Alex Ekwueme: Obituary Of Nigeria’s First Ever Vice-President

Yesterday, November 19, in London, the United Kingdom, Nigeria lost Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Vice-President to President Shehu Shagari from 1979-1983.

Shagari/Ekwueme’s presidency came to an abrupt end when military officers led by Brigadier Muhammadu Buhari staged a coup that ousted the government on 31 December 1983.

Below is a brief profile of the late Elder Statesman;

1.) Ekwume who hailed from Anambra was born October 21, 1932.

2.) He started primary school at the St John’s Anglican Central School, at Ekwulobia, then he proceeded to King’s College, Lagos. He also attended the University of London; King’s College; Lagos, Nigerian Law School; University of Strathclyde and University of Washington.

3.) Ekwueme was the Ide of the Oko kingdom in Anambra State, where his younger brother, Lazarus, is the traditional ruler. He was also honoured by the council of Traditional Rulers in the old Aguata as the Ide of Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State comprising forty-four (44) towns.

4.) Ekwueme is a distinguished architect who started his professional career as an Assistant Architect with a Seattle-based firm, Leo A. Daly and Associates, and also with the London-based firm Nickson and Partners.

5.) The late former Vice-President worked briefly with ESSO West Africa, Lagos, overseeing the Construction and Maintenance department.

6.) He founded Ekwueme Associates, Architects and Town Planners, the first indigenous architectural firm in Nigeria.

7.) Before he gained national and international limelight as the Vice President of Nigeria in 1979, he was actively involved in the socio-economic development of his community. In addition to his many public service roles within his community, Dr. Ekwueme has an active Educational Trust Fund that has been responsible for sponsoring the education of several hundred youths to universities in Nigeria and abroad.

8.) Benefactor and Patron of Alex Ekwueme Foundation, Alex Ekwueme was honoured with the Order of the Republic of Guinea and Nigeria, second highest national honours of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON)

9.) He was the leader of the Organisation of Africa Unity (OAU) observer team to the Tanzanian Presidential and Parliamentary election in 2000. Dr Ekwueme co-led the 28-member NDI/Carter Centre sponsored Observer Team to the Liberian Presidential run-off election in 2005.

10.) Ekwueme was also a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Council of Elders. Dr Ekwueme was the leader of the team assembled by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) for pre-election monitoring for the parliamentary election in Zimbabwe in 2000.

11.) He wedded his wife, Beatrice on December 19, 1959 and their union is blessed with children.