Many Firsts of Ndi Igbo in Nigeria

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Ndigbo are certainly in the forefront of every aspect of life in Nigeria, and indeed in Africa. Igbo have produced world class peronalities, many who are pacesetters in Nigeria.

Below is a list of some of the many firsts of Nd'Igbo in Nigeria.

1.                           Nnamdi Azikiwe         

a.     First Nigerian Governor-general (Nov. 16, 1960)

b.     First president of Nigeria (1963)

c.      The only man in history whose name appeared in the Constitution of his country (Nigeria's Republican Constitution of 1963)

2.                           Nwafor Orizu   

a.     First Senate President of the Federal republic of Nigeria (1960-1966)

b.     First Acting President of the federation (1965-1966)

3.                           Aguiyi Ironsi  - First Nigerian officer to the position of General Officer Commanding (GOC) Nigeria Army (Feb. 9, 1965)

4.                           Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu  - First African multi-millionaire

5.                           Chike Obi          - First Nigerian Professor of Mathematics (1970)

6.                           Kenneth Dike     - First Nigerian VC of a University (University of Ibadan)

7.                           Eugene Akosa Keazor - Former Nigerian police officer in the colonial years who held the most senior police rank ever held by an African in the British colony

8.                           Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu - First graduate to enlist in the Nigerian army

9.                           Chinua Achebe - First African writer whose books are standard curricula in schools and universities across the world

10.                      Emeka Anyaoku - First black Secretary-General of the Commonwealth

11.                      Alex Ekwueme

a.     First executive vice president of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria (1979)

b.     First to run indigenous Architectural firm in Nigeria

12.                      F. C. Nwokedi    - First Nigerian Permanent Secretary

13.                      Cardinal Arinze  - Cardinal at the Vatican who was first Nigerian to be  in contest in  conclave to succeed  a Pope

14.                      Father Owena Tansi - First Nigerian to be beatified a Saint in the Catholic Church

15.                      Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna -  First black African to win a gold medal in an international games  competition; winning gold in high jump at the 1954 Commonwealth games)

16.                      Oby Ezekwesili  - First World Bank Vice President

17.                      Pius Okigbo  - First Nigerian Economic Adviser to the Federal Government of Nigeria

18.                      Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy - First black artist to officially paint the Portrait of the Queen of  England

19.                      Samuel Okoye  - Black Africa's first PhD in Radio Astronomy who along with Anthony Hewish  of the University of Cambridge discovered the radio source of Crab Nebula neutron star

20.                      Chief Mike Okpala aka Power Mike  -  Nigeria's First World Heavyweight wrestling champion

21.                      Jaja Nwachukwu        - First Speaker of Nigerian Federal House of Assembly

22.                      Leo Stan Ekeh (Chairman/CEO  Zinox Technologies Limited)  -Manufacturer of Nigeria's  First Internationally Certified Branded Computers

23.                      Chile Eboe-Osuji -  first Nigerian Judge of the International Criminal Court

24.                      Prof Chike Obi  - First Nigerian to receive a PhD in mathematics (in 1950)

25.                      Emmanuel Okala  - Nigeria's First African Footballer of the year

26.                      Innocent Chukwuma, (Innoson) - Built Nigeria's first private vehicle manufacturing plant

27.                      Ifeanyi Okoye (Juhel) - Built the first and the biggest WHO standard Pharmaceutical plant in Nigeria

28.                      African Continental Bank    - First indigenous bank in Nigeria established by the Eastern Govt

29.                      University of Nigeria - Nigeria’s First indigenous University

30.                      Prof Ben Nwabueze - First academic lawyer to be made a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)

31.                      Christian Chukwu - First Nigerian Football captain to lift the African  Nations Cup

32.                      Uzoamaka Nwizu - First woman Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs

33.                      Joseph Ikem Odumodu - First Nigerian to be elected President of African Organisation for Standardisation.

Am sure you may have other entries that can make the list of many firsts of Ndi Igbo in Nigeria. Your comment is welcome.