Chinua Achebe (1930-)

Professor Chinua Achebe is undoubtedly one of the best known novelist in the world writing in the English language today.  Although best known for his world classic, Things Fall Apart, he is the author of five major works, including Anthills of the Savannah and Hopes  and impediments.  Winner of several literary prizes, he has been honored with degrees by eleven universities , worldwide.  He was awarded the NNOM in 1979.

Taslim Olawale Elias (1930-92)

Jurist, Educationist and Administration, Professor Elias was widely acclaimed as a legal giant,known worldwide for his contribution to the development  of legal practice in Nigeria. He was Federal Minister of Justice (1960-66) and Attorney-General of Nigeria (1960-72).  His Nigerian Land Law remains the most authoritative study of this area of the Law.  He was appointed Judge, international Court of Justice at the Hague in 1972 and became it's president from 1982-85.  He was awarded the NNOM in 1979.

Thomas Adeoye Lambo (1923-)

Neuropsychiatrist and Administrator, Professor Lambo became a leading authority in Africa medicine by developing an original approach to mental healthcare based on the use of herbs.  His contributions earned him the position of Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organization in 1973, an OBE in 1962 and the Haile Sellasie Research Award in 1977. The fomer vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan is the founder and propriety of the Lambo Foundation   Clinixcal Centre in Lagos.  He was awarded the NNOM in 1979

Abubakar Imam (1911-1981)

Writer, Teacher, Educationist and translator, Imam was an influential man of letters regarded as a founding father of  "Northern Consciousness".  He wrote 17 books of fiction, history and miscellaneous works in the Hausa language.  He edited Gaskiya Tofi Kwabo,  (the first Hausa language newspaper) from 1948 to 1951 and won the Margaret Wrong Memorial Scholarship in 1962 for distinguished scholarship in authorship and journalism.  He was awarded the NNOM in 1979.