In recent years, the narrative of success in the United States has been increasingly enriched by the stories of Nigerians who have risen to prominence across various fields.
From the bustling streets of New York City to the tech hubs of Silicon Valley, Nigerian immigrants and their descendants are carving out their own paths and achieving remarkable feats.
In this article, WoA delves into the inspiring journeys of Nigerians who have made it big in the U.S., highlighting their achievements.
1. Kelechi Anyadiegwu
Kelechi Anyadiegwu is a Nigerian-American entrepreneur and the founder of Zuvaa.com, an online marketplace for African-inspired fashion.
She holds a master’s degree in human-computer interaction from Carnegie Mellon University.
Kelechi launched Zuvaa in 2013 to address the lack of accessible African fashion, inspired by her cultural roots.
She was recognized in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for retail and e-commerce in 2016.
2. Kunbi Tinuoye
Kinbu Tinuoye is associated with Kintara Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company based in San Diego, California.
Kintara focuses on developing innovative cancer therapies, particularly for unmet medical needs.
Their key projects include VAL-083, a chemotherapeutic agent for glioblastoma, and REM-001, a photodynamic therapy for cutaneous metastatic breast cancer.
Both therapies are in late-stage clinical development, with promising efficacy and safety profiles demonstrated in prior trials.
3. Sam Udotong
Sam Udotong is a Nigerian-American entrepreneur and the Co-founder and CTO of Fireflies.ai, a startup that automates meeting transcription and note-taking using artificial intelligence.
He studied Computer Science and Aerospace Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Udotong moved to San Francisco in 2016 with only $100, initially launching a failed food delivery app before pivoting to Fireflies.ai, which has since raised over $14 million in funding.
He is also a guest lecturer at Stanford and has held engineering roles at Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
4. Chinedu Echeruo
Chinedu Echeruo is a prominent Nigerian-American serial entrepreneur based in New York.
He founded HopStop in 2005, a travel app acquired by Apple in 2013, which enhanced Apple Maps’ functionality.
Echeruo also co-founded Tripology, a travel referral platform, and currently leads the Love & Magic Company, focusing on innovative startups that empower disadvantaged communities.
Recognized by Forbes as one of the “10 Most Powerful People in Africa,” he holds an MBA from Harvard and a BS from Syracuse University, advocating for imagination-driven entrepreneurship.
5. Toyin Kolawole
Toyin Kolawole is the founder and CEO of Iya Foods, a company based in Illinois that specializes in introducing West African flavors to American cuisine.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, she grew up immersed in entrepreneurship, helping her family with various businesses.
After earning her MBA from Northwestern University, she launched Iya Foods in 2015, focusing on gluten-free products inspired by her heritage.
The company has gained popularity for its innovative offerings, including sweet corn and coconut cornbread mix, and has expanded significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
6. Jessica O. Matthews
Jessica O. Matthews is the Founder and CEO of Uncharted Power, a sustainable infrastructure company that integrates technology into urban environments.
She gained recognition for inventing the SOCCKET, an energy-generating soccer ball, at age 19.
Matthews has received numerous accolades, including being named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and ringing the NASDAQ opening bell.
A dual citizen of Nigeria and the U.S., she holds degrees in Psychology and Economics from Harvard University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
In 2021, she was appointed to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Electricity Advisory Committee.
7. Dehlia Umunna
Dehlia Umunna is a Clinical Professor of Law and Deputy Director at Harvard Law School’s Criminal Justice Institute.
Born in London in 1973 to Nigerian and Sierra Leonean parents, she holds a BA in Communications from California State University, a JD from George Washington University, and an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School.
Umunna has extensive experience as a public defender and is recognized for her work on criminal law, mass incarceration, and race issues.
She made history as the first Nigerian professor at Harvard Law in 2015 and actively mentors law students in legal representation.
8. Abbey Wemimo
Wemimo Abbey is a Nigerian-American entrepreneur and the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Esusu, a fintech company that helps low- to moderate-income households build credit through rent reporting.
Growing up in Lagos, he faced financial challenges that inspired him to create solutions for financial inclusion.
Abbey has a B.S. from the University of Minnesota and an M.P.A. from NYU.
He has been recognized on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list and is a recipient of various awards for his contributions to social entrepreneurship and equity in finance.
9. Tope Awotona
Tope Awotona is a Nigerian-American entrepreneur and the founder of Calendly, a widely-used scheduling software platform.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1981, he immigrated to the U.S. at age 15 after his father’s tragic death.
Awotona graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Management Information Systems.
After working in various tech roles, he launched Calendly in 2013, addressing frustrations with scheduling meetings.
The company has since grown to over 20 million users and is valued at approximately $3 billion, making Awotona one of the wealthiest immigrants in America with a net worth of $1.2 billion.
10. Makinde Adeagbo
Makinde Adeagbo is a Nigerian-American software engineer and entrepreneur, known for founding /dev/color, a nonprofit organization aimed at supporting Black software engineers.
He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a degree in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.
Adeagbo has worked at major tech companies, including Facebook, Dropbox, and Pinterest, where he contributed to significant projects.
His passion for technology and community-building drives his mission to enhance opportunities for Black professionals in tech, addressing systemic barriers in the industry.
