Famous Nigerians Who Are Nnamdi Azikiwe University Notable Alumi

Nnamdi Azikiwe University is one of the long-established federal universities in Nigeria. The university is commonly called Unizik or NAU and is widely known to be in the category of affordable universities in the country. Also, it is recognized as one of the fastest-growing universities in Nigeria with vast teaching experience and accomplished lecturers. Over the years of its existence, the highly esteemed university, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, has produced many remarkable alumni who are thriving in their different career paths.

Brief History Of Nnamdi Azikiwe University

Nnamdi Azikiwe University sprouted from the defunct Anambra State University of Technology (ASUTECH), which had its campuses in Abakaliki, Enugu, Awka, and Nnewi. In 1991, following the split of the old Anambra State into Anambra and Enugu States, the four campuses were merged and named after Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe Azikiwe. Currently, the school has its main campus in Awka and other mini campuses in Nnewi, Agulu, and Ifite Ogwuari.

The school, originally established as a non-profit public higher institution, offers programs and courses such as pre-bachelor degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctorate degrees in diverse areas of study. As earlier mentioned, NAU is one of the most affordable universities in Nigeria, with its range of school fees at N25,000 – N95,000, subject to the choice in different courses of study.

Notable Nigerians Who Are Nnamdi Azikiwe University Alumni

Nnamdi Azikiwe University has produced numerous outstanding and well-established Nigerians. Some of them are making waves in the entertainment industry, while others have also become highly successful in other career paths they chose for themselves. Below are some of the notable Nnamdi Azikiwe University Alumni.

1. Uche Ekwunife

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• Age: 53 years old
• Year of Entry/Graduation: Unknown/2002
• Course of Study: Business Administration
• Career: Politician
• Other Schools Attended: University of Calabar (UNICAL)

Hon. (Chief) Mrs. Uche Lilian Ekwunife was born on 12th December 1970, and she is from Nri in Anaocha Local government Area of Anambra State. She attended her primary and secondary school in Onitsha, Anambra state. Afterward, she proceeded to the University of Calabar to study Business Education/Accounting and graduated with a bachelor of science degree. Given her passion for education, Uche Ekwunife went further to study at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, where she graduated with a master’s degree in Business Administration.

Ekwunife quite practiced the course she studied in the university before going into politics. She was a banker and worked in many Nigerian banks such as Royal Merchant Bank, Equitorial Trust Bank, and the defunct Standard Trust Bank. In her days as a banker, she displayed her administrative and management skills in handling money, which eventually earned her the position of Area Manager at the last bank she worked in, Standard Trust Bank.

However, Uche joined politics in 2007 after she contested for and won a seat as a member of the House of Representatives representing Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia Federal Constituency. Uche Ekwunife has also stood for the Anambra governorship election twice (2010 & 2014) but lost. She is currently one of the Nigerian senators representing Anambra Central Senatorial Zone.

2. Oge Okoye

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• Age: 43 years old
• Year of Entry/Graduation: Unknown
• Course of Study: Theatre Arts
• Career: Actress
• Other Schools Attended: Holy Rosary College, Enugu

Oge Okoye is one of the long-standing top Nollywood actresses who has attained a decent height in her career as an actress. She was born in London on 16th November 1980. Oge had a part of her primary education in London before returning to Lagos, Nigeria. She completed her primary school at University Primary School Enugu before moving to Holy Rosary College. Upon graduation, she enrolled at Nnamdi Azikiwe University for her university education and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts.

Oge Okoye is one of the few actors who started and is still practicing what they studied in the higher institution. She joined Nollywood in 2001 and gained public recognition after she starred in the 2002 movie Spanner alongside Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki). Asides from acting, she is also a movie producer, TV personality, model, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.

3. Zubby Micheal

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• Age: 39 years old
• Year of Entry/Graduation: Unknown
• Course of Study: Mass Communication
• Career: Actor, politician
• Other Schools Attended: Unknown

Azubuike Michael Egwu, professionally known as Zubby Micheal, is a Nollywood veteran thespian and film producer. He was born in Ekwusigo Local Government Area in Anambra State on 1st February 1985 but grew up in Adamawa State, where he completed his primary education. After his secondary school, he got admitted into Nnamdi Azikiwe and graduated with a degree in Mass Communication.

He began acting at a very young age while still in Adamawa but came into prominence in 2007 with his lead role in The Three Widows. He is also one of Nnamdi Azikiwe University alumni who diverted from the course he studied in school into being an actor. However, Zubby has made a name for himself in the industry with numerous achievements and accolades. Asides from acting, he is also a politician. In November 2019, he was appointed the Special Adviser on Media to the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano.

4. Ijeoma Grace Agu

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• Age: 38 years old
• Year of Entry/Graduation: 2002/2007
• Course of Study: Biochemistry
• Career: Actress
• Other Schools Attended: Federal polytechnic Oko, Anambra State

Ijeoma Grace Agu is a Nigerian actress, who started acting in 2007. She was born in Benin city on 16th July 1985. Ijeoma spent her early years in Benin City before moving to Lagos, where she completed her primary and secondary education. Afterward, she got admission to study at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and in 2007, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry.

Ijeoma made her first screen appearance in the TV series, Eldorado, produced by Fidelis Dukker. She came into the limelight in 2014 with the blockbuster movie, Taxi driver, where she played the role of a prostitute, Delia. In a career spanning over a decade, Ijeoma Grace has acted in numerous Nollywood movies, including Women Are Scum, Just Not Married, Beyond Blood, One Room, The Arrangement, Hoodrush, etc. She won the Most Promising Actress award at the Best Of Nollywood Awards in 2014.

5. Rita Orji

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• Age: Unknown
• Year of Entry/Graduation: Unknown
• Course of Study: Computer Science
• Career: Computer Science Professor
• Other Schools Attended: Middle East Technical University, Turkey and University of Saskatchewan, Canada

Dr. Rita Orji is a Nigerian and, interestingly, one of Nnamdi Azikiwe University alumni who has attained success in her career as a computer scientist. She is an internationally acclaimed expert in persuasive technology and behavioral change systems precisely in the department of computer science at Dalhousie University, Canada.

Rita was born to Mr. and Mrs. Maria and Okonkwo Orji in Owelli village, Enugu State, Nigeria. She grew up in her remote hometown, where she did not have any access to a computer. After her primary and secondary education, she got admitted to study Computer Science at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Although Rita’s parents never attended any school, it seems like brilliance runs in their bloodstream. This is evident when Rita graduated with First Class Honours, an uncommon feat that earned her several awards and scholarships.

Rita’s passion for ensuring that women have total access to education birthed Education for Women and the Less Privileged in Nigeria, a non-profit organization that provides scholarships and coaches women in education. Rita has a long list of awards and honors, which she has earned over the course of her career.

5. Mike Ezuruonye

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• Age:41 years old
• Year of Entry/Graduation: Unknown
• Course of Study: Accounting
• Career: Actor, movie producer
• Other Schools Attended: Federal Government College, Wukari, Taraba

Mike Ezuruonye is a famous Nollywood actor and film producer. He was born on 21st September 1982, hails from Abia State, and grew up in Lagos. Mike received his primary education in Lagos before moving to Federal Government College, Wukari, Taraba. He then went on to study at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Accounting.

Mike Ezuruonye briefly made a career of the course he studied before delving into the Nigerian film industry. He worked in a bank for a few years following his graduation. Thereafter, he joined Nollywood through the influence of movie producer, Ruke Amata, who suggested he goes into acting. He had his professional debut in the 2003 movie, Broken Marriage, and since then, his career has been a success. Mike has acted in over 200 Nollywood movies and earned multiple awards.

6. Rita Edochie

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• Age: Unknown
• Year of Entry/Graduation: 1986/1990
• Course of Study: Mass Communication
• Career: Actress
• Other Schools Attended: Unknown

Among the Nnamdi Azikiwe university alumni on the list is another veteran Nigerian actress and Television personality, Rita Edochie. Besides her acting profession, Rita is also trying to make a career in politics. She was born and raised in the southern part of Nigeria, Onitsha, Anambra State. This is the same place she had both her primary and secondary education. Thereafter, she proceeded with her university education at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication.

Before she started acting, Rita worked as a radio presenter at the Anambra State Broadcasting Service (ABS). She started her acting career in 1997 and is well-known for her motherly roles and her ability to cry in movies. Rita Edochie is also from a family of notable Nigerian actors. She is a sister-in-law to Pete Edochie and aunt to Yul Edochie and Linc Edochie. She has won many awards for her success in the industry.

7. Queen Nwokoye

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• Age:41 years old
• Year of Entry/Graduation: Unknown
• Course of Study: Sociology and Anthropology
• Career: Actress
• Other Schools Attended: Queen’s College, Enugu

Queen Nwokoye is a Nigerian actress who got famous after playing the lead role in the 2014 movie, Chetanna. On 11th August 1982, Queen was born into a catholic family in Lagos. She is a native of Ihembosi in Ekwusigo Local Government, Anambra State but had her formative years in Lagos. Her family later moved to Enugu, where she completed her primary and secondary education at Air Force primary school and Queen’s College, respectively. She then proceeded to study Sociology and Anthropology at Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

Queen is one of the many who completely diverted from what she studied in the university into being an actress. She dreamed of becoming a lawyer from the onset but eventually diverted to developing a passion for acting. She started acting in 2004, and since then, Queen has featured in numerous notable Nigerian movies and has many awards in her name.

9. Celestine Iwendi

• Age: 39 years old
• Year of Entry/Graduation: Unknown
• Course of Study: Mass Communication
• Career: Scientist/Researcher
• Other Schools Attended: Uppsala University, Sweden, University of Aberdeen

Celestine Iwendi is a Nigerian Researcher, Community Developer, Philanthropist, and International Speaker in many top conferences and webinars. His research interest covers wireless sensor networks, security of things (SoT), cybersecurity, machine learning, AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), communication controls, electromagnetic machines, low power communication protocols, and 5G networks. Iwendi is an alumnus of Nnamdi Azikiwe University,  having graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1998 and a Master of Science degree in 2002.

10. Ebube Nwagbo

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• Age: 41 years old
• Year of Entry/Graduation: Unknown
• Course of Study: Mass Communication
• Career: Actress
• Other Schools Attended: Federal polytechnic Oko, Anambra state

Nigerian actress Ebube Nwagbo has become a well-established name in the Nigerian movie industry. Ebube grew up in Warri, Delta State, but she was born in Umuchu, Anambra State, on 24th February 1983. After her primary and secondary education in Warri, she first obtained a National Diploma (OND) in Mass Communication from Federal Polytechnic Oko before proceeding to Nnamdi Azikiwe University, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in the same course.

Ebube Nwagbo started acting in 2003 and has starred in several successful movies. Today, she is a comfortable A-list actress and so does no longer scuffle for fame. She is one of the highest-paid actresses in the Nigerian film industry who charges nothing less than two million Naira to appear in a movie. Moreover, she is one of the most influential actresses in Nigeria, which has earned her so much love and an acceptable fan base.