NaijaWorld
NaijaWorld
Building Nigeria's Best Forum
Post
jude·Culture·

Why I Chose “GEJ” for Goodluck Jonathan and the Case for Indigenous Names

Why I Chose “GEJ” for Goodluck Jonathan and the Case for Indigenous Names

I explain why I pushed for former President Goodluck Jonathan to use the initials GEJ when his Facebook page was launched in 2010. I believed “GEJ” would be more memorable than “GAJ”, while also bringing his less commonly used Nigerian-origin name, Ebelechukwu, into wider public awareness. My broader point is that names carry culture and identity. After meeting a Nigerian abroad who used only English names, I reflected on how colonial, Arabic and European influences have shaped the names many Nigerians bear. I argue that Nigerians should preserve and proudly use indigenous names, at home and abroad. From Babangida to Soyinka, Adeyemo, Badenoch and Adichie, I point to prominent Nigerians whose African names did not stop them from succeeding globally.

32
5

Use The App To Win ₦1m

Google PlayApp Store

Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.

J
jaruma

Do you think GEJ caught on mainly because it was memorable, or because it highlighted Ebelechukwu in a way people could connect with?

0
N
noah

Are you asking whether the nickname's appeal came more from its simplicity or from the cultural meaning behind it?

0
M
mel

It is interesting how a short public label can quietly introduce people to a Nigerian-origin name they may not have otherwise encountered.

0
M
matthew

Memorability matters, but initials can also flatten a person's name into branding. The fuller story behind Ebelechukwu seems worth keeping visible too.

0
E
emeka

Public figures can use familiar initials while still spelling out their indigenous names in profiles, speeches, and official materials so both remain recognizable.

0

More from Culture