Nigerian Dictionary of National Biography (NDNB)

A Historical Record of Notable Nigerians

1. Project Overview

The Nigerian Dictionary of National Biography (NDNB) is a digital, continuously updated compendium that documents and celebrates the lives of individuals who have shaped, and continue to shape, Nigeria’s national trajectory.

Inspired by reference models such as the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (ODNB), NDNB serves as a national biographical repository, highlighting Nigerians from diverse backgrounds, professions, eras, and regions.

2. Objectives

• To document the biographies of notable Nigerians across precolonial, colonial, post-independence, and contemporary periods.
• To provide a scholarly, accessible reference for students, educators, researchers, and the general public.
• To ensure inclusive national representation that spans regions, gender, class, and contributions.
• To create a citable, credible digital archive that supports historical literacy and cultural continuity.
• To establish a model for living legacy documentation, with regular updates and rigorous and transparent editorial standards.

3. Scope

• Geographic Coverage: All of Nigeria, with diaspora inclusion as relevant.
• Time Span: Precolonial era to present.
• Entry Types:
  • Politicians, monarchs, civil servants
  • Artists, scientists, educators
  • Entrepreneurs, activists, religious leaders
  • Sportspersons, diplomats, military/paramilitary personnel
  • Unsung or underrepresented historical figures

4. Platform Details

• Primary domain: ndnb.ng
• Features:
  • Searchable biographies
  • Fields, era, date of birth, tags, etc
  • Multimedia support (image and infobox)

5. Editorial Model

• Editorial Board: Scholars, historians, journalists, cultural researchers
• Contributors: verified public submissions and invited experts
• Review Process: Fact-checked by a multi-level editorial team
• Update Frequency: daily