Letter to West Africa magazine on the origin of the name Biafra. Nov.1968

Colonel Shitu Alao 1937-1969
Colonel Alao was born in October 1937 in Dorowa Babuje, in Plateau State. He attended the First Baptist Day School, Jos and later the Provincial Secondary School, Kuru where he graduated in December 1954. On graduation, he joined the Nigerian Army as a member of the 13th Course, Regular Officers Special Training School, Accra, Ghana.
Colonel Shittu A Alao was among the 4 Nigerian Army Officers that were first seconded to the NAF with a view to taking over command from the Germans.
He took over the leadership of the NAF from Brigadier Kurubo on 5 August 1967. Following his secondment to the NAF, he was sent to Germany in 1963 for a one-year indoctrination course on all aspects of air force training. He and Brigadier Ikwe were the only 2 of the 4 pioneer members that qualified for flying.
He was on a solo flight in an L-29 aircraft in the South-western part of the country when he ran into bad weather and subsequently ran out of fuel. He was then said to have made an emergency landing but unfortunately ran into a tree and died in the process.

The late Ojukwu with Stella Onyeador in Cote d'Ivoire.

In Cote d’Ivoire where Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu fled to and sought exile after the Nigerian troops routed the Biafran forces, he sustained the family tradition of successful commerce.

thenewsafrica.com

Di.ck Tiger Ihetu ( 1929-70) , Middleweight Champion Of The World In A Locker Room , New York 1960 . Source: Uknown

A young Dr. Nwafor Orizu in 1942 at Ohio State University.
Prince Abyssinia Akweke Nwafor Orizu (1915–1999). was a Nigerian of Igbo origin and Nigeria's second Senate President from November 16, 1960 to January 15, 1966, during the Nigerian First Republic. Orizu was also Acting President of Nigeria from late 1965 until the military coup of January 1966.

Orizu was born in 1915 into the royal house of Nnewi, Anambra State in southeast Nigeria, a son of Eze Ugbonyamba, Igwe Orizu I. He went to the United States in 1939, earning a degree in government at Ohio State University and earning an M.A. at Columbia University. He was an advocate of the "horizontal", broad system of American education as opposed to the narrow "perpendicular" British system, and earned the nickname "Orizontal", a play on his name and a reference to his constant discussion of the theme. As discussed in his 1944 book Without Bitterness, he was a passionate advocate of introducing the American system to Nigeria. He established The American Council on African Education (ACAE), which obtained numerous tuition scholarships from American sources for the benefit of African students.

Around 1949, Orizu bought the Enitona High School and Enitona printing press from a supporter for only £500, which he borrowed. Another supporter sold him a luxury bus on an installment plan. He established a newspaper known as The West Africa Examiner and became the managing Director, while M.C.K. Ajuluchukwu was the editor. He went to Enugu to console the striking miners after the shooting of 21 miners on November 18, 1949. Possibly in reaction to a fiery speech that he made there, the British colonial authorities sentenced him to seven years in jail for allegedly misappropriating the funds of the ACAE. But later Roy Wilkins, chairman of ACAE in the USA, wrote a letter to Nnamdi Azikiwe ("Zik" exonerating Dr Nwafor Orizu of any financial impropriety.

Source: Wikipedia and OSU

The Emperor and I
In January 1972 Emperor Haille Sellassie of Ethiopia visited Nigeria. He had mediated in the Nigerian/Biafran civil war that had ended just two years earlier. I was told he wanted to see for himself that the ‘NO Victor , No Vanquished’ policy was really being implemented in the former Biafran enclave.
Anyway, dressed in orange poplin suit and skinny as a pole I set off to welcome him with a bunch of marigolds, daffodils and daisies. I remember my speech - “I welcome to Nigeria, His Royal Highness, the great Emperor of all Ethiopia, Elect of God, and the Lion of Judah, Emperor Haile Selassie.”
I remember a small man, a warm kiss and a gold coin being pressed into my hand.
In this pic were General Gowon, TY Danjuma, Ukpabi Asikathe then East Central State Administrator and someone else.(Remember we had an administrator while everyone else had a governor. I guess nobody wanted any reminders of the army, military etc in this war traumatized region. Very outside of the box thinking)
He officially opened the Enugu Orthopedic Hospital at the site of the former Eastern Nigerian Governor’s Lodge. The hospital was established for maimed war victims and was named The Haile Selassie I Institute for Orthopedic, Plastic and Ophthalmic Surgery until some later governor renamed it later.
Emperor Haile Selassie had a rather checkered and complicated history in Ethiopia, but he was a big champion of the African Union and was an honest broker during the civil war.
My 24 carat gold coin still has pride of place in my jewelry box!
Ngozi Achebe

The great Awo...just sprung from jail by Gowon's regime. The civil war took a drastic turn in favour of Nigeria, soon after he became a member of the Federal Executive Committee

Chief Remi Fani Kayode ( Fani Power), with his colleague SLA.

Chief Awolowo being sworn in as a member of the Federal Executive Council and Head of the Economic Advisory team.

Col. Benjamin Adekunle sending out a radio signal in Ikot Okpora during the civil war of 1967-70

Col. Yakubu Theophilus Danjuma

Young Ikemba and his Father, Sir Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

Source: Guardian

Hogan 'Kid' Bassey (1932- 1998) Nigeria's first World Boxing Champion: In the 50's. Born Okon Bassey Asuquo in Creek Town, Calabar. Bassey became the West African Bantam-weight Champion at age 19. In 1955 he became British Empire Feather-weight Champion winning a record $70,000 in prize money. He went on to win the World Feather-weight title after beating French-Algerian Cherif Hamia in 1957. He was awarded an MBE in 1959 and retired that same year. He had a career record of 59 wins, 13 losses and 2 draws. He possessed a tremendous heart in and out of the ring and that rarest of boxing skills - a true knockout punch. He later became a National Boxing coach and Director of Physical Education. He died in 1998 and was buried in the premises of the National Stadium in Lagos.

Michael Adekunle Ajasin (28 November 1908 – 3 October 1997) - younger days

Born in Owo, Ondo State on 28 November 1908. He attended St. Andrews College, Oyo between (1924–1927). He worked as a teacher for some time, then was admitted to Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone in 1943, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Modern History and Economics in June, 1946. Following that, he went to the Institute of Education of the University of London where he obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Education in June, 1947.[2]
On 12 September 1947, Ajasin was appointed Principal of Imade College, Owo, where he initiated an aggressive staff development program, including sending teachers to University College, Ibadan for further training. In 1951 he wrote a paper that was to become the educational policy of the Action Group party, advocating free education at all levels. He was one of the founders of the party, whose other policies included immediate independence from Britain, universal health care, and abolition of want through effective economic policies. Photo Source: ajasinfoundation.org

Renowned constitutional lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze.

Professor Ben Nwabueze or Professor of Professors as he’s fondly called by his numerous admirers is Nigeria’s first academic Senior Advocate of Nigeria. A Teacher, Administrator, Businessman and former Minister of Education and Youth Development, Professor Ben Nwabueze was born on December 22nd, 1932 in Atani, Ogbaru Local government Area of Anambra State.

His academic pursuit started at the CMS Central School Atani, from 1938 – 1945; C.M.S Central School, Onitsha (formerly, African College), 1947 – 1950. He later went to London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London, 1956 – 1961 and School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 1961 – 1962. From 1962 – 1965, he was Senior Lecturer at Holborn College of Law, London, and Senior Lecturer, University of Nigeria Nsukka, between 1967 – 1970. In 1971, he was Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Zambia and Director, Law practice Institute, Zambia, 1973 – 1975

Although, well supported by both father and uncle initially, the greater part of his Academic pursuits abroad were made possible by scholarship awarded to him for his academic excellence.

Prof. Nwabueze earned his Doctor of Laws (LL.D) at the University of London in 1978, based on his three outstanding books – Constitutionalism, Presidentialism, and Judicialism, thus entering the record books as the second (since the death of Dr. T.O. Elias), the only Nigerian and African holder of a higher doctorate degree in Law by published works.
He is also the first academic lawyer to be made a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1978 strictly on the basis of his published works.

A seasoned Academician, he was member of Senate of the Universities of Lagos, Dar-es-salaam, Nairobi, Haile Selassie in Ethiopia, Lesotho, Botswana and Swaziland between 1971 – 1978.

He was appointed the University Assessor for Academic Appointments, Universities of Ghana, Lagos, Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and Jos between 1978 – 1979.

A firm believer in publishing, Prof. Ben Nwabueze is the proud author of over thirty books and treatises with an average extent of 400 pages. They include; The Machinery of Justice in Nigeria; Constitutional Law of the Nigerian Republic; Nigerian Land Law and Constitutionalism in the Emergent States. Others are Presidentialism in Commonwealth Africa, Judicialism in Commonwealth Africa; The Presidential Constitution of Nigeria; A Constitutional History of Nigeria; Federalism in Nigeria under the Presidential Constitution; and Nigeria’s Second Experiment in constitutional Democracy in Africa in Five Volumes.

He has written over 200 articles in academic journals and more than 100 keynotes at local and international Conferences.

He is a household name in the Legal Profession and hardly, any other author is as frequently quoted in court judgements as Ben Nwabueze. Although, well known for his teaching, research and writing; Nwabueze continued to participate in University administration.

This erudite Professor was appointed to Professorial Chairs in the following Universities; Zambia, 1970 – 75; Ahmadu Bello university, Zaria, 1974; University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1975 – 76; Anambra State University of Technology; Nnamdi Azikiwe university, Awka 1989 – 1983 (visiting)

Prof. Ben Nwabueze is also a strong advocate for the Igbo cause. He, alongside other prominent Igbo sons like Akanu Ibiam, M.I. Okpara, K.O. Mbadiwe, Chief Ugochukwu, P.N. Okigbo and Udoji, co-founded Ohaneze Ndigbo in 1976. He served as Secretary – General, between 1978 to 2004, in which capacity he transformed the body into a formidable, highly regarded non-partisan Pan Igbo pressure group.

The recipient of several Chieftaincy titles, and The Nigerian Order of Merit (NNOM).

Prof. Ben Nwabueze is truly an academic giant in every sense of the term. Probably, more than any other Nigerian has, through his numerous books and articles contributed towards the application of constitutional law and the broader process of governance in Nigeria.

Indeed, the Nigerian Constitutional Evolution and the evolution of the entire legal system of Nigeria would not be complete without the invaluable contribution of this noble Patriot. It is therefore in recognition of his immense contribution to the advancement of the Nigerian Legal System, particularly in the areas of Academics and publication that Hallmarks of Labour Foundation has called on Prof. Ben Nwabueze, a Great Nigerian to join the league of other worthy Patriots of Hallmarks of Labour Role Model recipients .

source: hallmarks of labour

And AGAIN,
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (1900- 1978)Teacher, Politician and Womens Rights Activist- London 1947. FRK was born in Abeokuta to the family of Daniel and Lucretia Thomas. She was educated at Abeokuta Grammar School and in the UK. In 1925 she married Rev. I.O Ransome-Kuti, a renowned educator. FRK taught in many schools and founded her own Secondary school. She was a pioneering and powerful Women's Rights leader- known as the 'Lioness of Lisabi'. In 1949, she led the Egba women on a major campaign against arbritrary taxes which eventually led to the abdication of Oba Ademola II, the Alake of Abeokuta. An astute politician, she was leader of the Women's wing of the NCNC and a major advocate in the struggle for Nigeria's Independence. FRK died in 1978 as a result of injuries sustained from beatings and torture following the brutal Military attack on 'Kalakuta Republic'. She was mother of Afro-beat music legend Fela Kuti, Activist Dr Beko Kuti and former Health minister Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti.



The Ransome-Kuti's in the '40's: L-R: Rev Israel, Dolu (standing behind) Fela (standing in front), FRK holding baby Beko and Olikoye(standing on right).

Lt-Col Yakubu Gowon (left), Nigeria's new military Ruler, walks with Chief Obafemi Awolowo following Baba Awo's release from jail, 1966 . Source: Historic Images

More like a conversation with history

Quaritch: Action Group Chieftains in 1953. (L-R) Chief Bode Thomas, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola.

SWAGA SWAGA SWAGA


Swaga yi ti po ju. Salute....

Obafemi Awolowo with AG double-decked chopper.

Obafemi Awolowo can't be ruled out in Nigeria's history.
He introduced free education, allocating 55% of the total budget to the sector;
He built the Ikeja Estate;
He built the Cocoa House, Ibadan;
He built the first olympic standard stadium, Liberty Stadium, Ibadan;
He built the first TV station in Africa, WNTV (now NTA, Ibadan);
He contributed in the founding of my alma mater, the University of Ife (now OAU).

@ OP: More grease to ur elbow! Thanks for sharing.

Quaritch: E. Latunde Odeku (1927-1974). Nigeria's first Neurosurgeon

The extra ordinary story of this man was told in this thread:

https://www.nairaland.com/1184263/latunde-odeku-nigerias-first-neurosurgeon

www.nairaland.com/attachments/974378_ODEKU7_gif760aae37bc1507d7ea1a2e283ddd2558

[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/974390_ODEKU-3_gif84db6ad639984acfedd5b12a7487a801[/img]
[size=13pt]
Do we still have men like these? [/size]

@Quarich
A highly educative expose on Nigeria's past for the unbiased mind.
Very commendable piece which i will follow indefinitely.
This write up brings new light and substance to Nairaland.
kudos

Quaritch: Lt-Col Yakubu Gowon (left), Nigeria's new military Ruler, walks with Chief Obafemi Awolowo following Baba Awo's release from jail, 1966 . Source: Historic Images

[q

Quaritch: Chief Awolowo being sworn in as a member of the Federal Executive Council and Head of the Economic Advisory team.

uote author=Quaritch]Chief Awolowo being sworn in as a member of the Federal Executive Council and Head of the Economic Advisory team.

[/quote]
And we were told he never tasted the presidency.These pictures tell me,in substance he was once our president,at the most critical juncture of our national life.Abi una no see how Gowon,supposedly a Gcfr,dey follow Awo for back.Ojomiloju ke! .He has a GCFR to show for it gan sef
please look at these pictures and tell me who was the president

Quaritch: This video of Ojukwu and Gowon after the Aburi meeting might have been posted before, but I find in an interesting study in body language.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKXK2Er8UZk

Ojukwu body language is that of a man who is going to have his war at all cost, not ready to back down, with I'm here because I just want to satisfy all you international community?
Two years later I'm sure he'd be regretting not putting an end to everything after the meeting!
Too bad, about a million died to proove nothing!

.

Quaritch: Nojim Maiyegun born in 1944 in Lagos is a retired Nigerian middleweight boxer, who won the bronze medal in the men's Light middleweight division at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He was Nigeria's first ever Olympic medalist. Another success he had was in 1966 when he won at the Commonwealth games in Jamaica. He won 25 of his 35 professional fights with decisive knock outs. He won in total 370 of his 375 fights in his career as an amateur boxer. Eventually his brilliant career was cut short by the loss of his eye sight. He currently lives in Vienna, Austria.

Noted