The man called Zik: How Anambra produced the first President of Nigeria
Rated amongst the people who need no introduction in Nigeria and Africa, is the Great Nnamdi Azikiwe. The man whose image graces the #500 note.
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe lived nine lives in one. He was the first and only indigenous Governor-General of Nigeria. A fearless journalist and statesman, political activist, academia, lawyer and writer. The story of the independence of Nigeria holds a worthy and powerful mention of Nnamdi Azikiwe.
He was born on November 16, 1904 in Zungeru in the Northern part of the country (Niger State).
Zik of Africa, as he was popularly called hailed from Onitsha, a popular metropolis and commercial hub in Anambra State.
His fight for independence was born when he saw the true colours of discrimination in skin colours. His father lost his job where he worked as a civilian clerk for the British army, thanks to his being a Black man.
When he was 8, his father sent him to live with his paternal grandparents in Onitsha so he would learn the language and culture of his people. He was already fluent in Hausa and he eventually learned to speak WaZoBia.
Upon completing High School, he went to the United States to continue his studies. He enrolled in Storer College in West Virginia and left with the name “Zik” as a package. He also made a brief stop at Howard University in Washington, and unpacked finally at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Through the help of his part-time job, he was able to complete his degree in Political Science. Zik worked as a part-time Lecturer Assistant in Columbia University and also edited the Columbia University Summer Sessions Times, which earned him a certificate in journalism. He went for his Master’s degree in Political Science at Lincoln University, bagged it and did the same in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania.
On his route from the United States to Nigeria, he stopped in Ghana where he worked as an editor of the African Morning Post in Accra, the capital city.
When his feet finally touched the Nigerian soil in 1937, he founded the West African Pilot newspaper.
Zik joined the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM), a forum for young patriots. He later left and in 1944, he formed the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) with another nationalist, Herbert Macaulay.
Two years down the line, he became the party’s Secretary-General and the year after, he joined the Legislative Council of Nigeria.
His zeal and patriotic spirit drove him up the ladder and led him into the politics of the Eastern Region, where he became the Chief Minister and in 1954, headed the whole region.
During the 1957 constitutional conference in London, Zik, Ahmadu Bello and Obafemi Awolowo represented Nigeria. Bello and Awolowo headed the other two popular parties at the time–NPC and Action Group respectively.
After the independence in 1960, NPC, led by Awolowo and NCNC led by Zik, went into a single unit and won the national election. Zik became the Governor-General while the other two patriots headed the regions at the Western and Northern ends. Chief Michael Okpara led from the East.
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe became the first President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria following the declaration of the country as a republic in 1963.
Some of his recognitions include the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), Owelle-Osowa-Anya of Onitsha and so many others. He also held about 16 honorary degrees from Universities in Nigeria and abroad. He authoured a number of books and publications.
Zik of Africa gave his last breath on May 11, 1996.
Some of his monuments include the Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum in Onitsha, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Library in University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
