5 Nigerian celebrities born on Independence Day

As Nigeria celebrates its 57th independence, we cant but recognize some celebrities in our country who were born in 1960, our year of independence.

These people have not just done well for themselves but they have been able to put Nigeria on the map for their achievements in their various fields.

1. Lagbaja

Lagbaja is a multi-award winning Afrobeat musician, singer, and songwriter. He was born in 1960 in Lagos state but hails from Kwara state. Lagbaja is known for his style of dressing which includes a mask on his face. His first album titled "Lagbaja" was released to National acclaim in 1993. Over the years and more albums later, the music continues to fascinate with its unique focus on a core of African drums.

In March 1997, he established his club called “Motherland” in the heart of Ikeja in Lagos. He won the Best Male Video for his “Never Far Away” video at the 2006 Channel O Music Video Awards.

2. Dele Momodu

The media mogul was born on May 16, 1960. Dele Momodu is a journalist/publisher, businessman, philanthropist, actor, and motivational speaker. He is the CEO and publisher of Ovation International, a magazine that has given publicity to people from all over the world, mainly in Africa.

A graduate of University of Ife, (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) 1982, Dele Momodu holds a degree in Yoruba and a master's degree in English Literature (1988).

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3. Christy Essien-Igbokwe

Christy Essie-Igbokwe was a Nigerian musician and actress. She was born on November 11, 1960, in Okat, Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. In 1976 she joined the cast of the 'The New Masquerade'. Her role as "Akpenor", the wife of the cantankerous character, "Jegede Sokoya" on that popular show put her in the limelight and in 1977 she launched a professional music career. Also known as "Nigeria's Lady of Songs", Christy is popularly known for her hit song back in the days, "Seun Rere".

She was the first female president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN). She later went on to win many awards both locally and internationally. Christy Essien-Igbokwe passed away on June 30, 2011.

4. Bright Chimezie

Bright Chimezie was born on October 1, 1960, in the Eastern part of Nigeria. He is a musician who rose to prominence in the 1980s because of his unique style of music known as "Zigima Sound."

Bright Chimezie used his unique style of music to revolutionize the musical structure in Nigeria with lyrics that focused on social issues in the country in a rather funny way.

5. Tade Ogidan

Tade Ogidan is a Nigerian film and television screenwriter, producer and director. He was born in July 1960 in Lagos state, Nigeria. Ogidan attended Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, NM, USA. He later completed a short stint at the State University of New York, in Buffalo, NY, USA.

He started his career with the Nigeria Television Authority as a youth corper and rose to become a full-time Producer/Director with NTA Channel 10 after service year. He later left the services of NTA to form a private company, OGD Pictures. He has since written, produced and directed hit movie projects like Hostages, Owo Blow, Diamond Ring, Out Of Bounds, Raging Storm, 7 – 12, Playing Games, Saving Alero, Dangerous Twins, Madam Dearest, Ayo Mi Da and Family On Fire, most of which are multiple award-winners in and outside Nigeria.