Nnamdi Azikiwe
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe , (November 16th 1904 - May 11th 1996) was the first president of Nigeria.
Of Ibo origin (ethnos group which dominates Is of Nigeria), born in Lagos, Azikiwé arrives at the United States in 1925. He studies then at the Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where he obtains in 1929 a doctorate of anthropology. He turns over to Africa in 1935.
First of all writer in a newspaper of Accra in Gold Coast, it returns to Nigeria in 1937 when it founds a chain of newspapers of which the West African Pilot , very read in all West Africa.
In 1943, it launches its first offensive for the independence of Nigeria and takes part in 1944 in the foundation of the National Council off Nigeria and Cameroon (NCNC become National Council off Citizens Nigerian) of which he becomes the president. In 1947, he is member of the Legislative council of Nigeria and enters in 1951 to the assembly of the " Nigeria Occidentale" that it directs like Prime Minister the following year.
It deploys there an intense activity (education, industrial development, vote for all) not without wavering between the British and its partisans, nor to lose itself in obscure commercial businesses (business of African Continental Bank).
In 1953, he is the unchallenged leader of the east of the country, then, little time after independence in 1960, becomes general governor and finally president at the time of the proclamation of the republic in 1963, with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa for Prime Minister.
It is reversed, with the remainder of the civil government, during a voyage abroad, at the time of the military coup d'etat of the January 15th 1966 carried out by the Ironsi general.
During the War of Biafra (1967 - 1970), Azikiwe was the spokesperson of the republic secessionist and the adviser of his president, Odumegwu Emeka Ojukwu. He will propose in 1969 a peace plan of 14 points that the 2 parts will rejeteront.
After the war, he became chancellor of the University of Lagos, of 1972 with 1976. He founded the Popular party of Nigeria in 1979 but fails, the same year, with the presidential elections, beaten by Shehu Shagari. He represents himself in 1983, without success, before leaving the policy in 1986.
He dies in 1996. Its portrait is reproduced on the tickets of 500 Naira.
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