Celebrating Ndi-Igbo

Olisa Agbakoba(OON)(SAN) was born on 29 May 1953 in Jos. He is a maritime lawyer but is more popularly known as a Nigerian human rights activist. Olisa attended College of Immaculate Conception, Enugu from 1970 to 1972; Government College, Ughelli; 1973, University of Nigeria Nsukka; 1973 1977, Nigerian Law School, Lagos, 1978; and London School of Economics & Political Science 1979 1980. He holds an LLB (Hons) of the University of Nigeria, BL of the Nigerian Law School and LLM (1980) of the University of London. Agbakoba, is a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association from 2006-2008. He is also the founder of Nigeria's foremost human rights organization, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO).He became known through his work in human rights and democracy movement in Nigeria. He was also the founder of United Action for Democracy and the Zambian pan-African human rights organization AfroNet. He was a defender for the Civil Rights activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa who was exe...

Major-General Onyeabo Azubuike Ihejirika is the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS). He is the first Igbo COAS since 1966, when Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi was the GOC of the Nigerian army. Ihejirika was born on February 13, 1956 in Ovim, Isuikwuato Local Government Area, Abia State. He commissioned into the army on December 17, 1977 as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 18th regular combatant course. Prior to being appointed COAS, he was the Chief of Defence Logistics at Defence Headquarters. He was also the former GOC of 81 Division at Lagos, and a former Director of Engineering at Defence Headquarters.

One to watch Obinna Nwakeze is an All-American and a two-time prep school State wrestling champion. Nwakeze is a perfect 15-0 this year in the 285-pound weight class, and is set on completing the season undefeated with title grabs at both the Fairchester Athletic Association and State tournaments. As impressive as his mat skills are, Nwakeze is arguably even better in the football trenches. He was an offensive and defensive lineman for the Wildcats, and was recently selected to the Westchester Chapter of the National Football Foundation’s Golden Dozen Scholar Athlete Team. Obinna who plans on studying Biology at Yale also wants to pursue premedical studies and possibly become an orthopedic surgeon.