Akanu Ibiam

Ibiam was born in Unwana, Afikpo, Ebonyi State on 29 November 1906, of Igbo background. He was the second son of Chief Ibiam, a native of Unwana. His father later became a traditional ruler, Eze Ogo Isiala I of Unwana and Osuji of Uburu, in the Nigerian chieftaincy system. He attended Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, and King's College, Lagos, and then was admitted to the University of St. Andrews, graduating with a medical degree in 1934. He was accepted as a medical missionary of the Church of Scotland, in which role he established Abiriba hospital (1936–1945) and later superintended mission hospitals at Itu and Uburu. Ibiam was never ordained as a minister, but he was elected and ordained as an elder of the Presbyterian Church. Ibiam was president of the Christian Council of Nigeria (1955–1958). In 1957 he was appointed principal of Hope Waddell Institution. In the lead-up to Nigerian independence Ibiam served in local government, in the Eastern Regional House of Assembly, and in the Legislative and Executive Councils. After Nigeria gained independence in 1960, Ibiam was appointed governor of Eastern Region. On 24 August 1962, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG). Ibiam held office until the military coup of 15 January 1966 that brought Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi to power. ==Nigerian Civil War==

During the Nigerian Civil War of 1967–1970, Ibiam actively assisted the Biafrans, helping obtain relief supplies through his church contacts. As one of the six presidents of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Ibiam spoke at the WCC Meeting in Uppsala, Sweden, in July 1968 where the problem of relief for refugees was discussed. Chief Bola Ige, Adviser to the Church of the Province of West Africa was also present, and ensured that the name "Biafra" was avoided in the WCC resolution, since that would imply recognition of the state. However, Ibiam was instrumental in ensuring that the nightly air lift of relief into Biafra was started. In 1969, he travelled across Canada to raise humanitarian aid and support for the people of Biafra. Ibiam returned his knighthood and renounced his English name, Francis, in protest against the British government's support of the Nigerian federal government. ==Later years==

Following the war, Ibiam continued work on reconstruction and hospital service. Ibiam was responsible for the Bible Society of Nigeria and the Christian Medical Fellowship. He became a president of the All Africa Conference of Churches. Ibiam died on 1 July 1995. More than 20,000 people attended his funeral in Unwana. The Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, the Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Ebonyi State, and the Francis Akanu Ibiam Stadium University of Nigeria, Nsukka are named after him. ==See also==