First VP, Alex Ekwueme dies @85

ITREALMS:

The first-ever elected Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme is dead, aged 85, reports ITRealms.

He died on Sunday, November 19, 2017 by 10pm at The London Clinic.

Confirming this to ITRealms, his younger brother and Igwe of Oko in Anambra State, His Royal Highness, Prof. Laz Ekwueme, noted that the family regrets to announce the peaceful passing away of their patriarch, the former Vice President.

The sad event, he said occurred at The London Clinic on Sunday.

Part of the statement read “Ekwueme family regrets to announce the peaceful passing away of their patriarch, the former Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme GCON.

“The sad event occurred at the London Clinic at 10:00 pm on Sunday 19th November 2017.”

ITRealms recalls that Ekwueme had fell in his Enugu residence, and was subsequently rushed to the Memfys Neurosurgery Hospital Enugu, where he eventually relapsed into coma.

But as soon as he was stabilised in the hospital he was flown to London in an air ambulance last week.

Born on 21 October 1932, late Dr. Ekwueme was the first elected Vice-President of Nigeria, in office from 1979 to 1983 under the Alhaji Shehu Shagari presidency.

Also known as the Ide of the Oko kingdom in Anambra State, where his younger brother Prof Lazarus Ekwueme, reigns as the traditional ruler. He was also honoured by the council of Traditional Rulers in the old Aguata as the Ide of Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State comprising forty-four (44) towns.

He started primary school at the St John's Anglican Central School, at Ekwulobia, then he proceeded to King's College, Lagos. As an awardee of the Fulbright Scholarship in the United States of America; being one of the first Nigerians to gain the award.

Dr. Ekwueme attended the University of Washington where he earned bachelor's degree in Architecture and city planning, following his master's degree in urban planning.

Equally, Dr Ekwueme earned degrees in sociology, history, philosophy and law from the University of London, before proceeded to obtain a Ph.D. in Architecture from the University of Strathclyde, before gaining the BL (honours) degree from the Nigerian Law School.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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