Great philosophers often say that attaining the position of leadership is without doubt a burden bearing in mind that not all leaders possess all that it takes to bear the leadership burden successfully. If a person emerges as a leader in an exceptional circumstance, such a person by whatever standard is without doubt not out of the way. One of such in Nigeria today is, Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme born on October 21, 1932, from Oko, Anambra State and the first executive vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 1979 to 1983 who by the special grace of God recently turned 80 years old.
In addition, there are certain personalities and authorities that are irresistible to historians, biographers or chroniclers of certain significant epochs either because of the circumstances of their birth, their life or because of their specific and strategic impact of their contributions to their society. Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme is known for this. Unarguably, he is a man of impeccable credentials and many qualities rolled into one and highly focused, reasonable and intelligent, performing his national and international duties with utmost diligence, transparency and accountability.
It is a truism to say that Dr. Alex Ifeanychukwu Ekwueme has been a very well known name in public discourse in view of his professionalism, excellence and versatility. In other words, his prolific interventions and interjections constitute a body of discourse which can be used as a reference material in Nigeria’s journey towards statehood.
Dr. Ekwueme started primary school at the St. John’s Anglican Central School, Ekwulobia, before he proceeded to Kings College, Lagos. As an awardee of the Fulbright scholarship in the United States of America (USA), being one of the first Nigerians to gain the award, Dr. Ekwueme attended the University of Washington where he obtained Bachelor’s degree in architecture and city planning. He further earned a master’s degree in urban planning. To properly exhibit his intelligence, Dr. Ekwueme also earned degrees in sociology, history, philosophy and law from the University of London. In quest of further studies and in order to reach the end of academics, he later obtained a Ph.D. in architecture from the University of Strathclyder before obtaining the B.L. (Honours) degree from the Nigerian law school.
On his career, Dr. Ekwueme started his professional career as an Assistant Architect with a Seattle based firm, Leo A. Paly and Associates, and also with the London-based firm Nickson and partners. On his return to Nigeria, he took appointment with Esso West Africa, Lagos overseeing the construction and maintenance department.
In order to display professionalism and assist in the development of professional human resources, Dr. Ekwueme opened a private business “Ekwueme Associates Architects and town planning”. It is a well known fact that Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme made history because his firm was the first indigenous architectural outfit in Nigeria. It is on record that his practice made a significant progress with sixteen (16) officers spread all over the country. It was wound up in preparation for Dr. Ekwueme assuming office as first executive vice president of Nigeria. He had presided over the Nigerian Institute of Architects and had the Architects Regulations Council of Nigeria. To make himself relevant professionally, he is currently chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Institute of Architects. Prior to gaining limelight as the vice president of Nigeria in 1979, Dr. Ekwueme participated very immensely in the socio economic development of his community including his other public service roles within his community. As part of his efforts to increase education, he has an Educational Trust Fund (ETF) that has been very much responsible for the sponsorship of education of several youths to universities both in Nigeria and foreign countries.
In view of his versatility, ability, agility and organized ways, Dr. Ekwueme was a member of the housing sub-committee of the Adebo salaries and wages commission. He also served for many years on the board of the Anambra State Housing Development Authority, he also participated in the Nigeria National Constitutional Conference (NCC) in Abuja, where he served on the structure and framework of the constitution.
Dr. Ekwueme’s famous proposals at the NCC for a just and equitable power sharing in Nigeria based on the six geographical zones have been accepted and now being applied and it is helping for a stable Nigerian polity. It is on record that Dr. Ekwueme mobilized thirty-four (34) eminent Nigerians who risked their lives to stand against the dictatorship of the late General Sanni Abacha. He was the founding chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees. Dr. Ekwueme is a renowned and well known philanthropist, public servant and a man of peace.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of Canada based forum of federations and also a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Council of elders. Dr. Ekwueme was the leader of the team assembled by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) for pre-election monitoring at zimbabwe in 2000. He was the leader of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) now African Union (AU) observer team to the Tanzania presidential and parliamentary election in 2000. He also led the 20-member NDI to monitor the Liberian run-off election in 2005. Dr. Ekwueme was called upon recently by the ruling PDP (the biggest political party in Africa) to head a reconciliation committee on the wake of intra party discord and after the last presidential election.
Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, politican, architect, lawyer, rose from obscurity to emerge the running mate to Alhaji Aliyu Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1978. He took a break from active politics after a military coup swept the Shagari’s regime off the saddle. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the presidency on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 1999 party caucus in Jos.
He has been honoured with the Order of the Republic of Guinea and Nigeria, second highest national honours of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). Dr. Ekwueme is the benefactor and patron of Alex Ekwueme’s Foundation. A distinguished architect, an accomplished politician, a symbol of excellence and an epitome of strength, caring, charming and has an open mind. His kind-heartedness is legendary with high administrative capability.
Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme believes in this wise quote and he exhibited it while he was the vice president “Life is not about competing, it is about complimenting each other”. He is a man dedicated to the pursuit of excellence. He is an impeccable man who set excellent standard, a wonderful and indomitable executive who never mind how long it takes him to execute his projects as far as they are impeccable. He is a servant leader, the kind of leadership that Nigeria needs. Dr. Ekwueme is in a class of his own with distinct credible character traits. He is intellectually wealthy especially in his field of architecture. He also believes in the words of Martin Luther King Jnr. “Constructive, non-violent tension is good for growth”.
Let us applaud his visionary and inspiring leadership. Nnanyi ndewoe. I wish you many more years on this earth.
Charles IkedikwaSoeze, fhnr, fcida, fcai, cpae, son, emba, ksq,
is a mass communication scholar from first degree to doctoral level and currently Assistant Director (Administration)/Head, Academic and Physical Planning, Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria, (08036724193) charlessoeze@yahoo.ca
Copyright: Fresh Angle International (www.freshangleng.com)
ISSN 2354 - 4104
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