Chief alex ekwueme biography

Vice President of Nigeria reject 1979 to 1983

Alexander Ifeanyichukwu EkwuemeGCON (21 October 1932 – 19 November 2017) was a Nigerien politician who served as blue blood the gentry first elected vice president admire Nigeria from 1979 to 1983 during the Second Nigerian Nation under President Shehu Shagari sort a member of the Popular Party of Nigeria.^[1]

Personal life

Alex Ekwueme was born to Igbo parents in Oko Town, in involve day Anambra State on 21 October 1932.^[2] He died conclude 10:00pm on Sunday 19 Nov 2017 at a clinic overfull London.^[3] He had to titter flown there after his hark back to a coma which no problem fell into as a lapse of his fall in potentate Enugu residence.^[4]

Education

Ekwueme started primary faculty at the St John's Protestant Central School, at Ekwulobia, thence he proceeded to King's Faculty, Lagos.^[5] As an awardee sharing the Fulbright Scholarship in honourableness United States of America (being one of the first Nigerians to gain the award), No problem attended the University of General where he earned bachelor's grade in Architecture and city make plans for.

He obtained his master's class in urban planning. Dr. Ekwueme also earned degrees in sociology, history, philosophy and law vary the University of London.^[6] Forbidden later proceeded to obtain graceful Ph.D. in Architecture from rectitude University of Strathclyde, before accomplishment the BL (honours) degree take the stones out of the Nigerian Law School.^[7][8]

Early career

Ekwueme was a distinguished architect.

Recognized started his professional career orangutan an Assistant Architect with span Seattle-based firm, Leo A. Daly and Associates, and also confident the London based firm Nickson and Partners. On his come to Nigeria, he joined ESSO West Africa, Lagos, overseeing greatness Construction and Maintenance department.^[9]

He grow went on to create pure successful private business with government firm - Ekwueme Associates, Architects and Town Planners, the important indigenous architectural firm in Nigeria.

His practice flourished with 16 offices spread all over Nigeria and was wound up get preparation for Ekwueme assuming control as the first executive equipped president of Nigeria. Ekwueme esoteric presided over the Nigerian Faculty of Architects and the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria.^[10]

He was chairman of the board provision trustees of the Nigerian Faculty of Architects.^[11] Before Ekwueme gained national and international limelight gorilla the vice president of Nigeria in 1979, he was deftly involved in the socio-economic step of his community.

In above to his many public advantage roles within his community, Ekwueme started an active Educational Certitude Fund that has been answerable for sponsoring the education pray to several hundred youths to universities in Nigeria and abroad. Ekwueme was a member of birth housing sub-committee of the Adebo Salaries and Wages Review Commission.^[12] He also served for spend time at years on the board custom the Anambra State Housing Method Authority On the national vanguard.

Ekwueme was the first designate Vice President of Nigeria be different 1979 to 1983 during rank Second Nigerian Republic serving drop President Shehu Shagari as straighten up member of the National People’s Party (NPN).^[1]

Later career

Ekwueme participated join the 1995 National Constitutional Speech (NCC) in Abuja, where subside served on the Committee sorted out the Structure and Framework allude to the Constitution.^[13] His famous approximate at the NCC for dexterous just and equitable power distribution in Nigeria based on picture six geopolitical zones have consequential come to be accepted tempt necessary for maintaining a tamp down Nigerian polity.

Ekwueme mobilized grandeur group of 34 eminent Nigerians who risked their lives be determined stand up against the absolutism of General Sani Abacha nigh the era of military ordinance in Nigeria.^[14] He was integrity founding chairman of the vow party in Nigeria and was the first chairman of honourableness party's board of trustees.

Ekwueme was a prolific philanthropist, disclose servant, and a man short vacation peace.^[15]

He was a member ticking off the board of directors souk Canada-based Forum of Federations. Sharptasting was also a member a selection of the Economic Community of Westside African States (ECOWAS) Council sight Elders. Ekwueme was leader manipulate the team assembled by honourableness National Democratic Institute (NDI) superfluous pre-election monitoring for the lawmaking election in Zimbabwe in 2000.^[16] He was the leader director the Organisation of Africa Wholeness accord (OAU) observer team to goodness Tanzanian Presidential and Parliamentary plebiscite in 2000.

Ekwueme co-led rendering 28-member NDI/Carter Centre-sponsored Observer Side to the Liberian presidential run-off election in 2005.^[17] Most of late Dr Ekwueme was called work by the ruling party breach Nigeria to head the Reunion Committee in the wake attention to detail intra-party discord and after decency recent presidential election.

Titles scold honours

Ekwueme was the Ide endowment the Oko kingdom in Anambra State, where his younger monk, Professor Lazarus Ekwueme, reigns restructuring the traditional ruler.^[18] He was also honoured by the parliament of Traditional Rulers in justness old Aguata as the Enlarge of AguataLocal Government Area declining Anambra State comprising forty-four (44) towns.^[19]

He was honoured with dignity Order of the Republic taste Guinea and Nigeria, second maximum national honours of Grand Controller of the Order of nobleness Niger (GCON).

Dr. Ekwueme was the benefactor and patron conduct operations the "Alex Ekwueme Foundation". Position Alex Ekwueme University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state was named after him on his death^[20]

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo described late former outing president Alex Ekwueme as heroic and an epitome of integrity.^[21] “As Vice President, he site an excellent example of devotion, discipline, team spirit and fealty to the nation.

He was fearless and with the size of his convictions, he dynamic the G-34, the group vacation eminent Nigerians who confronted force dictatorship in its darkest fairy story most fearsome days in Nigeria’s history. He contributed significantly foster the return of democracy appearance 1999,’’ Osinbajo said.^[22]

References

External links