Ojukwu passes away at 78

African Examiner

26 November 2011

Ojukwu passes away at 78

The Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu is dead. The

Nigerian icon died early hours of today at the age of 78 in a London’s hospital

after a protracted illness.

Ojukwu was born on November 4, 1933 at Zungeru in Niger State and started

his early education in Kings College Lagos in 1944 which he capped up with

a Masters degree in History from Oxford University, London.

He joined the Nigerian Army as a private soldier and was enlisted in 1957 not

as a cadet officer but a recruit, thus becoming the first post graduate Nigeria

soldier to be in the category of rank and file.

In 1958, he was enlisted into Eaton Hall Officer Cadet School Chester

England and later was commissioned with the rank of Lieutenant. After

attending officer’s course at Hythe and Warminster, he was appointed

Company Commander of 5th Battalion of Nigerian Army, Kaduna at the age of

25.

He later led the Nigeria/Biafra civil war that lasted for three years (1967 -

1970) before leaving for Cote d'Voire on exile in search of peace. He returned

to Nigeria on Friday, June 16, 1982 through the presidential pardon granted

him by President Shehu Shagari. He was conferred the title of Ikemba Nnewi

on June 21, 1982.

Ojukwu became the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of All Progressive

Grand Alliance (APGA), a political party, he carried its presidential flag in

2003 and 2007 presidential elections.