Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has revealed in details why the Federal Government found it worthy to rename Ebonyi Federal University after late Ekwueme.
Late Dr. Alex Ekwueme
The Federal Government has renamed Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo (FUNAI) in Ebonyi State after late former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme.
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo conveyed the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari while delivering a speech at the funeral service held for the late statesman in Oko, Anambra state.
The University would now be known as Dr. Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State.
According to Osinbajo, the decision to rename the school was a way of immortalizing the late architect who has been describes by many as humility personified.
Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo (FUNAI) in Ebonyi State of Nigeria was founded on 26thFebruary, 2011.
The funeral service was attended by past presidents and vice presidents, serving governors, lawmakers, very prominent politicians and statesmen.
As at the time of this report, a procession was being led for the final internment of the late statesman.
Ekwueme died at the age of 85 at a London hospital where he was flown to after he took ill and slumped.
Ekwueme who was Vice President to President Shehu Shagari was ousted in a coup staged by military officers led by Brigadier Muhammadu Buhari on 31 December 1983.
He attended the University of London; King’s College; Lagos, Nigerian Law School; University of Strathclyde and University of Washington.
He is the Ide of the Oko kingdom in Anambra State, where his younger brother, Lazarus, is 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.
Ekwueme is a distinguished architect who started his professional career as an Assistant Architect with a Seattle-based firm, Leo A. Daly and Associates, and also with the London-based firm Nickson and Partners.
He worked briefly with ESSO West Africa, Lagos, overseeing the Construction and Maintenance department.
He founded Ekwueme Associates, Architects and Town Planners, the first indigenous architectural firm in Nigeria.
He is currently being accorded the full compliments of a state burial.
-NAN