K. O. Mbadiwe
Encyclopedia
Kingsley Ozuomba Mbadiwe (1915-1990) was a Nigerian nationalist, politician, statesman and former government minister. He was born in the Orlu division of present day Imo State
and attended the Hope Waddell Training Institute
, Calabar for primary education. He then proceeded to the Aggrey Memorial College, Arochukwu, of present day Abia State
Igbobi College, Lagos and the Baptist Academy Lagos for further studies. He left the Nigerian shores and went to study at Columbia and the New York University
for collegiate education. There, he helped to establish an African student's association,where he gained the attention of then-First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt,who received him and his organization in the White House.
After returning from the U.S., he started his own business and also established a research institute on African Arts. He soon entered the Nigerian political scene and joined the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons
. In 1951, he was elected into the Eastern Region House of Assembly, he was re-elected in 1954, and made minister for Lands and National Resources. In 1957, he was made the minister for Commerce. However, his political success was to undergo a great challenge when in mid-1958 he and Kola Balogun attempted to remove Nnamdi Azikiwe
as the leader of N.C.N.C. Both of them failed and were removed from the party. Mabadiwe then set up his own newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, as an organ of protest. However, he later re-joined the party and was appointed Minister for Trade and Communications and also served as a special adviser to the Prime Minister, advising on African affairs, though his actual role in foreign policy formation was limited.
Mbadiwe styled himself as a "Man of timber and calibre." He had six children namely Betty, Greg, Paul, Chris, George, and Francis.
He built and inhabited the landmark, The Palace of The People, at Ndianiche Uno commissioned by late Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
in 1965.
Imo State
Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.-History:Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been...
and attended the Hope Waddell Training Institute
Hope Waddell Training Institute
The Hope Waddell Training Institute is a school in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria founded by missionaries from the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland in 1895...
, Calabar for primary education. He then proceeded to the Aggrey Memorial College, Arochukwu, of present day Abia State
Abia State
Abia State is a state in southeastern Nigeria. The capital is Umuahia, although the major commercial city is Aba, formerly a British colonial government outpost. The state was created in 1991 from part of Imo State and its citizens are predominantly Igbo people...
Igbobi College, Lagos and the Baptist Academy Lagos for further studies. He left the Nigerian shores and went to study at Columbia and the New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
for collegiate education. There, he helped to establish an African student's association,where he gained the attention of then-First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt,who received him and his organization in the White House.
After returning from the U.S., he started his own business and also established a research institute on African Arts. He soon entered the Nigerian political scene and joined the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons
National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons
National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons , was a Nigerian political party from 1944 to 1966. The name included 'Cameroons' because Cameroon had become an administrative part of Nigeria in 1945. Cameroon had been a colonial territory of Germany...
. In 1951, he was elected into the Eastern Region House of Assembly, he was re-elected in 1954, and made minister for Lands and National Resources. In 1957, he was made the minister for Commerce. However, his political success was to undergo a great challenge when in mid-1958 he and Kola Balogun attempted to remove Nnamdi Azikiwe
Nnamdi Azikiwe
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe , usually referred to as Nnamdi Azikiwe and popularly known as "Zik", was one of the leading figures of modern Nigerian nationalism who became the first President of Nigeria after Nigeria secured its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960; holding the...
as the leader of N.C.N.C. Both of them failed and were removed from the party. Mabadiwe then set up his own newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, as an organ of protest. However, he later re-joined the party and was appointed Minister for Trade and Communications and also served as a special adviser to the Prime Minister, advising on African affairs, though his actual role in foreign policy formation was limited.
Mbadiwe styled himself as a "Man of timber and calibre." He had six children namely Betty, Greg, Paul, Chris, George, and Francis.
He built and inhabited the landmark, The Palace of The People, at Ndianiche Uno commissioned by late Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, KBE was a Nigerian politician, and the only prime minister of an independent Nigeria. Originally a trained teacher, he became a vocal leader for Northern interest as one of the few educated Nigerians of his time...
in 1965.