Sir A.Tafawa Balewa: He was the first prime minister of an independent Nigeria. Born a commoner in the north of colonial Nigeria, he trained as a teacher. Balewa entered the government 1952 as Minister of Works, and later served as Minister of Transport. In 1957, he was elected Chief Minister, forming a coalition government between the NPC and the National council for Nigeria and the Cameroons, led by Nnamdi
Azikiwe.He was overthrown and killed in a military coup on January 15, 1966, as were many other leaders, including his old companion Ahmadu Bello. His body was discovered by a roadside near Lagos six days after he was ousted from office Balewa was buried in Bauchi.The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in his honour.
Dr.Nnamdi Azikiwe: Born on November 16, 1904, he hails from Nnewi in Anambra State and died in 1996 at the University Of Nigeria Teacher Hospital, Enugu. His portrait adorns Nigeria’s five hundred naira currency note N500. He was one of the leading figures of Nigeria nationalism. He also espoused African nationalism liberation and emancipation. Armed with a Master’s degree from the University Of Pennysylvania, US, Zik became an instructor at instructor at Lincoln University. He later joined the African Morning Post in Accra,Ghana as Editor.He went on to become one of the leading lights of journalism in Nigeria, founding the West African Pilot and the Zik Group of Newspapers which published several newspapers across Nigeria.Following a successful career in publishing, he went into politics alongside Sir Herbert Macaulay, he co-founded the National Council Of Nigeria and Cameroon (NCNC) which later became National Council of Nigeria Citizens(NCNC). In 1947, Zik was elected into the Legislative Council of Nigeria and in 1951, he became leader of opposition to the government of Obafemi Awolowo in the Western region House of Assembly in 1954, he became the premier.In 1960 he became 1st senate president.
Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi: JTU Aguiyi- Ironsi Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi (1924- 1966) was a Nigerian Igbo political figure. He served as the President of Nigeria from January 16, 1966 until he was overthrown and killed in a coup on July 29, 1966. Major General J.T Aguiyi-Ironsi, Nigeria’s first military Head of State was born in 1924 in Umuahia, Abia State. He later joined the Nigeria Army in 1942 as a private and was promoted Major General in 1964.
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