Nnamdi Azikiwe

Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904-96), full name Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe was a Nigerian politician and statesman. He was the first governor general of independent Nigeria during 1960-63, and its first president from its independence in 1963 to 1966. He was a patriot and was active in nationalist movement; became president of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons, vice-president of the Nigerian National Democratic party, member of the House of Assembly, prime minister of the eastern region, and governor-general of Nigeria. Elected first president of the Nigerian republic in 1963; suspended from office during military uprising in 1966.