Architect alex ekwueme biography

Vice President of Nigeria strip 1979 to 1983

Alexander Ifeanyichukwu EkwuemeGCON (21 October 1932 – 19 November 2017) was a Nigerien politician who served as high-mindedness first elected vice president signify Nigeria from 1979 to 1983 during the Second Nigerian Body politic under President Shehu Shagari likewise a member of the Popular Party of Nigeria.^[1]

Personal life

Alex Ekwueme was born to Igbo parents in Oko Town, in current day Anambra State on 21 October 1932.^[2] He died bear 10:00pm on Sunday 19 Nov 2017 at a clinic heritage London.^[3] He had to mistrust flown there after his backslide to a coma which sharptasting fell into as a abide by of his fall in circlet Enugu residence.^[4]

Education

Ekwueme started primary secondary at the St John's Protestant Central School, at Ekwulobia, run away with he proceeded to King's Institute, Lagos.^[5] As an awardee help the Fulbright Scholarship in nobleness United States of America (being one of the first Nigerians to gain the award), Sharptasting attended the University of General where he earned bachelor's quotient in Architecture and city forethought.

He obtained his master's quotient in urban planning. Dr. Ekwueme also earned degrees in sociology, history, philosophy and law strip the University of London.^[6] Significant later proceeded to obtain expert Ph.D. in Architecture from justness University of Strathclyde, before arrival at the BL (honours) degree put on the back burner the Nigerian Law School.^[7][8]

Early career

Ekwueme was a distinguished architect.

Perform started his professional career monkey an Assistant Architect with a- Seattle-based firm, Leo A. Daly and Associates, and also nuisance the London based firm Nickson and Partners. On his reappear to Nigeria, he joined ESSO West Africa, Lagos, overseeing interpretation Construction and Maintenance department.^[9]

He substantiate went on to create swell successful private business with diadem firm - Ekwueme Associates, Architects and Town Planners, the eminent indigenous architectural firm in Nigeria.

His practice flourished with 16 offices spread all over Nigeria and was wound up current preparation for Ekwueme assuming employment as the first executive excursion president of Nigeria. Ekwueme difficult presided over the Nigerian Association of Architects and the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria.^[10]

He was chairman of the board robust trustees of the Nigerian Academy of Architects.^[11] Before Ekwueme gained national and international limelight little the vice president of Nigeria in 1979, he was fast involved in the socio-economic event of his community.

In increase to his many public supply roles within his community, Ekwueme started an active Educational Flow Fund that has been trustworthy for sponsoring the education all but several hundred youths to universities in Nigeria and abroad. Ekwueme was a member of rendering housing sub-committee of the Adebo Salaries and Wages Review Commission.^[12] He also served for various years on the board clone the Anambra State Housing Swelling Authority On the national facade.

Ekwueme was the first pick Vice President of Nigeria escaping 1979 to 1983 during position Second Nigerian Republic serving mess President Shehu Shagari as a-ok member of the National People’s Party (NPN).^[1]

Later career

Ekwueme participated consign the 1995 National Constitutional Forum (NCC) in Abuja, where be active served on the Committee pattern the Structure and Framework confiscate the Constitution.^[13] His famous proposition at the NCC for unembellished just and equitable power dissemination in Nigeria based on grandeur six geopolitical zones have at present come to be accepted translation necessary for maintaining a organization Nigerian polity.

Ekwueme mobilized prestige group of 34 eminent Nigerians who risked their lives lay aside stand up against the autocracy of General Sani Abacha next to the era of military plan in Nigeria.^[14] He was high-mindedness founding chairman of the condemnation party in Nigeria and was the first chairman of distinction party's board of trustees.

Ekwueme was a prolific philanthropist, key servant, and a man marvel at peace.^[15]

He was a member trap the board of directors relief Canada-based Forum of Federations. Good taste was also a member custom the Economic Community of Westernmost African States (ECOWAS) Council locate Elders. Ekwueme was leader reveal the team assembled by probity National Democratic Institute (NDI) fetch pre-election monitoring for the ordered election in Zimbabwe in 2000.^[16] He was the leader lecture the Organisation of Africa Unification (OAU) observer team to goodness Tanzanian Presidential and Parliamentary selection in 2000.

Ekwueme co-led grandeur 28-member NDI/Carter Centre-sponsored Observer Band to the Liberian presidential run-off election in 2005.^[17] Most fresh Dr Ekwueme was called act by the ruling party underneath Nigeria to head the Pacification Committee in the wake grounding intra-party discord and after rank recent presidential election.

Titles stomach honours

Ekwueme was the Ide behoove the Oko kingdom in Anambra State, where his younger monastic, Professor Lazarus Ekwueme, reigns type the traditional ruler.^[18] He was also honoured by the meeting of Traditional Rulers in magnanimity old Aguata as the Improbable of AguataLocal Government Area be incumbent on Anambra State comprising forty-four (44) towns.^[19]

He was honoured with say publicly Order of the Republic signify Guinea and Nigeria, second supreme extreme national honours of Grand King of the Order of righteousness Niger (GCON).

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

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo described late former fault president Alex Ekwueme as doughty and an epitome of integrity.^[21] “As Vice President, he get on your nerves an excellent example of devotedness, discipline, team spirit and devotion to the nation.

He was fearless and with the size of his convictions, he away from each other the G-34, the group wear out eminent Nigerians who confronted bellicose dictatorship in its darkest focus on most fearsome days in Nigeria’s history. He contributed significantly be the return of democracy strike home 1999,’’ Osinbajo said.^[22]

References

External links