The relentless Nigerian spirit came to the fore as this week closes with Nigerians topping the ladder in all of their endeavours both locally and internationally. First, a Nigerian girl, Ruth Inomina was commissioned in the US Military as a Second Lieutenant. This was made known via a LinkedIn post by another Nigerian who was celebrating the outstanding achievement of the young lady. According to the post, the newly commissioned officer is a US Marine. The US Marine Corps is the elite, rapid response branch of the US Armed Forces whose various units are at all time prepared for a wide range of actions from humanitarian to combat missions. The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations with the United States Navy as well as the Army and Air Force. The U.S. Marine Corps is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States.

Another Nigerian,Dr. Ifeanyi Obi, had been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor in Construction and Technology.  The Nigerian scholar, who has an affiliation with The American University of Cyprus., made this known on his LinkedIn page celebrating how he defied a prophetic statement to go into academics climbing the ladder so quickly. Obi has also built an App, “Obi Soft” which is used to measure the sick building syndrome in Residential Apartments. Obi holds a PhD in Architecture and Construction Management. He teaches Building Components and Structures, Architectural Programming, Digital Design Presentation and Mathematics for Architects.

It was the Nigerian day again at the just concluded Tech Times African Influencer Award as Nigerians dominated all the categories carting away available awards. It was the Nigerian entrepreneur funding chief, Tony Elumelu, who first put the country on the list of winners claiming the platinum award with 5,838 votes out of 7, 266 votes for the category. The rain of awards continued with the Canadian based Nigerian Computer Science professor, Rita Orji, clinching the Top Voice Award with  4,817 votes closely followed by Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, who polled 3,292 votes while Nada Nayhi, a Moroccan LinkedIn influencer, had 2,640 to come third in the category. In the CEO award category, Kola Oyeneyin topped the list with 8,886 votes to lead Darsha Chandara and Toyin Sanni who had 6,475 and 2,808 votes respectively.

For the Company Executive awards, Lady Shayo Imologome, Oluseyi Olanrewaju and Maryam Abisola Adefarati shone brightly with 6,435, 5,157 and 3,354 votes in that order. The LinkedIn  Nigerian achievers content creator, Samuel Aboki led the duo of Stephen Angbulu and Faith Nwaobia to clinch the Content Creators award category. 

The trio of Mohammed Ibrahim Jega, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji and Samuel Ajiboyede were the Nigerian Entrepreneurs who emerged in the Entrepreneurs category with 5,502, 5,005 and 3,022 votes accordingly. For Health and Medicine, two Nigerians, Dr. Cassandra Akinde and Ola Brown, had the Kenyan mHealth Founder , Dr. Cathy Mwangi, separating them occupying the first and third positions respectively. Akinde had 2,948 to lead Mwangi and Brown who polled 2,803 and 2,222 votes. In the HR/Recruiter category, it was a purely Nigerian affair with  Taiwo Dayo-Abatan who had 10,774 votes leading two other compatriots, Kemi Onadiran and Yemi Faseun who polled 8,590 and 2,087 votes in that order, Sam Adeyemi, a longstanding life coach and who pastors the Daystar Christian Centre was the winner of the Life/Business Coach category. He had 5,571 votes to lead Gbenga Adebambo (2,337) and Lanre Olusola (1,725).

The Tech Times Africa Influencer Award is Africa’s largest and most prestigious accolades for the most influential personalities in the African LinkedIn community. The Award is designed to identify and recognize those outstanding personalities and project their achievements to the African society and the world at large.