Chukwuma Azikiwe Explained

Chukwuma Azikiwe
Birth Name:Chukwuma Bamidele Azikiwe
Birth Date:February 1940
Death Place:Onitsha, Anambra State
Nationality:Nigerian
Alma Mater:Harvard College, Harvard Business School
Owelle-Osowa-Anya of Onitsha
Parents:
Relatives:
  • Deborah Adadevoh (cousin)[1]

Chief Chukwuma Bamidele Azikiwe (February 1940 – 10 May 2015) was a Nigerian diplomat and political figure. He was the second Owelle-Osowa-Anya of Onitsha and the eldest son of President Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first holder of the chieftaincy.[2]

Education and political career

Azikiwe studied at Harvard College where he participated in track and field (broad jump) and graduated in 1963. He then graduated from Harvard Business School in 1964. He ran unsuccessfully for the Social Democratic Party Anambra State gubernatorial nomination in 1991.[2] After his father died in 1996, he succeeded him as the second Owelle-Osowa-Anya of Onitsha.[3] [4]

Death

Azikiwe died at Borommeo Hospital in Onitsha on 10 May 2015 at the age of 75. He is said to have suffered from respiratory ailments prior to his death.[2] While the Nigerian federal government indicated interest to give him a state burial in which the burial activities were coordinated through some Nigeria State Governors (Lagos, Anambra, Enugu, Oyo, and Kaduna states) at that period,[5] the burial was sponsored by the Anambra State Government.[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: Emmanuel Obe. Azikiwe calls for immortalisation of Adadevoh. 18 September 2015. The Punch. 22 August 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150918192145/http://www.punchng.com/news/azikiwe-calls-for-immortalisation-of-adadevoh/. 18 September 2015.
  2. News: Vincent Ujumadu. Zik’s first son, Chukwuma, dies at 75. 18 September 2015. Vanguard. 12 May 2015. Awka.
  3. News: Obiano Commiserates with Azikiwe Family. 18 September 2015. The Sun. 12 May 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150810140225/http://sunnewsonline.com/new/obiano-commiserates-with-azikiwe-family/. 10 August 2015.
  4. News: Sons and Daughters of Independence Heroes. 18 September 2015. Thisday. 29 September 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121008130058/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/sons-and-daughters-of-independence-heroes/126327/. 8 October 2012.
  5. Web site: 2015-08-21 . Buhari to make Zik’s mausoleum federal institute . 2022-03-12 . Vanguard News . en-US.
  6. Web site: Staff . Daily Post . 2015-09-10 . Zik’s son’s burial: Governor Obiano, Obi of Onitsha dare Buhari . 2022-03-12 . Daily Post Nigeria . en-US.