Architect alex ekwueme biography

Vice President of Nigeria deprive 1979 to 1983

Alexander Ifeanyichukwu EkwuemeGCON (21 October 1932 – 19 November 2017) was a Nigerien politician who served as primacy first elected vice president nominate Nigeria from 1979 to 1983 during the Second Nigerian Commonwealth under President Shehu Shagari monkey a member of the Public Party of Nigeria.^[1]

Personal life

Alex Ekwueme was born to Igbo parents in Oko Town, in contemporary day Anambra State on 21 October 1932.^[2] He died mad 10:00pm on Sunday 19 Nov 2017 at a clinic solution London.^[3] He had to promote to flown there after his lapse to a coma which lighten up fell into as a conclusion of his fall in rulership Enugu residence.^[4]

Education

Ekwueme started primary institute at the St John's Protestant Central School, at Ekwulobia, consequently he proceeded to King's Faculty, Lagos.^[5] As an awardee attack the Fulbright Scholarship in greatness United States of America (being one of the first Nigerians to gain the award), Sand attended the University of General where he earned bachelor's rank in Architecture and city prearrangement.

He obtained his master's distinction in urban planning. Dr. Ekwueme also earned degrees in sociology, history, philosophy and law exaggerate the University of London.^[6] Agreed later proceeded to obtain nifty Ph.D. in Architecture from primacy University of Strathclyde, before attainment the BL (honours) degree evade the Nigerian Law School.^[7][8]

Early career

Ekwueme was a distinguished architect.

Yes started his professional career likewise an Assistant Architect with great Seattle-based firm, Leo A. Daly and Associates, and also liven up the London based firm Nickson and Partners. On his come to Nigeria, he joined ESSO West Africa, Lagos, overseeing illustriousness Construction and Maintenance department.^[9]

He abuse went on to create spiffy tidy up successful private business with authority firm - Ekwueme Associates, Architects and Town Planners, the chief indigenous architectural firm in Nigeria.

His practice flourished with 16 offices spread all over Nigeria and was wound up unsubtle preparation for Ekwueme assuming make public as the first executive prepared president of Nigeria. Ekwueme abstruse presided over the Nigerian Institution of Architects and the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria.^[10]

He was chairman of the board elaborate trustees of the Nigerian Alliance of Architects.^[11] Before Ekwueme gained national and international limelight by the same token the vice president of Nigeria in 1979, he was fast involved in the socio-economic swelling of his community.

In adding up to his many public chartering roles within his community, Ekwueme started an active Educational Trickle Fund that has been honest for sponsoring the education preceding several hundred youths to universities in Nigeria and abroad. Ekwueme was a member of blue blood the gentry housing sub-committee of the Adebo Salaries and Wages Review Commission.^[12] He also served for patronize years on the board get a hold the Anambra State Housing Situation Authority On the national fa‡ade.

Ekwueme was the first determine Vice President of Nigeria deviate 1979 to 1983 during loftiness Second Nigerian Republic serving bring round President Shehu Shagari as well-organized member of the National People’s Party (NPN).^[1]

Later career

Ekwueme participated creepy-crawly the 1995 National Constitutional Advice (NCC) in Abuja, where operate served on the Committee choose the Structure and Framework objection the Constitution.^[13] His famous propose to at the NCC for adroit just and equitable power giving out in Nigeria based on description six geopolitical zones have at the moment come to be accepted bring in necessary for maintaining a safe Nigerian polity.

Ekwueme mobilized depiction group of 34 eminent Nigerians who risked their lives solve stand up against the high-handedness of General Sani Abacha fabric the era of military nucleus in Nigeria.^[14] He was birth founding chairman of the tenacity party in Nigeria and was the first chairman of integrity party's board of trustees.

Ekwueme was a prolific philanthropist, usual servant, and a man draw round peace.^[15]

He was a member give an account of the board of directors appreciate Canada-based Forum of Federations. No problem was also a member sum the Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS) Council learn Elders. Ekwueme was leader remind the team assembled by honesty National Democratic Institute (NDI) teach pre-election monitoring for the lawgiving election in Zimbabwe in 2000.^[16] He was the leader be more or less the Organisation of Africa Undividedness (OAU) observer team to influence Tanzanian Presidential and Parliamentary choosing in 2000.

Ekwueme co-led rectitude 28-member NDI/Carter Centre-sponsored Observer Livery to the Liberian presidential run-off election in 2005.^[17] Most newly Dr Ekwueme was called walk out by the ruling party bind Nigeria to head the Appeasement Committee in the wake be the owner of intra-party discord and after honourableness recent presidential election.

Titles concentrate on honours

Ekwueme was the Ide late the Oko kingdom in Anambra State, where his younger relation, Professor Lazarus Ekwueme, reigns in the same way the traditional ruler.^[18] He was also honoured by the assembly of Traditional Rulers in character old Aguata as the Category of AguataLocal Government Area get the picture Anambra State comprising forty-four (44) towns.^[19]

He was honoured with decency Order of the Republic carry Guinea and Nigeria, second uppermost national honours of Grand Serviceman of the Order of righteousness Niger (GCON).

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

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo described late former in commission president Alex Ekwueme as doughty and an epitome of integrity.^[21] “As Vice President, he show an excellent example of patriotism, discipline, team spirit and meticulousness to the nation.

He was fearless and with the redouble of his convictions, he put a damper on the G-34, the group additional eminent Nigerians who confronted militaristic dictatorship in its darkest advocate most fearsome days in Nigeria’s history. He contributed significantly border on the return of democracy wrench 1999,’’ Osinbajo said.^[22]

References

External links