ANAMBRA CREDITED FOR PRODUCING FAIR NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING
INDIVIDUALS AND FIRST IN NIGERIA
Despites its relatively small landmass, Anambra has produced a fair number of
outstanding individuals and a number of firsts in Nigeria. Anambra natives
include:
Nnamdi Azikiwe, Owelle of Onitsha – the first president of the Federal republic
of Nigeria and historically, the only man whose name appeared in the
constitution of his country (Nigeria’s Republican Constitution of 1963).
Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, hails from Okoh town, is a frontline politician,
Architect and the First Executive Vice-President of Nigeria, serving 1979-1983.
Professor Chinua Achebe – a native of ogidi and best known for the classic,
‘ThingsFall Apart’ was the first African writer whose books are standard
curricula in schools and universities across the world.
Emeka Anyaoku – the first Black Secretary – General of Commonwealth and
recipient of the South Africa’s Order of the Companions of OR Tambo for his
role in initiating talks between the apartheid state and the African National
Congress (ANC).
Nwafor Orizu – the first senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Lt. General Chikadibia Issac Obiakor – appointed in 2008 by UN Secretary
general Ban Ki-Moon as Military Advisor on UN Peacekeeping Operations.
Previously served as Commander of the Economic Community of West African
States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Artillery Brigade in Liberia in 1996 and
1997, and as ECOMOG Chief Coordinatorof the Liberian elections in July 1997.
Professor Humphrey Nwobu Nwosu, - a professor of Political Science. Former
NEC Chairman. Conducted the freest, fairest and most credible election so far
in Nigeria.
Chinyelu Onwurah, a British Labour Party Politician who was elected at the
2010 general election as the Member of Parliament for Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Central, becoming the first female British MP of African origin.
Chuka Umunna, - a British Labour Party Member of Parliament for Streatham
constituency.
Professor Kenneth Dike – a pre-eminent scholar of African History and native
of Awka, was the first indigenous Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan
and founder of National Archives.
Professor Ben Enwonwu – a native of Onitsha, was the first Nigeria sculptor of
international repute with artwork gracing the United Nations headquarters.
Pius Okigbo, CON, - a world renowned economist, was the first economic
advisor to the federal government of Nigeria (1960-1962), first Nigerian
Ambassador to the European Community and renowned for bringing to light
over $12 billion missing in oil windfall receipts from the Central Bank of
Nigeria during the first Gulf war.
Professor Samuel Okoye – was black Africa’s first PhD in Radio
Astronpmy who along with Antony Hewish of the university of Cambridge
discovered the radio source of Crab nebula neutron star.
Chief Jerome Udoji – from Ozubulu a social reformer was the first African to
be made a ‘D.O’ (District Officer) by the Colonial Administration.
Amobi Okoye – Youngest American football player to play for the NFL (2004),
currently plays for the Houston Texans.
Chimamanda Adichie – writer who won the Orange Prize for Fiction (2007)
and a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship (2008).
Dora Akunyili (late) – ex-head of NAFDAC and former Minister of Information
who won International awards for cleansing Nigeria of the scourge of fake
drugs.
Cardinal Francis Arinze, - once considered a potential Pope.
Cyprian Ekwensi , MFR – a writer of international repute.
Philip Emeagwali – winner of the 1989 Gordon Bell Prize in Super Computing.
Professor Chike Obi – a Mathematician famous for his work on non-differential
equations. Won the 1985 ICTP Price and developed a special solution for
Fermat’s Last theorem.
Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu – a native of Nnewi who was the first Nigeria
Millionaire and first President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Dim Emeka Ojukwu – the leader of the secessionist Biafra Republic.
Osita Osadebe – a popular Nigerian Highlife musician who also holds the
Nigerian record for the highest selling album.
Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo – a famous economist who spearheaded
Nigerian economic reform from 1999-2008 and was ex head of the Central
Bank of Nigeria.
Source: Anambra State (Light of the Nation)
