Men of History – Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik of Africa)

Nnamdi Azikiwe fondly renowned as ‘Zik of Africa’ was an elder statesman, journalist, sportsman, politician and scholar.

• Nnamdi Azikiwe was born on 16th November, 1904 and died 11th of May 1996 in Enugu.
• Azikiwe was one of the foremost Nigerian and West African nationalists and the first President of Nigeria in 1963.
• He founded the West African Pilot in 1937, a platform he used to foster Nigerian nationalism. He later founded the Zik Group of Newspapers which he used to publish multiple newspapers across the country.
• Azikiwe co-founded the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) alongside Herbert Macaulay in 1944.
• In 1952, he was elected to the position of Chief Minister of Eastern region and in 1954 became the premier of Nigeria’s Eastern Region.
• On 16 November 1960, he became the Governor General, with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister.
• Azikiwe became the first President of Nigeria in 1963 and was removed from power in the military coup of 15 January 1966.

Quotes

“My stiffest earthly assignment is ended and my major life’s work is done. My country is now free and I have been honoured to be its first indigenous head of state. What more could one desire in life?”

“Originality is the essence of true scholarship. Creativity is the soul of the true scholar.”

“It is better we disintegrate in peace and not in pieces.”

“No matter how old an individual may be, no matter if he is young or old, if he thinks in accordance with the times he is immortal.”

“There is plenty of room at the top because very few people care to travel beyond the average route. And so most of us seem satisfied to remain within the confines of mediocrity.”

“The realization of New Africa can only be possible by the African cultivating spiritual balance, which leads to the practicalization of social regeneration, to realizing economic determination, becoming mentally emancipated, and ushering in a political resurgence.”

Some of his works

Zik (1961); Before Us Lies the Open Grave (1947); I Believe in One Nigeria (1969); Renascent Africa (1973);Ideology for Nigeria: Capitalism, Socialism or Welfarism? (1980); History Will Vindicate The Just (1983).

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