 | 13 March 2008 | Mathematician | |
Ike Ferdinand Odimegwu | Philosopher | |||
Josephat Obi Oguejiofor | Philosopher | |||
Rita Orji | ||||
Gordian Ezekwe | 1929 | 25 June 1997 | Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Minister of Science and Technology, inventor | |
F. Nnabuenyi Ugonna | 12 October 1936 | 5 June 1990 | ||
Fabian Udekwu | 1928 | 17 November 2006 | Cardiac surgeon, distinguished professor of surgery at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, and a pioneer of open-heart surgery in Africa | |
Walter Enwezor | Agricultural scientist | |||
Name | Born | Death | Notability | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Uzooma Okeke | 3 September 1970 | – | Canadian Football League tackle for the Montreal Alouettes. |
Name | Born | Death | Notability | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chioma Ajunwa | 25 December 1970 | — | ||
Onochie Achike | 31 January 1975 | – | ||
Kriss Akabusi | 28 November 1958 | – | ||
Chinaza Amadi | 12 September 1987 | – | ||
Clement Chukwu | 7 July 1973 | – | ||
Vivian Chukwuemeka | 4 May 1975 | – | ||
Innocent Egbunike | 30 November 1961 | – | ||
Uchenna Emedolu | 17 September 1976 | – | ||
Obinna Eregbu | 9 November 1969 | – | ||
Joy Eze | 23 April 1988 | – | ||
Davidson Ezinwa | 22 November 1971 | – | ||
Osmond Ezinwa | 22 November 1971 | – | ||
Chidi Imoh | 27 August 1963 | – | ||
Obinna Metu | 12 July 1988 | – | ||
Ngozi Monu | 7 January 1981 | – | ||
Ogonna Nnamani | 29 July 1983 | – | [83] | |
Francis Obikwelu | 22 November 1978 | – | ||
Chinonye Ohadugha | 24 March 1986 | – | ||
Christine Ohuruogu | 17 May 1984 | – | MBE an English sprinter former World and Olympic Champion in the 400 metres | [84] [85] [86] |
Emmanuel Okoli | 13 November 1973 | – | ||
Marilyn Okoro | 23 September 1984 | – | [87] | |
Christy Opara-Thompson | 24 December 1971 | – | ||
Charity Opara | 20 May 1972 | – | ||
Emeka Udechuku | 10 July 1979 | – | ||
Chima Ugwu | 19 July 1973 | – |
Name | Born | Death | Notability | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
John Amaechi | 26 November 1970 | – | Retired American-born English NBA basketball player who currently works as a broadcaster and political activist in the United Kingdom. | [88] |
Aloysius Anagonye | 10 February 1981 | – | ||
Giannis Antetokounmpo | 6 December 1994 | – | Greek NBA player with the Milwaukee Bucks; NBA champion in the 2020-21 season. Igbo mother and Yoruba father. | [89] |
Kelenna Azubuike | 16 December 1983 | – | ||
Thanasis Antetokounmpo | 18 July 1992 | – | ||
Kostas Antetokounmpo | 20 November 1997 | – | ||
Ike Diogu | 11 September 1983 | – | [90] | |
Obinna Ekezie | 22 August 1975 | – | ||
Benjamin Eze | 8 February 1981 | – | ||
Ekene Ibekwe | 19 July 1985 | – | ||
Ike Nwankwo | 27 December 1973 | – | ||
Julius Nwosu | 1 May 1971 | – | ||
Chamberlain Oguchi | 28 April 1986 | – | ||
Emeka Okafor | 28 September 1982 | – | [91] | |
Daniel Okonkwo | 1975 | – | ||
Ime Udoka | 9 August 1977 | – | ||
Mfon Udoka | 16 June 1976 | – |
Name | Born | Death | Notability | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Friday Ahunanya | 19 November 1971 | – | ||
Innocent Anyanwu | 25 September 1982 | – | ||
Ijeoma Egbunine | 30 December 1980 | – | ||
Herbie Hide | ||||
Ike Ibeabuchi | 2 February 1973 | – | ||
Emmanuel Nwodo | 19 February 1974 | – | ||
Dick Tiger (alias Richard Ihetu) | 14 August 1929 | 14 December 1971 | Boxer from Amaigbo, Orlu, Nigeria, was a migrant fighter to Liverpool (and later to America). | [92] |
Name | Born | Death | Notability | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Samuel Okwaraji | 19 May 1964 | 12 August 1989 | ||
Victor Agali | 29 December 1978 | – | ||
Festus Agu | 13 March 1975 | – | ||
Lawrence Akandu | 10 December 1974 | – | ||
Chukwuma Akabueze | 6 May 1989 | – | ||
Michael Chidi Alozi | ||||
Emmanuel Amuneke | 25 December 1970 | – | ||
Kevin Amuneke | 10 May 1986 | – | ||
Blessing Chinedu | 22 November 1976 | – | ||
Kevin Amuneke | 10 May 1986 | – | ||
Victor Anichebe | 23 April 1988 | – | ||
Nnaemeka Anyanwu | 21 August 1988 | – | ||
Onyekachi Apam | 30 December 1986 | – | ||
Alex Iwobi | 3 May 1996 | - | ||
Chibuzor Chilaka | 21 October 1986 | – | ||
Chukwudi Chijindu | 20 February 1986 | – | ||
Blessing Chinedu | 22 November 1976 | – | ||
Christian Chukwu | ||||
Eric Obinna Chukwunyelu | 10 June 1981 | – | ||
Carlton Cole | ||||
Ugo Ehiogu | 3 November 1972 | – | ||
Eric Ejiofor | 17 December 1979 | – | ||
Chijioke Ejiogu | 22 November 1984 | – | ||
Caleb Ekwegwo | 1 August 1988 | – | ||
Ifeanyi Emeghara | 24 March 1984 | – | ||
Hugo Enyinnaya | 8 May 1981 | – | ||
Dino Eze | 1 June 1984 | – | ||
Ndubuisi Eze | 10 May 1984 | – | ||
Victor Ezeji | 9 June 1981 | – | ||
Emeka Ifejiagwa | 30 October 1977 | – | ||
Amaechi Igwe | 20 May 1988 | – | ||
Ugo Ihemelu | 3 April 1983 | – | ||
Ikechukwu Kalu | 18 April 1984 | – | ||
Maxwell Kalu | 23 March 1976 | – | ||
Christopher Kanu | 4 December 1979 | – | ||
Nwankwo Kanu | 1 August 1976 | – | Nwankwo Kanu (born 1 August 1976 in Owerri, Nigeria), usually known simply as Kanu and nicknamed Papilo, is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for the Nigerian national team and for English club Portsmouth. | [93] |
Henry Nwosu Kanu | 14 February 1980 | – | ||
Stephen Keshi | 1962 | 2016 | Former Nigerian soccer team captain and coach, won the African Cup of Nations both as player and coach | |
Paul McGrath | 4 December 1959 | – | England-born Republic of Ireland international player. Irish mother and Igbo biological father. | |
Usim Nduka | 23 September 1985 | – | ||
Chukwuemeka Nwadike | 9 August 1978 | – | ||
Obinna Nwaneri | 19 March 1982 | – | ||
Onyekachi Nwoha | 28 February 1983 | – | ||
Chucks Nwoko | 21 November 197 | – | ||
Udo Nwoko | 15 October 1984 | – | ||
Henry Nwosu | 14 June 1963 | – | ||
Mikel John Obi | 22 April 1987 | – | Won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea in 2012 | [94] |
Victor Nsofor Obinna | 25 March 1987 | – | ||
Chinedu Obasi | 1 June 1986 | – | ||
Ibezito Ogbonna | 27 March 1983 | – | ||
Bertrand Okafor | 4 January 1990 | – | ||
Uche Okafor | 8 August 1967 | 6 January 2011 | ||
Uche Okafor | 10 February 1991 | – | ||
Uche Okechukwu | 27 September 1967 | – | ||
Jay-Jay Okocha | 14 August 1973 | – | [93] | |
Chima Okorie | 8 October 1968 | – | ||
Stanley Okoro | 8 December 1992 | – | ||
Sunday Patrick Okoro | 27 April 1986 | – | ||
Digger Okonkwo | 30 August 1977 | – | ||
Onyekachi Okonkwo | 13 May 1982 | – | ||
Isaac Okoronkwo | 1 May 1978 | – | ||
Kelechi Okoye | 1984 | – | ||
Sunday Oliseh | – | |||
Tochukwu Oluehi | 3 June 1988 | |||
Nedum Onuoha | 12 November 1986 | |||
Iffy Onuora | 28 July 1967 | – | ||
Chima Onyeike | 21 June 1975 | – | ||
Obi Onyeike | 25 June 1992 | – | ||
Daniel Onyekachi | 23 August 1985 | – | ||
Oguchi Onyewu | 13 May 1982 | – | [95] | |
Henry Onyekuru | 5 June 1997 | – | ||
Kelechi Osunwa | 15 October 1984 | – | ||
Chioma Ubogagu | 10 September 1992 | – | ||
Ikechukwu Uche | 5 January 1984 | – | ||
Oguchi Uche | 1987 | – | ||
Nduka Ugbade | Former Nigerian football player, first African to lift the world cup | |||
John Ugochukwu | 20 April 1988 | – | ||
Magalan Ugochukwu | 20 June 1990 | – | ||
Ugo Ukah | 18 January 1984 | – | ||
Ejike Uzoenyi | ||||
Eke Uzoma | 19 July 1989 | – | ||
Samuel Chukwueze | 22 May 1999 | – | ||
Carney Chukwuemeka | 20 October 2003 | _ |
Name | Born | Death | Notability | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chika Chukwumerije | 30 December 1983 | – | Olympic silver medallist | |
Anthony Njokuani | 1 March 1980 | – | ||
Jacob Martins Obiorah | 27 March 1974 | – | ||
Chukwuemeka Onyemachi | 28 July 1974 | – |
Life, he says, was always precarious for his parents in Nigeria – they belonged to the Christian Ibo tribe...
A dark-skinned man descended from the Ibo tribe of Nigeria, Reverend Robeson was of medium height with broad shoulders, and had an air of surpassing dignity.
Adichie may not have lived through the civil war, but her imagination seems to have been profoundly molded by it: some of her own Igbo family survived the Nigerian Civil War; others did not.
But even before he became one of the rare Africans in the Phoenix Inn and one of the few blacks living in East L.A., Abani was what he calls "an outsider's outsider." He grew up in small Nigerian cities, the son of an Igbo educator father and a white English-born mother who'd met at Oxford, where she was a secretary and he was a post-doc student. Raised Roman Catholic, Abani studied in the seminary as a teenager.
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has generic name (help)It is understood that Nnamdi and Chijioke represent their family in everything they do, says Nnamdi, and that each accomplishment or each behavior flaw would reflect on the entire family, even relatives in Nigeria. In their Ibo tribal language, Chijioke means "God creates talent" and Nnamdi means "My God is alive."
Her parents came to England from Nigeria in 1980 and the family name means "fighter" in their native Igbo tongue.
From Ohuruogu, "My mum and dad still speak their Igbo dialect which we were never taught. But we know odd words. Like when someone annoys you, you know how to insult them."
My mum and dad are of Nigerian origin and my tribe, the Igbo, is known for being tough, which you have to be in athletics.
My mother had travelled to Nigeria to support my father. She worked as a medic while he fought for Igbo, his ethnic group, in a civil war in which one million people died.
Basketball has never been the top priority, said Pius Okafor, Emeka's father... Pius Okafor arrived in the United States in August 1976 from Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, rich in oil but wracked through the decades by colonialism, military dictatorship, ethnic strife and pervasive corruption. He carried $400 in his pocket and a student visa. Education was paramount in his Ibo ethnic group, he said, and to study overseas meant you were large.
Two of the Super Eagles' top international stars, Arsenal star Nwankwo Kanu and Paris St Germain's Augustine 'Jay-Jay' Okocha are Ibo.