British Nigerians

History

Nigerians have formed long-established communities in London, Liverpool and other industrial cities. The earliest known Nigerian presence in London took place over 200 years ago as a direct result of the transatlantic slave trade. Olaudah Equiano, born in what is now Nigeria and a former slave, lived in London and was involved in the debate that occurred in Britain over the abolition of the slave trade.

Like many other former British colonies, Nigeria has been a large source of immigrants to the United Kingdom. Prior to Nigerian independence from Britain, gained in 1960, many Nigerians studied in the UK along with other countries such as Australia and the United States; with the majority returning to Nigeria upon completion of their higher education. In the 1960s, civil and political unrest in Nigeria contributed to many refugees migrating to Britain, along with skilled workers.

Nigerians emigrated in larger numbers in the 1980s, following the collapse of the petroleum boom. This wave of migration has been more permanent than the pre-independence wave of temporary migration. Asylum applications from Nigerians peaked in 1995, when the repression associated with the military dictatorship of Sani Abacha was at its height.

In 2015, Britain's Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner expressed concerns about the extent of contemporary slavery involving Nigerians smuggled to the UK. Of more than 2,000 potential victims of human trafficking referred to the National Crime Agency in 2014, 244 were from Nigeria. This represented a 31 per cent increase on 2013's figure. According to the BBC, "Campaigners believe the real figure of potential trafficking victims from Nigeria could be much higher".

Demographics

Population

The 2001 UK Census recorded 88,378 Nigerian-born people resident in the UK. The 2011 Census recorded 191,183 Nigerian-born residents in England and Wales. The censuses of Scotland and Northern Ireland recorded 9,458 and 543 Nigerian-born residents respectively. More recent estimates by the Office for National Statistics put the figure at 215,000 in 2019.

A Council of Europe report gives a figure of 100,000 Nigerians in the UK but suggests that this is likely to be an underestimate since it does not include irregular migrants or children born outside of Nigeria. Similarly, Nigerians with citizenship of another EU member state who then relocated to the UK are not necessarily included in this estimate. The report suggests to multiply the figure by between 3 and 8 to reflect the size of the Nigerian community in the UK.

Distribution

The UK's largest concentration of Nigerians is found in the capital city, London. The 2001 census found that Peckham was the home to the largest overseas Nigerian community in the UK, with 7% of the population of the Peckham census tract having been born in Nigeria. Many of the local establishments are Yoruba and Igbo owned. Nigerian churches and mosques can be found in the area. As immigrants have become assimilated, English has always been the predominant language of the local Nigerian British population as English is the main spoken language in Nigeria. The Yoruba language and the Igbo language are declining in use in the Peckham area despite the growing Nigerian population of Igbo and Yoruba descent. Outside London and South East England, the 2001 census recorded the largest Nigerian-born communities in the East of England and the North West.

Citizenship

Below is a table showing how many Nigerians were granted British citizenship and the right of abode in the period 1998 to 2008.

Language

In England and Wales in 2011, 14,914 people (0.03% of all residents aged three and over) spoke Yoruba as a main language, 7,946 (0.01%) spoke Igbo and 6,639 (0.01%) spoke other Nigerian languages. In London, 10,119 people (0.13% of all residents aged three and over) spoke Yoruba as a main language, 5,252 (0.07%) people spoke Igbo and 3,577 (0.05%) spoke other Nigerian languages. However, in the most recent population census of 2021, Igbo speaking population in England and Wales has increased significantly to 11,074 https://x.com/OKWU_ID/status/1726952591308025986 making Igbo the most spoken Nigerian language in the area.

Education

According to the Institute for Public Policy Research, Nigerian pupils are among best performing student groups in the United Kingdom. Taking data for only England, a 2013 IPPR survey reported that the proportion of British Nigerian pupils gaining 5 A*–C grades at GCSE (including Maths and English) in 2010–2011 was 21.8 percentage points higher than the England mean of 59.6 per cent. This average was calculated using student data, where available, from various local authorities in England.

The number of Nigerian pupils at British private schools is growing. In November 2013, The Spectator noted that Nigerians, along with Russians, "are now the fastest-growing population in British private schools". In 2013, the number of entrants to private schools from Nigeria increased by 16 per cent.

According to Higher Education Statistics Agency data, 17,620 students from Nigeria were studying at British public higher education institutions in the academic year 2011–12. This made them the third largest country-of-origin group behind students from China and India. Of the 17,620, 6,500 were undergraduates, 9,620 taught postgraduates and 1,500 research postgraduates.

Research by Euromonitor International for the British Council indicates that in 2010, the majority (66 per cent) of Nigerian foreign students attended universities in the UK. The students are mainly drawn to these institutions' English language academic system. Their time studying in Britain is also facilitated by an established and large Nigerian community and by "the relative proximity of the UK to Nigeria".

Notable British Nigerians

Nigerian citizens of British descent

• Caroline Danjuma, actress
• Eku Edewor, actress
• John Godwin and Gillian Hopwood, architects
• Lola Maja, makeup artist
• Sir Nicholas Mostyn, judge
• SHiiKANE, girl group
• Alan Vaughan-Richards, architect
• Remi Vaughan-Richards, filmmaker

British citizens of Nigerian descent

• Steven Bartlett, entrepreneur
• Nabil Abdulrashid, comedian
• Charles Abani, International development professional
• Abiola Aderibigbe, British-Nigerian lawyer
• Brian Belo, Celebrity and Big Brother Winner
• Tammy Abraham, footballer
• Timmy Abraham, footballer
• Dupsy Abiola, entrepreneur
• Chioma Nnadi, editor
• Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, writer
• Chizzy Akudolu, actress
• Fisayo Adarabioyo, footballer
• Tosin Adarabioyo, footballer
• Diran Adebayo, novelist
• Dotun Adebayo, journalist and presenter
• Elijah Adebayo, footballer
• Cynthia Erivo, actress
• Victor, Lord Adebowale, peer
• Adelayo Adedayo, actress
• Amaka Okafor, actress
• Adegbenga Adejumo, dubstep musician known as Benga
• Abu-Abdullah Adelabu, cleric, scholar and publisher
• Julie Adenuga, radio presenter and host
• Gabriel Agbonlahor, footballer
• Ola Aina, footballer
• Kayode Ajulo, lawyer and arbitrator
• Eniola Aluko, footballer
• Sone Aluko, footballer
• Tolu Akinyemi (Poetolu), writer
• Abimbola Afolami, MP
• Kriss Akabusi, athlete
• Moyo Akandé, actress
• Adebayo Akinfenwa, footballer
• Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, actor
• Dele Alli, footballer
• John Amaechi, basketball player and psychologist
• Sammy Ameobi, footballer
• Shola Ameobi, footballer
• Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, nurse and professor of nursing
• Joe Aribo, footballer
• OG Anunoby, basketball player
• Matthew Ashimolowo, clergyman
• Zach Awe, footballer
• Richard Ayoade, actor and comedian of Norwegian and Nigerian descent
• Femi Azeez, footballer
• Miguel Azeez, footballer
• Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)
• Adejoké Bakare, Michelin Star chef and restauranteur
• Ashley Madekwe, actress
• Tunde Baiyewu, singer
• Dame Shirley Bassey, singer
• Rapman, record producer
• Sarah Forbes Bonetta, Yoruba princess, goddaughter to Queen Victoria
• John Boyega, actor
• Tobi Brown, YouTuber and member of the Sidemen
• Caleb Chukwuemeka, footballer
• Carney Chukwuemeka, footballer
• Carlton Cole, footballer of Nigerian and Sierra Leonean descent
• Tosin Cole, actor
• Taio Cruz, singer
• Dave, rapper
• Victoria Davies Randle, Yoruba princess, goddaughter to Queen Victoria
• Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, footballer
• Tom Dele-Bashiru, footballer
• Sope Dirisu, actor
• Dizzee Rascal, grime artist
• Ugo Ehiogu, footballer
• Chiwetel Ejiofor, actor
• Carmen Ejogo, actress
• Buchi Emecheta, author
• Olaudah Equiano, explorer, writer, merchant and abolitionist
• Florence Eshalomi, MP
• Bernardine Evaristo, author and Booker Prize winner
• Eberechi Eze, footballer
• John Fashanu, footballer
• Justin Fashanu, footballer
• Helen Grant, MP
• Saffron Hocking, actress
• Vick Hope, television and radio presenter
• AJ Odudu, television and radio presenter
• Gbemisola Ikumelo, actress
• Anne-Marie Imafidon, child prodigy
• Maro Itoje, rugby union player
• Alex Iwobi, footballer
• NneNne Iwuji-Eme, Britain's first black female ambassador
• JME, grime artist
• Hannah John-Kamen, actor of Norwegian and Nigerian descent
• Anthony Joshua, professional boxer
• Joe Joyce, professional boxer
• Cush Jumbo, actress, writer
• Hakeem Kae-Kazim, actor
• Samson Kayo, actor
• Eman Kellam, television presenter and actor
• KSI, YouTube personality, rapper and professional boxer
• Lemar, singer
• Ademola Lookman, footballer
• Archie Madekwe, actor
• Noni Madueke, footballer
• Chuku Modu, actor
• Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, 2007–present
• Ugo Monye, rugby player
• Victor Moses, footballer
• Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, lawyer, activist and political commentator
• Jamal Musiala, footballer of British-Nigerian and German descent
• Mikel John Obi, footballer
• Beno Obano, rugby player
• Esther Odekunle, neurobiologist and antibody engineer
• Chris Ofili, artist
• Michelle Ogundehin, television presenter
• Adebayo Ogunlesi, investment banker
• Christine Ohuruogu, athlete
• Victoria Ohuruogu, track athlete
• Femi Oke, journalist
• Kele Okereke, musician
• Lawrence Okolie, professional boxer
• Sophie Okonedo, actress
• Arthur Okonkwo, footballer
• Deji Olatunji, YouTuber
• Sir Ken Olisa, investment banker and businessman
• Michael Olise, footballer
• Eunice Olumide, broadcaster, actress, supermodel
• David Olusoga, historian
• Fiona Onasanya, MP
• Dame Chi Onwurah, MP
• Kate Osamor, MP
• Martha, Baroness Osamor, peer
• David Oyelowo, actor
• Abiodun Oyepitan, athlete
• Helen Oyeyemi, writer
• Annie Yellowe Palma, author
• Ashleigh Plumptre, footballer
• Hal Robson-Kanu, footballer
• Sade, singer
• Bukayo Saka, footballer
• Seal, singer
• Yinka Shonibare, artist
• Skepta, grime artist
• Damilola Taylor, murder victim
• Tinie Tempah, rap artist
• Daley Thompson, Olympian
• Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu, nano-particle researcher and academic
• Chuka Umunna, MP
• Reece Wabara, footballer and businessman
• Lola, Baroness Young, peer

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