This week, we have followed some Nigerian celebrities whose birthdays fall this week. Below is our list for the week:
Ime Udoka
Ime Udoka is a Nigerian-American professional basketball coach and former player. He is the currently the head coach of the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Udoka began his professional career in the former NBA Development League (NBDL) playing for Charleston Lowgators. He went on to represent teams like Forth Worth Flyers, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings, L.A Lakers and New York Knicks. He played over 316 games in the NBA, scoring a total of 1,635 points, 926 rebounds and 308 assists.
During his time as a player he represented the Nigerian basketball team at different tournaments, winning bronze in two FIBA African Championships.
He was born August 9, 1977 in Oregon, United States of America.
Vector
Olanrewaju Ogunmefun David, popularly known as Vector, is a Nigerian rapper and songwriter. He has spent over a decade in the Nigerian mainstream rap scene releasing over 10 studio projects.
Vector is renowned for having the longest rap freestyle in Nigeria. Among his impressive discography are King Kong, Early Momo, Mama Maradona, Comfort, Be Happy, amongst others.
In 2011, he won the Best Mainstream Hip-Hop Video at the Nigerian Music Video Awards (NMVA). He also won the Lyricist on the Roll award at the 2012 Headies Awards, as well as the Best Rap Single at the 2015 Headies Awards for King Kong. He is currently signed to Def Jam Africa.
He was born 7 August 1984 in Lagos, Nigeria.
Taiwo Awoniyi
Taiwo Micheal Awoniyi is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League side Nottingham Forest.
He came into limelight after he was voted the Most Valuable Player at a Coca-Cola football competition in London. He then signed for Liverpool Football Club and went on several loan spells at FSV Frankfurt, Mainz 05, Union Berlin in Germany, Mouscron and Gent in Belgium, and NEC in Netherland. He later rejoined Union Berlin on permanent basis in 2021 and was sold for a fee of £17 million to English side Nottingham Forest, whom he helped to retain their Premier League status after scoring crucial goals. He has made over 174 appearances scoring 48 goals at club level.
Awoniyi has represented Nigeria at the U-17 World Cup, U-20 World Cup, African U-20 Championships, Summer Olympics, and African Cup of Nations, winning both the U-17 tournament and African U-20 tournament.
He was born 12 August 1997 in Kwara State, Nigeria.
Quadri Aruna
Quadri Akinade Aruna is a renowned professional table tennis player. He is the first African table tennis player to be ranked in the top 10 players in the world.
Aruna has represented Nigeria at different tournaments including the 2017 ITTF African-Cup, 2012, 2016, and 2020 Olympics, 2018 ITTF African-Cup, and 2018 Commonwealth Games. He also competed at the 2014 Table Tennis World Cup.
He won the 2017 ITTF African-Cup, won silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games table tennis event, and also bronze at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. He currently plays for TTC RhönSprudel Maberzell Fulda in Germany.
He was born 9 August 1988 in Oyo State, Nigeria.
Queen Nwokoye
Queen Nwokoye is a movie actress, producer and entrepreneur.
The Nnamdi Azikiwe University alumna has spent close to two decades in the Nigerian movie industry.
After making her acting debut in 2004 in a film titled Nna Men, Queen has gone on to feature in many films including Security Risk, Pretty Liars 1-2, Heart of Gold, Agaracha, Nwanyi Mbano, The Harvest. Chetanna, Oshimiri, amongst others.
She won the fresh scandal-free actress at the 2011 Best of Nollywood Awards, the Best Indigenous Actor (female) at the 2015 Zulu African Film Academy Awards, and the Face of Nollywood at the 2016 City People Entertainment Awards.
She was born 11 August 1982 in Lagos State, Nigeria.
