One of Nigeria’s respected and reputable lawyers, Professor Ben Nwabueze, who passed away on Sunday, was a man of many attributes. Born in 1931 in Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State. He was a businessman, teacher, and administrator.
Here are five important facts about the legal Mogul, Prof Nwabueze:
Education
He attended CMS Central School (Formerly African College) in Atani, Onitsha, for his elementary between 1938 and 1950. He proceeded to the London School of Economics and Political Science between 1956-1961. At the University of London in 1961, he attended the School of Oriental and African Studies and finished in 1962.
Administrator/Teacher
Between 1962 and 1965, he became a Senior Lecturer at Holborn College of Law, London and a Senior Lecturer between 1967 and 1970 at the University of Nsukka. Professor Nwabueze became a Dean at the Faculty of Law, University of Zambia and its Director at the Law Practice Institute from 1973 to 1978. He was also the first Academic Lawyer to be made the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1978.
Authorship
He wrote over 200 articles in academic International Journals and also keynote addresses of over 100 both within and outside Nigeria at various conferences. He published thirty books during his lifetime.
Public Appointments
He was the Secretary-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo between 1978 to 2004. The professor was very passionate about the rights of the Igbos. He and other pioneers such as Chief Ugochukwu, Akanmu Indian, M.I Okpara, K.O Mbadiwe, P.N Okigbo and Udoji established Ohaneze Ndigbo in 1976. Between 1978 and 1979, he was appointed the University Assessor for Academic Appointments the universities of Ghana, Lagos, Ife and Jos.
Awards
He received numerous chieftaincy titles, including an honour from the Nigerian Government, the ‘Nigerian Order of Merit’. Prof. Ben Nwabueze became a Doctor of Laws (LL.D) at the University of London in 1978 based on his outstanding published works.
