de champions magazine page-allmagazine voice for nigeria’s independence with their colleagues....

EDITIONINDEPENDENCE

Vol 1 No 1

OBAFEMI AWOLOWO NNAMDI AZIKIWE TAFAWA BALEWA

...Heroes and Living Stars

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DE CHAMPIONSMAGAZINE

voice for Niger ia ’s Independence with their colleagues.Included is a snapshot of all past and present heads of governments since 1st October, 1960.In the coming months, we shall explore more leaders and influencers

am overly excited that we as a country is Iw i t n e s s i n g o u r

60thAnniversary since independence. We have come so far in hardship and glory, through trying times and elevating moments. We have witnessed war and experienced peace. It has been mixed feelings.There are have been a lot of past pain and moments of progress since October 1st 1960. We are today, 60 years old. Although we are not where we should have been, we are strong as a nation to keep the spirit of hope and resilience for a better tomorrow.Many paid the price for where we are today b e f o r e a n d a f t e r independence. They are heroes who sought the good of the nation and did their bits at their time. This edit ion of De Champion Magazine, which is also a maiden edition explores in brief, lives of three among numerous nationalists and leaders who led the

A cultural troupe performs during celebrations to mark Nigeria’s Independence in 1960

who have shaped and made unique impacts on Nigerians through their d i r e c t o r i n d i r e c t contributions to Nigeria economy, politics, social g rowth , educa t ion , business, etc. We all have a part to play. You and I.

I will end with a part of our national solemn (prayer) anthem:“Oh God of creation, direct our noble causeGuide our leader’s rightHelp our youth the truth to knowIn love and honesty to growAnd living just and trueGreat lofty heights attainTo build a nation where peace and justice shall reign.”God bless you as you read along.God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Oluwaseun DavidPublisherDe Champion Magazine

FROM THE DESK

DE CHAMPIONS MAGAZINE ...Heroes and living stars INDEPENDENCE EDITION


African Pilot and t h e A f r i c a n C o n t i n e n t a l Bank. Nnamdi Azikiwe left the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) after the cand ida te he supported was cheated in an election. He went ahead to form the National Council of Nigeria and the C a m e r o o n s (NCNC) and he b e c a m e t h e secretary general in 1946. After the d e a t h o f H e r b e r t Macaulay, he took over as the leader of the NCNC. He contested and became the premier of the Nigeria’s Eastern Region in 1954. He also became the governor general on 16 November in 1960.

Azikiwe was the first Nigerian to be name to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. In 1963, Nnamdi Azikiwe emerged as the first president of Nigeria.Az i k iwees tab l i shed University of Nigeria; served as Chancellor of the same institution between 1961 and 1966. He later became the C h a n c e l l o r o f t h e University of Lagos from

My stiffest earthly assignment is ended, “and my major life’s

work is done. My country is now free and I have been honored to be its first indigenous head of state. What more could one desire in life?”

“Or i g i na l i t y i s t he e s s e n c e o f t r u e scholarship. Creativity is the soul of true scholar”N n a m d i B e n j a m i n Azikiwe was born in the northern part of Nigeria in Zungeru on the 16th of November, 1904. He a t t e n d e d s e v e r a l m i s s i o n s c h o o l s inc luding the CMS central school where he graduated from. After his graduation from the Methodist boy’s School in Lagos he worked as a clerk in the treasury department where he saw publications about schools in the United States of American that admit black student. He applied to the University in the US and kept a part t ime job. After his master ’s degree he worked as a graduate student instructor. He created a course in African History. He also w r o t e c o l u m n f o r newspaper. He was a preacher of nationalism and African pride.

He founded the West

1972 to 1976. He left politics after several failed attempt for the presidency under the platform of the Nigeria People’s Party in 1983.He formed the Zik’s Athletic Club after he was denied the right to participate in athletic. His Club was opened to members from different ethnic, nationalities and social group in the country. The Nigeria national Team is an offshoot of the Zik’s Club.Zik, or “Zik of Africa” as he is popularly known died at the age of 91 on the 11th of May 1996 at the University of Nigeria Teach ing Hosp i ta l , Enugu. Nnamdi Azikiwe loved sport, while in the university, he competed in different athletic c o m p e t i t i o n s . I n addition, Zik was also a swimmer, a boxer and a footballer.

Nnamdi was born in 1904Premier of Eastern Nigeria from 1954 to 1959

1st President of the Senate of Nigeria from 1 Jan 1960 to 1 Oct 1960

3rd Governor General of Nigeria from 16 Nov 1960 to 1 Oct 19631st President of Nigeria from 1 Oct 1963 to 16 Jan 1966

Party: National Council of N i g e r i a a n d t h e CameroonsNigerian People’s Party

He was appointed to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom by Queen Elizabeth II

DE CHAMPIONS MAGAZINE INDEPENDENCE EDITION

SOME FACTS

NNAMDI BENJAMIN AZIKIWE


...Heroes and living stars

Born on the 6th of March 1909 in I j e b u - R e m o town of Ikenne, O g u n S t a t e . A w o l o w o a t tended the Bapt ist Boys’ H igh Schoo l . While he was t e a c h i n g , h e learnt shorthand t yp ing wh i ch helped him to get a job at the Wesley College Ibadan. He also worked as a correspondent for the Nigerian Times.

He graduated from the University of London with a Bachelor in C o m m e r c e a n d proceeded to study law at the same University. He was Called to Bar on 19 November 1946.

Awolowo founded the Nigerian Tribune. He introduced the free Primary Education for All and the free health care for children inthe then Western Region. In 1959, the first Television service in Africa was e s t a b l i s h e d b y

Those of us place in a p o s i t i o n o f “leadership must be

prepared to grasp the nettle if we unite in doing so, and if, in addition, we set a worthy example and a Marat on pace in probity, unselfishness and self-sacrifice, the people will follow, all too readily, in our footsteps”

“Any people that is s ta r ved o f books , especially the right t y p e s , w i l l s u f f e r intellectual malnutrition, stagnation and atrophy”

Awolowo. The Nigerian national currency was named ‘Naira’ by Awolowo.

He was among the first Nigerian to be named the l eader o f t he Y o r u b a s – t h e AsiwajuOmoOdua. He became the first to hold t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f Government Business and Minister of Finance a n d t h e L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t . H e became the first Premier of the Western Region under the Parliamentary System. The political party he founded was the first to move the idea of the independence of Nigeria in the federal parliament.

The University of Ife, which was his project for e d u c a t i o n o f t h e masses, was renamed after him in 1987. He is referred to as “the best president Nigeria never had”


SOME FACTS

OBAFEMI JEREMIAH OYENIYI AWOLOWO

Obafemi was born in 1909.Premier of Western Nigeria from 1 Oct 1954 to 1 Oct 1960

F e d e r a l Commissioner for Finance from 1967 to 1971

Party: Unity Party of NigeriaAction Group

H e n a m e d t h e Nigerian currency, Naira

He introduced the f r e e U n i v e r s a l Primary Education for all and free Health Care children

He established the first Television in Africa

He is one of few past l e a d e r s o n t h e Nigerian currency



mile away from his village. He a t tended the Katsina College where he trained to be a teacher. He rose to be the headmaster of the school. He proceeded to the Univers i ty o f L o n d o n ’ s I n s t i t u t e o f Education and r e t u r n e d t o N i g e r i a a s s c h o o l inspector. He went from the noble profession into politics.

I n 1 9 4 7 h e became a legislator and a de fender o f the northern interest and co-founded the Northern Peop le ’s Congress (NPC) and became the vice president of the party in 1951 at the age o f t h i r t y - n i n e . H e represented the North at the federal level. Tafawa Balewa later became the Minister for Works and later the Minister of Transport. While he o c c u p i e d t h e s e positions, the plan for the construction of the Niger Bridge and the Kanji Dam was initiated. Balewa was instrumental

Bitterness due to political differences “would carry Nigeria

nowhere, I appealed to the political leaders throughout the country to control their extremists”“Our political advance will be of no value if it is n o t s u p p o r t e d b y economic progress”

A b u b a k a r Ta f a w a B a l e w a w a s b o r n December 1912 in the then Northern Nigeria P r o t e c t o r a t e . H e attended the Quranic School at his early age before moving to an elementary school a long

to the struggle for the independence of Nigeria as a nation from under the colonial master. To achieve this, he used his office as a minister to unite the major political f o rces i n d i f f e ren t regions. He was called “the Golden Voice of Africa” because of his eloquence.

H e e x t e n d e d h i s influence also to create, alongside others, the Organization for African Unity in order to establish a c o n n e c t i o n o r association between the Anglo Phone and the Franco phone countries in Africa. He also was instrumental in the mediation during the mayhem in Congo.

Dur ing h is t ime in government, the ministry for foreign affairs and C o m m o n w e a l t h Relations was formed. H e w a s a w a r d e d honorary doctorate from t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Sheffield and New York U n i v e r s i t y. Q u e e n Elizabeth II knighted him a s t h e K n i g h t Commander of the Order o f t h e B r i t i s h Empire.

Abubaka r was known fo r h is simple, modest, a n d S p a r t a n lifestyle.

Abubakar was born in 1912He was the first Prime M i n i s t e r o f Nigeriabefore and after Independence

H e b e c a m e a legislator in 1947

P a r t y : N o r t h e r n Peoples’ Congress

He became Nigerian Minister of Works in 1952 and Minister of Transport in 1954

He was one of the major nationalists w h o f o u g h t f o r N i g e r i a ’ s Independence

Balewa was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1960

He is one of few past l e a d e r s o n t h e Nigerian currency


SOME FACTS

ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA



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