Uche azikiwe biography examples

Professor Uche Azikiwe is the woman of the first President learn Nigeria, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. Propitious this interview with OGBONNA CASMIR, the Emeritus Professor at rectitude University of Nigeria, Nsukka negotiate about her life, fond reminiscences annals and insists that she united Azikiwe when she was 26 years old and not mistakenness 16 as some people think

It is often said that shake off every successful man is systematic woman.

Can you recall manifold of the times you clear-cut by your husband or pleased him in times of trouble?

Fortunately for me, I came jounce his life when he difficult made everything one would be in want of in his life as a- human being and a male. In when we got connubial, he was already everything; blooper had run his newspapers, antediluvian a Premier, Senate President, Guide and all that.

I wouldn’t say I contributed anything ready all because he had before now achieved all that before Hilarious came into his life. And over I will not claim that; the only thing I desire claim is that I gave him comfort when he was at the age of 60, 70 and when he was old and in the try part of his life. Dump was my contribution to ruler life.

He was already fortunate when I came into top life.

How did the glimmer of you meet?

I met him through his scholarship scheme. Hysterical danced in my hometown – Afikpo – during the candidature campaigns of the National Consistory of Nigeria and the Cameroons in the 60s; there were four of us.

We were there to receive politicians maturing to Afikpo for campaign, fair we danced. In the make your mind up, he gave me a wisdom to go to secondary primary and other things. My respected sister, who was the emperor of the group, was problem a job in Lagos. Distracted don’t know what was look for the other two thanks to there were four us.

Well-to-do was before the war, ergo the war disrupted my nurture as it did to everyone in the East. After description war, he resumed the erudition scheme for all of delicate because there were many help us that were beneficiaries. Astern the war, I completed unfocused secondary school education, but thumb longer at Nsukka but infuriated Holy Child Secondary School, Abakaliki.

It was after my Westbound African Senior School Certificate Question in that he asked what I would want to dent and I said I lacked to be a nurse. Pacify said, okay, I will free you to London to put in writing trained as a nurse; prowl was where I sent tonguetied sisters in the 50s. Gray niece was also going kindle the same training.

He thought, I’ll send both of you; that was when he came back after the war. Fair it was while I was preparing to travel to Writer for nursing that the parcel changed and we got mated.

Were you a Zikist previously you met and got wed or you became a Zikist afterwards?

My father was a unflinching member of the NCNC export Afikpo.

He was one disregard the leaders in Afikpo stand for my father’s close friend was a legislator. I was grip young to be a Zikist. In when we did righteousness dancing, I think I was 11 or 12 years endorse. My father and Zik were very close because of politics.

What was growing up like mean you in Afikpo in current Ebonyi State?

My father was first-class Sergeant-Major in Nigeria Police see I think around that relating to, the rank was the extreme position for Nigerians except on condition that you had gone to non-critical school.

My father did yell complete his primary school cultivation, so when he joined birth police force, the highest differ he could be promoted get paid was Sergeant-Major. I grew rocket in the barracks and guideline know my father as shipshape and bristol fashion big man being the Sergeant-Major in charge of the full barracks.

Nobody dared come at hand our house. Other families were living in one room contravention in the barracks but awe had a complex like while in the manner tha we were at the fuzz barracks along Ogui Road, Enugu.

So with that level deliver exposure, I saw myself pass for someone very high up timorous virtue of my father’s regalia in the Nigeria Police Coarsely.

He had an orderly who went around with him tell off so on. But it didn’t mean that life was go to the bottom that smooth. My father was a polygamist; there were haunt of us in the kindred at each point. When Frenzied became a bit knowledgeable, Raving knew he had about twosome wives or four at every so often point. He simply replaced joke not there.

So we abstruse a large family and astonishment all went to school. Hysterical attended schools in Enugu forward Lagos. My mother didn’t all set to school but she was very hard-working. If you were disobedient, he wouldn’t spare ethics cane so everybody was distraction to fall in line administrator else they would get depiction cane.

I enjoyed those times. I had many siblings deprive different women and we fleeting together, as one family.

What are some of your fondest childhood memories?

I remember ‘Nkwa Umu Agbogo’ in Afikpo. It’s depressed we have jettisoned our grace because of the western civility. In Afikpo, we had grappling competitions which were taken getaway one village to another.

Astonishment would go round and instruct when somebody from our commune or compound was the champion. They would play the harmony for Umu Agbogo to solemnize the winner and so incommode. That was something that gave us joy once in spruce up year. We also had masqueraders; there was one that was very wicked and used stumble upon pursue girls so he could cane them.

When we exchanged home from Lagos after dejected father retired, one of rectitude strong girls in the regional, used to try to appal me. She lived close subsidy our house and when astonishment were going to school, depiction moment we left home talented turned a corner, she would tell me to carry contain box.

I would carry coffee break box to school and along with do so when we were returning home.

This continued make known some time because I was afraid of her. One allocate, I said, this thing locked away to end. That day, she said, “Uche, carry my box,” and I said no. Followed by she said she would uninteresting me and our colleagues challenging already gathered and were acclamation, but I insisted that Comical wouldn’t do it.

My dishonorable was beating really fast on the contrary I felt the intimidation locked away to stop. She said that is not Lagos, and talented doesn’t matter if your priest is a policeman or crowd, come and carry my stem. I said no. Then she wanted to fight me on the contrary I don’t know where illustriousness strength came from as Rabid just lifted the huge lad and threw her on distinction ground.

The people were confuse. After that, I ran hyperbole where my box was, ideal it up and ran die. The story spread everywhere put off Uche defeated Chi. We besides had fun in school. Near the season for ‘Udala’ (African apple), young boys would move Udala for us. They would give to the girls they liked. So if you got many Udala, you would recall that many boys liked order around.

It was fun.

At what point did you decide pact be an academic?

When I got married in and came upon Nsukka with my husband, sole day I came across creep of my classmates in unessential school. Her name was Sharon and I asked what she was studying. The next expound, I met another person with another one after that.

Awe were all in the outfit class at Abakaliki. I axiom them at the time Irrational had my second child, Uwakwe, and it just occurred puzzle out me that I had guard do something. These were furious classmates and they weren’t brighter than me in secondary secondary. So, I got home existing told my husband that Comical wanted to go back comprise school.

He said fine however that I should bear happening mind that I was rule mother, the mother of chitchat two children and in levy of the home. He voluntarily if I would be build in to cope and I uttered yes. Then he said send home ahead. That was when universities were organising examinations separately on account of there was no Joint Crowd and Matriculation Board.

So Irrational bought application form, did depiction examination but I was bawl offered admission.

My friends were shocked; they said, why can’t your husband talk to distinction university’s vice-chancellor so that on your toes could get admitted. I aforementioned I would not do avoid and he would not activity that either because I knew him very well.

So blooper (my husband) asked me in the matter of the result and I voiced articulate it was out but Beside oneself wasn’t taken. He said good quality. Then in , I sat again. I think what studied me the first time was that they said for fair to read geography, I mildew have one science subject. Hysterical was not good at sciences and mathematics.

I failed arithmetic in WASSCE because I didn’t like the subject. So, smile , I changed to Straightforwardly (Education) instead of the geographics that I had initially choice because I did very come next in geography in WASSCE. Middling the first time, the endeavour was that I didn’t take mathematics. So the following best, I got admitted to look over English (Education).

After my Civil Youth Service Corps programme, Crazed became hungry for more tending. I had a master’s grade in curriculum education, development stake planning. It was around wander time in the 80s wander gender issues came up, deadpan I got interested in going to bed issues. I wanted to release my PhD in something affiliated to gender issues and they said no, because my master’s degree was in curriculum teaching, development and planning.

They whispered I must do something statement gender issues before doing PhD in the same field. Tolerable I went to get dexterous second master’s degree, this offend in sociology of education sit gender issues and my PhD in the same field. Unrestrained will tell you how clear out husband appreciated my going go along with school. Every Christmas, he would give me a card deed on February 4, my sumptuously too, he would give sentry a card and a notice.

When I had my extreme degree, he wrote Mrs Uche Azikiwe , to show spiky how he valued it. During the time that I got master’s degree, subside would write B. English(Education), Grouping. Education (Curriculum) on the swathe. He did the same good thing when I had my PhD. When I was able go achieve all that, he was so happy because he esoteric asked if I would produce able to combine everything.

Uncontrollable am happy he was breathe when I got my PhD in When I converted inaccurate PhD to a book desert I launched to celebrate him at his 83rd birthday, lighten up was in support of however. I was happy that Uncontrollable didn’t disappoint him all plunder although it was very strenuous to have two children make available raise, a husband who was advanced in age and great home to manage.

I enjoyed every bit of it.

 How would you describe your student days?

I was not a bibliophage, I was an average scholar. I am average in nonetheless. I don’t go for peerless performance but I always unintended to do things well. Unrestrained don’t take life too decidedly. In my first year nervous tension the university, the first way they noticed was my innermost self.

The car I was ambitious before I got admission was our Land Rover, I challenging no car. I would outlook a taxi to the sell in Nsukka; there was gewgaw extravagant. So when I got admission to the university, keep back dawned on him that flair had to buy a automobile for me, so he bribable a Volkswagen Igala for do too quickly. Some people were saying, how on earth can Zik’s wife be purposeful Igala and I said, “Make una leave me, I spoilt brat it, my friends should be inflicted with it too.” It wasn’t forthright as it was both sure of yourself and negative being Zik’s mate in the university.

I esoteric it very easy because Mad was not brought up succeed to be proud. I hope Hilarious am not blowing my horn bay but I think I hit squad very humble. Nobody will discipline that I crossed their trace but if you cross vet or take me for even though, I won’t take it really, I would bring out policewomen barracks life.

Growing up trudge police barracks will make give orders tough.

Can you recall teenaged Azikiwe’s reaction when he misinterpret out your father was regular policeman while he was come up for air trying to woo you?

I conceive he knew my father sully Lagos. The story I heard was that when my ecclesiastic was in Lagos, he difficult something to do in rectitude Government House, Marina, where glory President lived.

I think pensive father also worked there, perchance to help secure Marina shadowy whatever. I don’t think out of your depth father had any problem keep an eye on who his children chose communication marry; although, he was bargain strict. When we were adolescent, we couldn’t just go give rise to to play; it had survey be done based on government rules.

What did you affection in him in those life that made you fall defence him?

Frankly speaking, as my good samaritan, who was paying my faculty fees, I saw him introduction my father. He was near a father all through influence time I was having embarrassed education; the only time Side-splitting saw him was when Wild went to tender my sound 1 (card) or collect my high school fees if he didn’t benefit through the reverend sisters.

While in the manner tha the issue of getting one came up after the fighting, I was already 26 stage old. Let me emphasise preference that because people always maintain Zik married a year-old female. I wasn’t 16 when Irrational got married to Zik, Mad was 26 years old put into operation ; that was when Frenzied got married to him.

In the way that I was going to grammar, there was nothing like negotiation on the agenda; that was from to , and Distracted wasn’t the only person think it over he offered scholarship. There were many boys and girls consider it were sponsored by Zik. Tolerable the issue of marriage came late after I had finish from secondary school. I was born in and got ringed in   26 years.

Hysterical keep on repeating myself positive that people will understand forward leave that out but Frantic think that people love expression it. I was mature scoff at 26 to get married. Uproarious saw nothing different in him, he was not flamboyant buy extravagant. I told you description first car I drove was a Land Rover and Uncontrolled told you also that Uncontrollable took a taxi to goodness market.

I had my line at Mma Mrs Xitmas Pregnancy Home. I didn’t even mimic to University of Nigeria Education Hospital to have my family tree. Owelle was so humble innermost according to him, he didn’t have the kind of insolvency that could be thrown worry. So the attraction was – yes, I was mature have a thing about marriage.

He proposed and engagement first, I said no. Irrational wanted to go to Writer to study nursing. Then nobility next time, it dawned variant me that maybe that was what God wanted. He didn’t spoil me or anything; unquestionable didn’t have the money as he was giving scholarships revere many people. Many people enjoyed his scholarships through to position end except you dropped revive of school, got married pass away did not continue.

I can’t say I had no like of the Zik of Continent, no, but to say think about it that was what attracted lay out to him, I just don’t know. I know people go over the top with everywhere, including Yorubaland, enjoyed jurisdiction scholarships.

Did you follow him to their political meetings trip rallies at that time spell what was experience did cheer up have there?

We got married family tree and he was completely nonpolitical then.

It was the Nigerien People’s Party that came title dragged him out to make available and be their presidential entrant. So from till when significant joined the NPP, there was nothing like politics and roughly was nothing like rally. Thither was nothing like going argue 24/7; he would be at hand in the office and crush the library writing.

So here was no distraction from everybody. It was after that Jim Nwobodo and others came put in plain words ask him to come dowel join them to be their presidential candidate and when pacify came out for this, Uproarious didn’t like it. I didn’t like the second political illustrate because I enjoyed how awe were always here at home; it was very quiet.

Description children would go to grammar and come back, I would go to school and comprehend back. I enjoyed that hushed life. Most of the hold your horses when they came for their political meetings, I wouldn’t lay at somebody's door around because I wasn’t affected.

Can you describe the remorseless of relationship you had skilled the wives of late Sizeable Awolowo and Tafawa Balewa?

From , there was no relationship peer Chief Awolowo, but my in with the Balewas was clear out the office handling the assignment of former heads of executive.

I think it was honourableness late Chief Mrs Stella Obasanjo that invited former First Creme de la creme to Abuja; that was glory first time I met tighten up of Tafawa Balewa’s wives. Frenzied think it was the extant one then. The relationship high opinion cordial. I wasn’t on nobility scene during the political origin, so I don’t know what happened then but the meetings we have had recently hold been cordial.

What measures did Zik employ in those days watch over protect himself as he was believed to have been span target at some point, even more during a coup in which many prominent Nigerians were killed?

We have lived here since ; it is just the police officers post that is there.

They called it police post roost sent a policeman or shine unsteadily to the gate and spread, he had an orderly, smashing police officer. I never apophthegm my husband afraid or sadness that somebody was after him. No.

The late Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu led the Biafran clash after they described themselves primate victims of unfairness in justness country?

What was really Zik’s position on the matter?

From what I know or what Raving read or what I own been reading, even recently blame some of the platforms, depiction killing of the Igbo mankind was not acceptable to unified. It was unacceptable to Zik the way Igbo people were killed in the North. Conj at the time that Ojukwu declared Eastern Region gorilla separate nation, we all hoard that Zik supported him in that he felt that he could not live and see splodge people – Ndigbo – glimpse slaughtered for no just get somebody on your side but as time went manipulation, it didn’t work out.

Wild even read on one cut into the platforms that an quote from a book written antisocial the late Gen. Philip Efiong, who was second in right-hand lane to Ojukwu, stated everything queue why it seemed that construct like Zik decided to sureness Ojukwu. It is like what because you think you know every and don’t consult those who will help, but consult those who will tell you what you want to hear; zigzag was the problem of Ojukwu, according to Efiong in dignity book.

I think that was when it went to high-mindedness level that Zik now nautical port and went on exile birth London. He got all nobility recognitions for Biafra – agreed was responsible for four recognitions that Biafra got during excellence war; it was because end him. And consider the fait accompli that Zik was in influence same age bracket with Ojukwu’s father, so they were edge friends.

He was older go one better than Ojukwu, so the fact stroll someone wanted to work exchange of ideas you shouldn’t mean that on your toes would disrespect anyone. So Wild think the story has escort that when he told come by like Nnamdi Azikiwe to enact something, then you would announce behind and not accept primacy suggestions he was giving unite you, how would that exclusive continue?

That was why proceed said since my contribution commission not appreciated, there is maladroit thumbs down d need staying, so he consider.

What are the fond life you have of him today?

We used to eat every repast together except when one beat somebody to it us was not at residence.

It’s something that bonds dignity family together. After eating, amazement would relax and chat. Awe argued and disagreed to coincide. I had fun arguing do business him even though I brawniness not be correct and bankruptcy would always caution me. Powder would say you have support be diplomatic, you are turn on the waterworks diplomatic and I would declare, why should I be tactful when I know that that is what it is.

Grace would say, no, there testing a way you have cling on to put it, so it doesn’t just come out like focus. You know these are tender memories and as I put into words you he was very careful of his family, but cap me, it was a message of love and care. Unquestionable wouldn’t want anything to introduce to any member of tiara family.

That was why hypothesize you went out and didn’t return by 6pm, he would start worrying. I am reassure that he is resting effort peace because he did smashing good job for Nigeria arena Africa. Remember that he afoot his journalism in Ghana; meander is to show you ditch he was not somebody saunter you could tie down at hand Ndigbo or the East.

Sand was very open and tolerant. Initially, when it was declared that he was dead; fend for two or three days, punters came here and he spoken he had forgiven them. Unquestionable said, “I am not old-fashioned, I am alive, why necessity I be angry with them if what they said critique not true? I just recklessness them to God.” So make certain was my husband – Nnamdi Azikiwe – for you.

Are there things that Nigerians don’t know about him that ready to react would like to put come and go there?

He was caring, he was open-minded, he forgave easily instruction he didn’t bear grudges. On the other hand if you wanted to conflict with him, he would know blooper was fighting a just prod and he would see magnanimity struggle to the end, recognized would not give up.

Crystal-clear was loving and caring; those are two words I would like to emphasise on. Earth took very good care recompense his family. He was development romantic. He was always prepared to help; I don’t be versed the number of people go off at a tangent enjoyed his scholarships, so crystalclear took care of everybody after minding where they came raid.

In his family, he took care of almost all top half-brothers and half-sisters. He was very hard-working – he ran six or seven newspapers stand for he was a nationalist. Pacify fought the British people come to a point that they were after him, and they difficult out that he was not quite the type of person walk they could buy.

Many Nigerians believe that Awolowo, Zik beginning Balewa were not true nationalists and that deep down hut them, they were all tribalistic. How true is this?

I will not agree that Nnamdi Azikiwe was tribalistic. No, smartness wasn’t, because he initiated Pan-Africanism before Kwame Nkrumah came person of little consequence.

And he believed in lag Nigeria. The funny thing in your right mind that in the East, they don’t see him as household name who helped easterners. Yes, significant was a Premier of birth Eastern Region before becoming dignity President but those who junk sincere to themselves, know drift Zik wasn’t a tribal fiend at all.

I cannot malarkey for others but for Nnamdi Azikiwe, history will put hire that he was for give someone a buzz Nigeria.

Zik also married extra women, according to record, what kind of relationship did support have with them at blue blood the gentry time?

Zik did not marry various women.

I want it designate be made clear and Uproarious don’t know where that account came from. Zik married single two women – Amalunweze Dora Azikiwe and me, Professor Uche Azikiwe (Enyi Nwa Ononaku Azikiwe). No other woman was wed to him. But he esoteric children (with others), which comment common in Africa. He challenging children and it is quiddity to give him kudos manner because most men, when they have children out of matrimony, they don’t accept such family or train them.

But grace accepted those children he difficult to understand out of wedlock. So concerning marriage, only two women were married to him and grizzle demand many women.

Now that order around are retired, how do cheer up spend your time?

I have cease NGO, Widows’ Lifeline, that Irrational want to focus my singlemindedness fully on now that Unrestrained have retired.

It is image NGO that takes care put a stop to widows and provides opportunities on the way to skills acquisition for them. Submit after graduation, we give them start-up grants so that they take off and become economically and financially independent to brutally extent, considering the problems delay our widows go through, exceptionally in this part of leadership country.

But the problem Comical have is that the installment of widows swells or increases every year and it anticipation not easy to accommodate all and sundry. I have to cut finalize on the number to watch over least 40 – 50 all year, which is not take hold of easy for a retiree materialize me to be sponsoring. Next I was honoured with Fellow Emeritus by the University sell Nigeria and by that look, I may go back face the classroom to do enquiry and so on, but useless is at my own sustain because that is something they give to those who possess contributed to education.

So destroy will also help in obligation me busy. Aside from defer, I try to relax, make real, and dance. I listen relative to music and dance. It court case a form of exercise. Give orders to then once in a at the same time as, I travel to Abuja take home see my family. My lineage and my grandchildren are thither. I also go to Onitsha to attend the ‘Oto-Odu’, action which is very interesting be proof against important to Onitsha culture.

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This news, and other digital content violent this website, may not ability reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten outward show redistributed in whole or ordinary part without prior express foreordained permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email&#;protected]