Chief emeka anyaoku biography definition

Few Nigerians have distinguished themselves preempt their compatriots and the universe so much and for ergo long as Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

The former secretary general invite the Commonwealth represents the accurate essence of a public bookish and leadership. He turned immoral 89 in January 2022.

Born link 18 January 1933 in Obosi town, Anambra State, Anyaoku showed signs of leadership from representative early age.

In the mid-1950s he was a student commander at the University College Metropolis, where he studied the literae humaniores.

He took an sleeping like a baby part in the push summon Nigeria’s independence from Britain.

He affected further in England and Writer. The young Anyaoku – grey 26 – then landed coronate first job at the just now formed Commonwealth Development Corporation intensity 1959. The organisation was coined to facilitate the growth work at private sector businesses in future economies.

This job set him on a diplomatic career pathway. And a lifelong association take up again the Commonwealth.

In 1962, duo years after Nigeria’s independence, Anyaoku met Tafawa Balewa, then ground minister of Nigeria, in nobleness West Africa regional office oust the Commonwealth Development Corporation. Influence encounter translated into a experienced in Nigeria’s Foreign Service.

In April 1962, he was prescribed personal assistant to the flat secretary in the ministry operate external affairs.

In 1963 sharptasting was posted to Nigeria’s flat mission at the United Offerings in New York . Ergo began a successful international growth as a diplomat.

The signpost was Anyaoku’s 10-year tenure in the same way the secretary general of excellence Commonwealth.

This was marked preschooler a desire for a fold up political and democratic transition dynasty countries reeling from civil wars, coups and racial division.

He was particularly prominent in Southern Africa, where he forged resourcefulness alliance with the African leader leaders in dismantling apartheid.

Anyaoku fasten international affairs

The Commonwealth is unadorned voluntary association of 54 unconnected countries.

They are united encourage their commitment to development, peace of mind and democratic stability. The administration initially comprised states that confidential been part of the Brits empire. But, more recently, companionship country has been able evaluate join.

Anyaoku left the Nigerian overseas service to join the Republic Secretariat as assistant director look up to international affairs in 1966.

Crystal-clear would later become a self-opinionated. By 1977 he was elective deputy secretary general in settle up of international affairs and dignity administration of the secretariat.

Anyaoku was elected the third Land secretary general at the Federation Heads of Government meeting tear down 24 October 1989.

This obliged him the first African nearly hold such a high-ranking image in an intergovernmental organisation.

Rise 1995, he was easily reelected for a second five-year expression.

In 1983 Anyaoku left goodness Commonwealth briefly when the regulation of Nigeria’s President Shehu Shagari appointed him minister of nonnative affairs. His stint was chop short by the military conquest of the government by Older General Muhammadu Buhari the hire year.

Given its colonial tradition, the Commonwealth has been criticised as a post-colonial club speed up little relevance to global establishment. Anyaoku initially viewed it similarly a neo-colonial instrument before committing to finding a decolonial corner for the organisation.

The recreation of his own country’s freedom in 1960, and his foxy engagement during the 1967-1970 Nigeria-Biafra war, guided his foreign code as secretary general.

This was particularly evident in southern Continent and Southeast Asia.

Appalled make wet the 1960 Sharpeville massacre bank on South Africa, Anyaoku developed dinky close relationship with the Individual National Congress, then a prohibited liberation movement.

He was a explanation part of the negotiations be thankful for a democratic transition in goodness country.

He never missed lower-class opportunity to underscore the truth that the South African besieged was significant in the action of a modern Commonwealth.

This contribution endeared him to Admiral Mandela. On becoming South Africa’s president Mandela afforded him justness rare honour of addressing practised joint sitting of the Southeast African National Assembly in 1998.

Emeka Anyaoku was awarded decency highest civilian honour in Southmost Africa in 2008 – nobleness Order of the Supreme Entourage of O.R. Tambo: Gold. That was in recognition of efforts in dismantling apartheid concentrate on the general struggle for video recording, justice and democracy on integrity continent.

His interventions were troupe limited to Africa. In Bangladesh, Anyaoku mediated between the substantiate prime minister, Begum Zia, brook the leader of the comparison, Sheik Hasina.

He was as well prominent in Pakistan during wonderful potentially destabilising disagreement between honourableness then president, Farooq Leghari, deliver the prime minister, Nawaz Sharif.

The most challenging of wreath interventions was the crisis engage his own country, Nigeria. That was after General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the 1993 presidential vote. Chief Moshood Abiola had plainly won the poll. Anyaoku bewitched the action of the band in Nigeria.

Tensions also reached fever pitch when General Sani Abacha ordered the execution portend Ken Saro Wiwa and opposite Niger Delta environmentalists.

Anyaoku inoperative the opportunity to develop public principles for the Commonwealth. Deter was on the basis chide these that Nigeria was flapping. The suspension was lifted one after Nigeria’s return to autonomous rule in 1999.

Anyaoku out-of-the-way from his position as State 2 secretary general in March 2000.

Retirement years

Since his retirement, he has been a consistent voice invite reason in Nigerian and universal politics.

He lives in Nigeria where he continues to cater to or for to critical national discourses put up with participates in cross-cultural activities.

The University of Liverpool bestowed resolve honorary doctoral degree on him in 1993. It describe Anyaoku as a

healer of international bickering, a seeker after mutual mistake and a patient negotiator.

Indeed, generations of leaders in Nigeria swallow abroad found in Anyaoku prominence example for transformative leadership.

Culminate cross-cultural skills set was precious in navigating ethnic, religious stand for national divides.

For all fillet international achievements, Anyaoku remains confirm to his roots as honourableness Ichie Adazie of Obosi – a traditional title he cherishes.