Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (1933 - 2011)

Born 4 Nov 1933 in Zungeru, Wushishi, Niger, Nigeria

Died 26 Nov 2011 at age 78 in London, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Emeka Ojukwu is Notable.

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was a Nigerian military officer and politician who served as President of the Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 during the Nigerian Civil War. He subsequently fled to Ivory Coast in exile.^[1]

Chukwuemeka "Emeka" Odumegwu Ojukwu was born on 4 November 1933 in Zungeru in northern Nigeria. His father was Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu.^[1]

He was educated first at King's College, Lagos, and later at Epsom College and later Lincoln College, Oxford University, where he earned a master's degree in History. He returned to Nigeria in 1956 where he joined the civil service. He later enlisted in the military as a non-commissioned officer. He was subsequently transferred to officer training and received commission in 1958 as 2nd Lieutenant.^[1]

In 1966, during the aftermath of a military coup, he was appointed Military Governor for the Eastern Region. A series of subsequent events led then-Colonel Odemuegwu-Ojukwe to declare Eastern Nigeria a sovereign state to be known as Biafra. The subsequent civil war with Nigeria lasted about three years, before Biafra lost. Ojukwu left for the Ivory Coast where he was granted political asylum. He was pardoned in 1982 and allowed to return to Nigeria.^[1]

Ikemba Odumegwu Ojukwu died on 26 Nov 2011 in the United Kingdom, age 78. He was flown back to Nigeria with military honors, and buried in Nnewi, Nigeria.^[1]

Ojukwu married Bianca Onoh in 1994, his third marriage. They had three children, Afamefuna, Chineme and Nwachukwu.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Wikipedia (English): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chukwuemeka_Odumegwu_Ojukwu

See also:

• Wikidata: Item Q380670, en:Wikipedia