Ijaws Who Made Ijaw Nation Proud in 2024

Ijaws Who Made Ijaw Nation Proud in 2024

Ijaw nation is no doubt blessed with multi-talented sons and daughters across differing fields of endeavour.

Not only are they hardworking in their chosen career paths, but many amongst them have gone ahead to not only distinguish themselves but bring glory to motherland.

ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!

In this edition of Ijaws Who Made Ijaw Nation Proud, we narrow the spotlight on 16 sons and daughters who excelled and put Ijaw nation on the global map.

The list below consists of individuals in sports, entertainment, politics, media, philanthropy, and humanitarian services.

Here we go.

<!––nextpage––>

1. MC Kidikidi – Comedy
When you think of an event filled with laughter, energy, and pure joy, one name stands out; MC Kidikidi.

Born Bluebird Timipre Divine, MC Kididi hails from Ndoro communitiy in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Since bursting into the scene by winning the Ozigizaga Dance Competition hosted by GbaramatuVoice, Kidikidi has gone ahead to light every stage he has mounted with his unique blend of comedy and dance.

As the publication puts it, “MC Kidikidi is not just a performer; he’s an experience. His ability to transform any event, no matter the occasion, into a celebration of fun is truly unmatched. He proudly represents the spirit of our (Ijaw) heritage, bringing fun and culture to the forefront of every performance.”

Kidikidi has gone on to perform in virtually every major occasion that bears affinity to Ijaws. No matter the size or nature of the event, his performances are always electrified with pure joy, laughter, and fulfilment.

Whether he is cracking jokes or performing his signature dance routines, Kididkidi embodies a wave of positivity that uplifts everyone around him.

There are no arguments that MC was a delight for everyone who came across him to behold in 2024.

Other worthy mentions in this category include Big Eye Comedy and MC Erepi, who continue to hone their craft to show resourcefulness.
<!––nextpage––>

2. Deborah Quickpen – Kid Chess Player

Teenage chess sensation, Ebimoboere Deborah Quickpen is obviously the youngest entrant on this list.

The Bayelsa- born athlete is the current Nigeria National Women’s Chess Champion, making her the youngest person to hold that title in Nigerian chess history.

Quickpen is also the number rated kid chess player in Africa and ranked 3rd in the world by International Chess Federation (FIDE) ranking.

She holds the Woman Candidate Master title awarded by FIDE to players who are strong candidates for becoming masters, becoming the youngest female Nigerian to claim the title.

At just age 13, Quickpen is already a multiple gold medalist, Nigerians and Africa’s champion with multiple records broken and set.

Miss Quickpen’s memorable 2024 also saw her battle the revered Tunde Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, who is arguably the new face of Nigerian chess.

The three-hour game ended in a 4-4 stalemate with Onakoya triumphing 3-1 in the Rapid Game, while Quickpen attained the same scoreline in the Blitz Game

While the match was merely an exhibition game for Quickpen ahead of the FIDE Chess World Cup in Georgia, the child star was grateful for the opportunity to face off with a global icon in Onakoya

She has played against the best of the best in chess. She has conquered Nigeria, conquered Africa, and will be taking the world by storm in no time.

Yet, another Ijaw star on the rise to global dominance.
<!––nextpage––>

3. Kestin Pondi – Humanitarian Services

High Chief Kestin Pondi is one name that remained stuck on the lips of Nigerians in 2024.

The Managing Director Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s new face of pipeline surveillance, took philanthropy and humanitarian services to new heights never reached.

From building a new house for a disabled guitarist to footing gigantic medical bills and widespread investments on human capital, Pondi turned out to be the face of philanthropy in the Niger Delta for 2024.

His humanitarian interventions earned him several national awards in the year under view.

Other worthy mentions in this category include the youthful trio of Gifted Natus, Goodluck Joel, and Solomon Charles Ikpaka, who have all contributed to the betterment of the larger Ijaw community with their benevolence.
<!––nextpage––>

4. Ball Boy Tonye – Soccer Juggler

Bayelsa ball juggler, Tonye Solomon, foldly called Ball Boy, enters this list via a field rarely appreciated across the African continent.

Born Tonye Solomon, the Okordia-born football juggler, set a Guinness World Record for swimming across a river while balancing a ball on his head.

Initially surpassing the Russian record by one minute, he persevered and successfully set a new record of thirty-seven minutes, showcasing his resilience as a Niger Delta Youth.

In his certificate, Guinness World Record stated “Longest time treading water while balancing a ball on his head is 24 mins 34 secs, and was achieved by Tonye Solomon (Nigeria) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on 27th September, 2024.

In 2023, Tonye also registered his name in the global book of reckoning for successfully climbing a mast with a record 149 steps to win the record of “The Greatest Distance Travelled With the Football Balanced On The Head”.

Tonye is yet again targeting another record of walking on rope with a soccer ball on the head.

Global star aplenty in Ijaw.
<!––nextpage––>

5. Burna Boy – Afrobeats

Burna Boy enters this list for the second consecutive year after emerging the standout entrant for 2023.

Real names Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu MFR, the Ahoada-born African Giant, had a groundbreaking 2024.

Despite not releasing a single or an album for the year under view, Burna received 7 certifications, sold out major arenas in the world, headlined 2 world festivals, and more.

Odogwu began the year with a thrilling performance at the Grammy Award ceremony.

Burna Boy accumulated over 1.75 billion streams on Spotify in 2024, making him the most streamed African artist of 2024!

He was also number on the list of most streamed artistes on Audiomack.

The Grammy award winner was named on Time Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people of 2024.

“Burna boy has made that vision a global reality. He became the first African artist to sell out a U.S. stadium, and in 2024, he became the first Afrobeats artist to sing at the Grammys, “Time Magazine said.

Burna Boy was also the most streamed Nigerian artist in the United States and the United Kingdom on YouTube Music in 2024 with 115 million streams and 55 million streams, respectively.

Obviously, 2024 was also a year of Burna Boy!
<!––nextpage––>
6. Big Eye Comedy – Skits

If this list was about crowning the best in each category, Big Eye Comedy would wear the crown.

The Bayelsa-based comic group is perhaps the most impactful Iiaws in this field in 2024.

From Yenagoa to the rest of Ijaw nation, Big Eye Comedy also mounted several stages in the past year.

The combination of Chief Osa, Chief Ekpede, and Iwiri has created laughter for many Ijaws and households with their craft.

7. Bayelsa State Council for Arts and Culture – Culture and Tourism

The Bayelsa State Council for Arts and Culture is unarguably the who took the responsibility of exporting Ijaw culture to the highest levels in 2024.

From touring round Nigeria to thrilling performances abroad, this award winning dance troupe portrayed their cultural roots with grace, vigour, passion, and joy on every stage.

With typical matching Ijaw attires and breathtaking dance moves, the Bayelsa State Council for Arts and Culture leaves every spectator drooling for more at the twilight of every outing.

The Council is undoubtedly unrivalled in the aspects of promoting Ijaw culture and tourism in the year under view.
<!––nextpage––>

8. Simi Fubara – Politics

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of River State could pass for the Ijaw son who overcame the biggest career challenges in 2024.

Since assuming office as governor in May 2023, Fubara has had little to no breath of fresh air in office.

The Federal Capital Territory Minister,Nyesom Wike, who fought tooth and nail to ensure Fubara emerged governor, has turned out to be the Opobo-born politician’s greatest bottleneck.

From attempts to getting kicked out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to getting assaulted by police officers to an ambush by the Rivers State Assembly members, opposition of Local Government chairmen, stopping monthly allocations from the federal government and more, Fubara saw it all and overcame it all.

Though Fubara enjoyed support from his brethren in and out of Rivers State, his guts and will to defend his mandate against a fierce rival like Wike is by every means praiseworthy.

Fubara’s unbowing resolve has won the hearts of many stakeholders across boarders and is without arguments, the greatest political performer across Ijaw land in 2024.

This is giving Fubara his flowers for remaining fearless in the face of a tyrant and dictator.
<!––nextpage––>

9. Jking Alfred Ezonebi – Music

While Ijaw Nation is blessed with an array of music stars across major genres, Jking Alfred Ezonebi stood out from the rest in the Owigiri section.

Stage after stage, performance after performance, city after city and town after town, the Ndoro and Torugbene-born star owned every moment.

No gainsaying this one.

Ezonebi brought joy to Ijaws with his music and energetic performances in 2024.

If there is a man for every stage, it is Ezonebi.
<!––nextpage––>
10. Jacob Abai – Media

One man who pioneered the production of Ijaw driven content in the aspects of culture and tourism is Jacob Abai, the name behind GbaramatuVoice International.

Since its launch in 2015, Abai has guided the publication into nothing short of a place among elite media organizations in Nigeria.

Abai’s purposeful leadership has catapulted the GbaramatuVoice brand to eagle heights in the Niger Delta, bagging the Indigenous Media Brand of The Year at the Proudly Ijaw National Merit Award ‘PRINMA AWARD 7.0’.

<!––nextpage––>
11. Boma Iluma – Movies

Bayelsa-born, young Iluma shone brightly in the global entertainment industry by making it into Forbes list of 30 Influential Movie Directors for 2025.

A native of Emeyal Town in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the 29-year-old is a graduate of the University of Southern California.

Boma is a Nigerian-raised director and writer whose work spans multiple disciplines and has enjoyed a meteoric rise since bursting into the creative scene in 2020.

His narrative short film “Comfort” premiered at Tribeca Film Festival 2021, was acquired by Amazon Prime Video, and was later exhibited at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art.

In 2021, Boma won the Young Guns 19 Award and was tapped by Roman Coppola to direct a segment of “The Seven Faces of Jane.”

In 2022, Boma Iluma became the youngest director in Showtime’s history after his episodic TV debut on “The Chi.”

He has also directed music videos for clients, including Camila Cabello and Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment.

His journey from the heart of Bayelsa to the global stage is a shining example of what the Ijaw community can achieve.

He reminds other Ijaw youths that with passion, resilience, and dedication, the world is within reach.

<!––nextpage––>
12. Wizard Chan – Afro-Teme

Fuayefika Maxwell, but best known professionally as ‘ WIZARD CHAN ’ is a Nigerian songwriter and music producer.

Few among many Nigerian song stars with an alternate sound, the Native Doctor reigns with his own spirit-themed Afro-Teme sound.

Still widely regarded as a newcomer, the Okrika-born star was a delight to listen to not for just Ijaws but Nigerians and the global music space.

His hit single, Big Masquerade, remains a trending sound on TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms.

Even before winning the Best Alternate Song at the Headies and Galaxy Music Awards in 2023 with Earth Song, WIZARD Chan had made a name for himself abroad.

His first official single, ‘Halo Halo,’ was released in 2020, and the Ijaw boy has never looked back since.

2025 is another year to look out for the Time Traveler.
<!––nextpage––>
13. Rene Wakama – Basketball

Earstwhile basketball player turned coach, Rene Wakama is the second woman on this list.

The coach of the Nigeria women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, Rena Wakama, made historic highlights in 2024.

She was named the Women Best Coach at the Paris 2024 Olympics by the International Basketball Federation( FIBA) following an incredible campaign.

The recognition by FIBA is a testament to Wakama’s exceptional leadership and tactical prowess, which propelled Nigeria to unprecedented heights at the Olympic Games.

At 32, Wakama masterminded an incredible Nigerian run, leading D’Tigress to become the first African country to qualify for the quarterfinals.

Her team’s remarkable journey was marked by unforgettable victories over World Number 3 Australia and World Number 5 Canada.

Wakama’s coaching expertise and strategic brilliance were on full display as D’Tigress pushed the USA to the limit in the quarterfinals, ultimately bowing out after a gallant display.

Her achievement was described as a landmark moment for Nigerian basketball and a proud milestone for African sports.

The Okrika-born lady is now regarded as a pathway to pave the way for more female coaches across Africa.
<!––nextpage––>

14. Tokoni Iderima – Founder

Tokoni Joseph Iderima is the founder of the popular and by far the biggest football discussion platform across social media in Africa, the Football Fans Tribe.

A graduate of Computer Science and Mathematics from Rivers State University, Tokoni launched Football Fans Tribe in 2019, from a position of relating to the passion of football fans in Nigeria, which was untapped

Born and raised in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he hails from, Iderima established Football Fans Tribe to give fans a sense of belonging in the football value chain, whether at local viewing centres, stadiums or at other venues where the game comes to the fore, with such idea unexplored in Africa before now.

“Football Fans Tribe was birthed with a vision of bringing together Nigeria’s brimming Football community to a common ground where every fan finds a common ground to easily communicate, celebrate, banter and enjoy what football Fandom brings” Tokoni told Leadership in an interview in October 2024.

Fans Tribe has continued to be a fans’ delight by way of the platform’s swift analytical releases, engagement, and banters on football.

Tokoni made headlines in December for chanting Asawana during the 2024 CAF Awards in Maraakeh, Morocco.

<!––nextpage––>
15. Timini Egbuson
2020 Best Actor in a Drama at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards,
Timini Egbuson is one of Nollywood’s brightest stars, known for his charm, versatility, and effortless talent.

From his breakout role in Shuga Naija to standout performances in movies like Elevator Baby and Fifty, Timini has proven he’s a force to be reckoned with in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

His ability to bring depth and relatability to his characters has earned him a massive fanbase.

Timini has been described as an embodiment of hard work and talent in Nollywood.

Since stepping into the spotlight in 2010 with the TV series Tinsel, the Bayelsa-born movie star has an inspiring journey to show.

He bagged a nomination at the 2024 AMVCA for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Funke Akindele’s blockbuster movie, A Tribe Called Judah.

In 2024, Timini starred in The Homecoming, Bad Boy’s Security, I Am Sorry, Gen Z Wife, Last Straw, Lovers & Foes, Couple’s Pact, All Night Long, Sorry Not Sorry, Sweet Vengeance, Horror Christmas, The Perfect Maid, Odd of Love, Just One Night and lots more.