7 Top Nigerian Celebrities Without University Degrees

Below is a list of successful top celebrities that have shown to the world that they can make it without a university degree.

1. Genevieve Nnaji

Genevieve Nnaji (born 3 May 1979) is a popular name in the Nollywood industry. She is one of the most successful actresses in Nigeria. Despite being a very intelligent and a successful woman, she did not acquire a university degree, even after saying for several years that she would go back to school. Apart from acting, Genevieve who was referred to as the Julia Roberts of AFrica by popular US talk show host Oprah Winfrey, owns a fashion line St.Genevieve, launched in May 2008.

2. Wizkid

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (born 16 July 1990), well known as Wizkid is a popular song writer and singer. According to reports, he started singing at 11years as Lil Prinz. However, he started his music career fully with Banky W’s music group, Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) in 2009. Wizkid dropped out of Lead City University in his second year because of his music career, hoping to continue later.
According to records, Wizkid’s achievements in the music industry includes: a BET Award, a MOBO Award, three The Headies Awards, two Channel O Music Video Awards, four Nigeria Entertainment Awards, a Ghana Music Award, two Dynamix All Youth Awards, two City People Entertainment Awards, and a Future Award. In addition, he has been nominated three times at the MTV Europe Music Awards as well as four times at the World Music Awards. He was ranked 5th on Forbes and Channel O’s 2013 list of the Top 10 Richest/Bankable African Artists.

3. Mercy Johnson

Mercy Johnson (born in Lagos on 28 August 1984) is a popular Nollywood star. She is one of the highest paid actresses in Nollywood. Mercy Johnson Okojie revealed that she got into the Nigerian movie industry because she failed the university entrance exams (JAMB) several times.

4. D’banj
 
Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo (popularly known as D’banj, born 9 June 1980) is a Nigerian singer-songwriter, harmonica player, and businessman.
Dbanj is one of the leading musicians in Africa. He reportedly dropped out of school when he was in 300Level (Mechanical Engineering).
Records has it that he has won several music awards, including the awards for Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007, Artist of the Year at the MTV Africa Music Awards 2009, Best International Act: Africa at the 2011 BET Awards, and Best-selling African Artist at the 2014 World Music Awards, Evolution award at the 2015 MTV Africa Music awards.

5. 9ice

9ice (born Alexander Abolore Adegbola Adigun Alapomeji Ajifolajifaola,on 17 January 1980) is a popular indigenous singer 9ice who is now a politician attended Abule Okuta Primary School and CMS Grammar School, and dropped out from his Law course at the Lagos State University to concentrate on music. On his achievements so far, 9ice won the Revelation of the Year award and the Best Male Vocal Performer at the 2008 edition of the Hip Hop World Awards held in Nigeria. A month later at the first SoundCity Music Video Awards, 9ice was nominated in the category of Best New Artiste. 9ice’s biggest single is titled “Gongo Aso”. He is the founder of Alapomeji Records.

6. Don Jazzy

Michael Collins Ajere popularly known as Don Jazzy is one of the famous Nigerian entertainer who did not need a university education to achieve success. The prolific music producer and C.E.O of Mavin Records dropped out of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma in his first year to chase his dream a a producer and today, he is perhaps one of the most celebrated hit-makers in Africa.

7. 2face Idibia

 
Innocent Ujah Idibia popularly known as 2face attended Saint Gabriel’s Secondary School in Makurdi, Benue State. He enrolled at Institute of Management & Technology, Enugu (IMT), where he did his preliminary National Diploma course in Business Administration and Management. While attending IMT, he performed at school organised shows and parties. He eventually dropped out to pursue his music career.