Francis Akanu Ibiam
Encyclopedia
Akanu Ibiam was a distinguished medical missionary who was appointed Governor of Eastern Region, Nigeria
from December 1960 until January 1966 during the Nigerian First Republic
.
From 1919 to 1951, he was known as Francis Ibiam, and from 1951 to 1967, Sir Francis Ibiam.
, Ebonyi State
on 29 November 1906, of Igbo
background.
He was the second son of Chief Ibiam Aka, a traditional ruler of Unwana.
He himself later became traditional ruler, Eze Ogo Isiala I of Unwana and Osuji of Uburu.
He attended Hope Waddell Training Institute
, Calabar
, and King's College, Lagos
, and then was admitted to the University of St. Andrews, graduating with a medical degree in 1934.
He was accepted as a medical missionary of the Church of Scotland, in which role he established Abiriba hospital (1936–1945) and later superintended mission hospitals at Itu and Uburu.
Ibiam was never ordained as a minister, but he was elected and ordained as an elder of the Presbyterian Church.
He was knighted in 1951 for his work as a medical missionary of the Church of Scotland.
Ibiam was president of the Christian Council of Nigeria (1955–1958).
In 1957 he was appointed principal of Hope Waddell Institution.
In 1959 Ibiam was president of the University College of Ibadan. On a visit to Northern Rhodesia, he was refused service at a cafe reserved for whites, an affair that became notorious.
In 1962, he was chairman of the committee that established the Protestant Chapel at the University of Nigeria
, Nsukka
Campus.
In the lead-up to Nigerian independence Ibiam served in local government, in the Eastern Regional House of Assembly, and in the Legislative and Executive Councils.
After Nigeria gained independence in 1960, Ibiam was appointed governor of Eastern Region, holding office until the military coup of 15 January 1966 that brought Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
to power.
His authoritarian successor, colonel Emeka Ojukwu
, immediately ejected Ibiam from the State House in Enugu
. Later, Emeka became president of the breakaway state of Biafra
.
of 1967 - 1970, Ibiam actively assisted the Biafrans, helping obtain relief supplies through his church contacts.
As one of the six Presidents of the World Council of Churches
(WCC), Ibiam spoke at the WCC Meeting in Upsalla, Sweden in July 1968 where the problem of relief for refugees was discussed.
Bola Ige
, Adviser to the Church of the Province of West Africa was also present, and ensured that the name "Biafra" be avoided in the WCC resolution, since that could imply recognition of the state.
However, Ibiam was instrumental in ensuring that the nightly air lift of relief into Biafra was started.
In 1969, he traveled across Canada to raise humanitarian aid and support for the people of Biafra.
Ibiam returned his knighthood and renounced his English name, Francis, in protest against the British government's support of the Nigerian federal government.
Ibiam was responsible for the Bible Society of Nigeria and the Christian Medical Fellowship.
He became a president of the All Africa Conference of Churches
.
Ibiam died in December 1995. More than 20,000 people attended his funeral in Unwana.
The Akanu Ibiam International Airport
, Enugu
, and the Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic
, Unwana, Ebonyi State are named after him.
Eastern Region, Nigeria
The Eastern Region was one of Nigeria's federal divisions, dating back originally from the division of the colony Southern Nigeria in 1954. Its capital was Enugu. The region was official divided in 1967 into three new states, East-Central State, Rivers State and South-Eastern State...
from December 1960 until January 1966 during the Nigerian First Republic
Nigerian First Republic
The First Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1963 and 1966 governed by the first republican constitution.-Founding :...
.
From 1919 to 1951, he was known as Francis Ibiam, and from 1951 to 1967, Sir Francis Ibiam.
Early years
Ibiam was born in Unwana, AfikpoAfikpo
Afikpo is the second largest city in Ebonyi State of Nigeria. Until recently it was the home Local Government Area of the late Eze Akanu Ibiam, who hailed from the village of Unwana. Dr...
, Ebonyi State
Ebonyi State
Ebonyi State is a mainland south-eastern state of Nigeria, inhabited and populated primarily by Igbo of south eastern Nigeria. Its capital and largest city is Abakaliki. Afikpo is the second largest city. Other major towns are EDDA, Mgbo, Onueke, Ezzamgbo, Nkalagu, Uburu, Onicha, Ishiagu , Ukawu,...
on 29 November 1906, of Igbo
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
background.
He was the second son of Chief Ibiam Aka, a traditional ruler of Unwana.
He himself later became traditional ruler, Eze Ogo Isiala I of Unwana and Osuji of Uburu.
He attended 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
Calabar
Calabar is a city in Cross River State, southeastern Nigeria. The original name for Calabar was Atakpa, from the Jukun language....
, and King's College, Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, and then was admitted to the University of St. Andrews, graduating with a medical degree in 1934.
He was accepted as a medical missionary of the Church of Scotland, in which role he established Abiriba hospital (1936–1945) and later superintended mission hospitals at Itu and Uburu.
Ibiam was never ordained as a minister, but he was elected and ordained as an elder of the Presbyterian Church.
He was knighted in 1951 for his work as a medical missionary of the Church of Scotland.
Ibiam was president of the Christian Council of Nigeria (1955–1958).
In 1957 he was appointed principal of Hope Waddell Institution.
In 1959 Ibiam was president of the University College of Ibadan. On a visit to Northern Rhodesia, he was refused service at a cafe reserved for whites, an affair that became notorious.
In 1962, he was chairman of the committee that established the Protestant Chapel at the University of Nigeria
University of Nigeria
The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. Founded in 1955 and formally opened on 7 October 1960, the University of Nigeria has four campuses – Nsukka, Enugu and Ituku-Ozalla – located in Enugu State and one in Aba, Abia...
, Nsukka
Nsukka
Nsukka is a town and Local Government Area in South-East Nigeria in Enugu State. Other towns that share common border with Nsukka, such as Enugu Ezike, Orba and Obollo-Afor , Ede-Oballa, Uzo Uwani and Mkpologwu, now also claim the name Nsukka, hence they all collectively fall into the political...
Campus.
In the lead-up to Nigerian independence Ibiam served in local government, in the Eastern Regional House of Assembly, and in the Legislative and Executive Councils.
After Nigeria gained independence in 1960, Ibiam was appointed governor of Eastern Region, holding office until the military coup of 15 January 1966 that brought Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi was a Nigerian soldier. He served as the Head of State of Nigeria from January 16, 1966 until he was overthrown and killed on July 29, 1966 by a group of northern army officers who revolted against the government.- Early life :Thomas Umunnakwe...
to power.
His authoritarian successor, colonel Emeka Ojukwu
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was a Nigerian military officer and politician.Ojukwu served as the military governor of the Eastern Region of Nigeria in 1966, the leader of the breakaway Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 and a leading Nigerian politician from 1983 to 2011, when he died, aged...
, immediately ejected Ibiam from the State House in Enugu
Enugu
Enugu is the capital of Enugu State in Nigeria. It is located in the southeastern area of Nigeria and is largely populated by members of the Igbo ethnic group. The city has a population of 722,664 according to the 2006 Nigerian census. The name Enugu is derived from the two Igbo words Enu Ugwu...
. Later, Emeka became president of the breakaway state of Biafra
Biafra
Biafra, officially the Republic of Biafra, was a secessionist state in south-eastern Nigeria that existed from 30 May 1967 to 15 January 1970, taking its name from the Bight of Biafra . The inhabitants were mostly the Igbo people who led the secession due to economic, ethnic, cultural and religious...
.
Nigerian Civil War
During the Nigerian Civil WarNigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967–15 January 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra...
of 1967 - 1970, Ibiam actively assisted the Biafrans, helping obtain relief supplies through his church contacts.
As one of the six Presidents of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
(WCC), Ibiam spoke at the WCC Meeting in Upsalla, Sweden in July 1968 where the problem of relief for refugees was discussed.
Bola Ige
Bola Ige
James Ajibola Idowu Ige simply known as Bola Ige was a Nigerian lawyer and politician. He became Federal Minister of Justice for Nigeria...
, Adviser to the Church of the Province of West Africa was also present, and ensured that the name "Biafra" be avoided in the WCC resolution, since that could imply recognition of the state.
However, Ibiam was instrumental in ensuring that the nightly air lift of relief into Biafra was started.
In 1969, he traveled across Canada to raise humanitarian aid and support for the people of Biafra.
Ibiam returned his knighthood and renounced his English name, Francis, in protest against the British government's support of the Nigerian federal government.
Later years
Following the war, Ibiam continued work on reconstruction and hospital service.Ibiam was responsible for the Bible Society of Nigeria and the Christian Medical Fellowship.
He became a president of the All Africa Conference of Churches
All Africa Conference of Churches
All Africa Conference of Churches is an ecumenical fellowship that represents more than 120 million African Christians in 169 national churches and regional Christian councils....
.
Ibiam died in December 1995. More than 20,000 people attended his funeral in Unwana.
The Akanu Ibiam International Airport
Akanu Ibiam International Airport
Akanu Ibiam International Airport , also known as Enugu Airport, is an airport serving Enugu, the capital city of Enugu State of Nigeria. The airport is named after the late Akanu Ibiam , a Medical Doctor and Statesman who hails from Afikpo in Ebonyi State.The Akanu Ibiam International Airport in...
, Enugu
Enugu
Enugu is the capital of Enugu State in Nigeria. It is located in the southeastern area of Nigeria and is largely populated by members of the Igbo ethnic group. The city has a population of 722,664 according to the 2006 Nigerian census. The name Enugu is derived from the two Igbo words Enu Ugwu...
, and the Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic
Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic
Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana is located in Afikpo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.The polytechnic was founded in 1981 and is owned by the federal government.It is named after Akanu Ibiam, the First Republic Governor of Eastern Region, Nigeria....
, Unwana, Ebonyi State are named after him.