The former Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Professor Ben Nwabueze SAN, is dead.
Fondly called Professor of Professors by his admirers, Nwabueze died on Sunday evening in his home.
He was aged 90 years.
Until his death, Prof Nwabueze was a Constitutional lawyer.
He has published over 200 articles in academic journals and delivered more than 100 keynote address at both local and international fora.
Briefly
Nwabueze was born on December 22, 1932 in Atani, Ogbaru Local government Area of Anambra State.
He is Nigeria’s first academic Senior Advocate of Nigeria, teacher, administrator, businessman and former Minister of Education and Youth Development.
He started his educational journey at the CMS Central School Atani from 1938 to 1945. Nwabueze proceeded for his secondary education at CMS Central School, Onitsha (formerly African College) between 1947 to 1950.
Upon graduation, he enrolled at London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London from 1956 to 1961, as well as School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, between 1961 to 1962.
From 1962 to 1965, he was a Senior Lecturer at Holborn College of Law, London; as well as in University of Nigeria Nsukka, between 1967 to 1970.
But in 1971, he was Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Zambia, and Director of Law Practice Institute, Zambia between 1973 to 1975.
As a seasoned academician, he was member of Senate of the Universities of Lagos, Dar-es-salaam, Nairobi; Haile Selassie in Ethiopia; Lesotho, Botswana and Swaziland between 1971 to 1978.
Despite the outstanding support by his immediate family including father and uncle, the greater part of his academic sojourn abroad was through a scholarship.
Prof. Nwabueze earned his Doctor of Laws (LL.D) at the University of London in 1978, based on his three outstanding books – Constitutionalism, Presidentialism and Judicialism. This, placed him as the second (after the death of Dr. T.O. Elias) and only Nigerian and African holder of a higher doctorate degree in Law by published works.
He is also the first academic lawyer to be made a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1978 strictly on the basis of his published works.
Alongside other prominent Igbo sons like Akanu Ibiam, M.I. Okpara, K.O. Mbadiwe, Chief Ugochukwu, P.N. Okigbo and Udoji, Nwabueze co-founded Ohaneze Ndigbo in 1976.
He served as the Secretary General between 1978 to 2004. During his service years, he transformed the Igbo apex group into a formidable and renowned organisation.
He is a recipient of several Chieftaincy titles and The Nigerian Order of Merit (NNOM) award.