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Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe PC, commonly referred to as Zik of Africa, was a Nigerian politician, statesman, and revolutionary leader who served as the first native governor-general of Nigeria from 1960 to 1963 and the first president of Nigeria during the First Nigerian Republic (1963–1966). He is widely regarded as the father of Nigerian nationalism as well as one of the major driving forces behind…
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politics · President of Nigeria from 1963 to 1966 (1904–1996) · writer · politician · journalist · also Nnamdi Azikiwe, Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, Zik, Ben Azikiwe, Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe, Azikiwe
Born 16 November 1904 · Died 11 May 1996 · Q181782
62 published statements · 0 followers
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if you sincerely believe that it is a crime to fight for freedom, then by all means, condemn me to death. Were I to be set free today, I cannot give assurance to muzzle my tongue. As for me, my conscience being clear, I shall be satisfied to leave the final verdict to God and His unfathomable river of time. So, proceed to fulfill the pleasure of those who put you here. I shall leave the final verdict to God.
those of us, who may be rightly described as the makers of contemporary Nigeria, have ushered freedom into our country and preserved our unity as a nation
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“if you sincerely believe that it is a crime to fight for freedom, then by all means, condemn me to death. Were I to be set free today, I cannot give assurance to muzzle my tongue. As for me, my conscience being clear, I shall be satisfied to leave the final verdict to God and His unfathomable river of time. So, proceed to fulfill the pleasure of those who put you here. I shall leave the final verdict to God.”
“those of us, who may be rightly described as the makers of contemporary Nigeria, have ushered freedom into our country and preserved our unity as a nation”
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“if because I am an instrument of destiny through which imperialism in West Africa is to be challenged and liquidated, and if in this mission I am compelled to pay the supreme penalty, then there is no need for me to quake or to quiver. I am becoming convinced day by day that the New Africa is destined to become a reality. No force under the heavens can stem it. Even my death cannot postpone its crystallization.”
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“it is a state where Africans would be divorced from ethnic affiliations and traditional authorities and transformed by five philosophical pillars: spiritual balance, social regeneration, economic determinism, mental emancipation and risorgimento nationalism”
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bsnsports.com.ng: Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Undergoes Massive Renovation Ahead Of New Season
The Sun Nigeria: Chinese Embassy hails Nnamdi Azikiwe University student over advancement in Chinese Proficiency Competition
dailynewsngr.com.ng: Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu to be ready before Sports Festival – Site Manager Assures
The Guardian Nigeria News: 2026 National Sports Festival: Contractor assures of speedy completion of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu
Nature: Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK)
The Nation Newspaper: Alumni demand withdrawal, review of requirements for Nnamdi Azikiwe University VC
To support MSU international African students to Africa for research
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Duke of Shomolu Foundation produced a play based on the life and times of Azikiwe
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The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari undertook the completion of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoluem and was declared a National monument
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Ben Obi initiated the Zik Annual Lecture Series to immortalize the good works and legacies of Azikiwe
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Died 1996-05-11.
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“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.”
“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.”
“Originality is the essence of true scholarship. Creativity is the soul of the true scholar.”
Azikiwe went to the launching of Nnamdi Azikiwe Centre in Zungeru, his place of birth, by President Ibrahim Babangida
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Gave Azikiwe a chance for a political comeback
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Making unsuccessful bids for the presidency in 1979 and 1983
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Azikiwe married his second wife Uche Azikiwe when she was 26
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Making him a first-rank hereditary red cap nobleman (Ndichie Ume) in the Igbo branch of the Nigerian chieftaincy system
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The first University to award Nigerian degrees
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Career landmark: President of Nigeria (1963–1966).
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Azikiwe commissioned the first brewery plant built by Guinness outside of Ireland and Great Britain in Lagos
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Became a second-rank red cap chieftain (Ndichie Okwa) as the Oziziani Obi
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Azikiwe urged African leaders in a Lagos conference, to create an organization of African states
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Career landmark: President of the Senate of Nigeria (1960–1960).
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Our first attempt to ascertain the population of Nigeria was the census exercise in 1962
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With Sir Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister and Dr
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Career landmark: Governor-General of Nigeria (1960–1963).
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The last British official left the NFA, and on 22 August 1960, a few weeks prior to its formal independence, Nigeria joined the world football body of FIFA
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Azikiwe addressed British and Nigerian delegates at the 1957 Lancaster House Conference, where the federal constitution for an independent Nigeria was prepared
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After a new constitution was put into effect
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And the NCNC-dominated regional assembly made proposals to accommodate him
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And, like the Richards constitution, called for elections to the regional House of Assembly
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Became leader of the Opposition to the government of Obafemi Awolowo in the Western Region's House of Assembly
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Some ZAC players participated in a tour of England
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Abdallah was dismissed from his job with the Kano Rediffusion Service, a radio broadcasting service
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And Azikiwe contested one of the Lagos seats to delay its implementation
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A recognition for Onitsha men with significant accomplishments
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To defend Azikiwe's life and his ideals of self-government
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British governor Arthur Richards presented proposals for a revision of the Clifford constitution of 1922
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The group acquired Dusé Mohamed Ali's The Comet
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The British Council sponsored eight West African editors (including Azikiwe), and he and six other editors used the opportunity to raise awareness of possible political independence
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The club went on to win both the Lagos League and the War Memorial Cup
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While the executive council selected Ernest Ikoli
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And published in Port Harcourt), and the Nigerian Spokesman in Onitsha
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And founded the West African Pilot, a newspaper which he used to promote nationalism in Nigeria, while the Zik Group established newspapers treating topics in politics and economy in important cities throughout the count
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Where he started working as a journalist in the Gold Coast (present day Ghana)
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Zik was denied the right to compete in a track and field event because Nigeria was not allowed to participate
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And a letter which he addressed to the then Pan-Africanist civil rights activist, W
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Receiving a master's degree in religion and philosophy from Lincoln University in 1932 and a master's degree in anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1933
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Transferred from Howard University to Lincoln University to complete his undergraduate studies and graduated in 1930 with a BA in political science
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Witnessed an extraordinary massacre of women in Opobo by British commanded soldiers and other areas in eastern region
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To obtain a bachelor's degree in political science
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His father was posted back to Southern Nigeria Protectorate, in the city of Calabar
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Was back to Onitsha and finished his secondary education at CMS Central School
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While his father was working in Lagos, Azikiwe was bitten by a dog; this prompted his worried father to send him to Lagos, that he may heal and continue school in the city
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To live with his paternal grandmother and aunt to learn the Igbo language and culture
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Born 1904-11-16.
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if because I am an instrument of destiny through which imperialism in West Africa is to be challenged and liquidated, and if in this mission I am compelled to pay the supreme penalty, then there is no need for me to quake or to quiver. I am becoming convinced day by day that the New Africa is destined to become a reality. No force under the heavens can stem it. Even my death cannot postpone its crystallization.
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