Zacheus Chukwukaelo Obi
Encyclopedia
Zacheus Chukwukaelo Obi, (1896-1993) Eze-onunekwulu-Igbo, (spokesman for the Igbo) was an Igbo
leader who was born in Nnewi
; he was educated at the C.M.S. school, Nnewi. He started work as a pupil teacher but later entered the commercial
sector, joining the United African Company. He rose to become a produce manager for the Eastern region of the country in 1948, and became the first African to hold the position from the region in the company. He was one of the earliest Igbo indigenes who wanted a platform to unite Igbo's in order to protect their interest with the coming of independence
and was a founding member of the Igbo State Union.
In 1951, Raymond Njoku
, the president of the Union was made minister for transport, leaving open the leadership of the Igbo State Union. Zacheus Obi soon became the President of the union in 1951 and lasted until 1966, when a military regime banned political organizations.
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...
leader who was born in Nnewi
Nnewi
Nnewi is the second largest city in Anambra State in southeastern Nigeria. Nnewi as a metropolitan city encompasses two local government areas, Nnewi North and Nnewi South; Nnewi North is commonly referred to as Nnewi central, and comprises four autonomous quarters: Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim, and...
; he was educated at the C.M.S. school, Nnewi. He started work as a pupil teacher but later entered the commercial
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
sector, joining the United African Company. He rose to become a produce manager for the Eastern region of the country in 1948, and became the first African to hold the position from the region in the company. He was one of the earliest Igbo indigenes who wanted a platform to unite Igbo's in order to protect their interest with the coming of independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
and was a founding member of the Igbo State Union.
In 1951, Raymond Njoku
Raymond Njoku
Raymond Amanze Njoku is a Nigerian politician and former minister for Transport. The son of an Igbo Chief, he was born in Owerri and raised in a Roman Catholic household. He attended Our Lady's School at Emekuku, for primary education...
, the president of the Union was made minister for transport, leaving open the leadership of the Igbo State Union. Zacheus Obi soon became the President of the union in 1951 and lasted until 1966, when a military regime banned political organizations.