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.

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