Special to USAfrica magazine (Houston) and USAfricaonline.com, the first Africa-owned, US-based newspaper published on the Internet.
By Chido Nwangwu. Follow on X (Twitter) @Chido247
This week of October 2025, Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, would have been 93 years. Ide, the late gentle giant from Oko in Anambra State, had a first-rate intellect and dedication to supporting education and human capacity development. He was born on October 21, 1932.
Ide Ekwueme, a philanthropist of extraordinary kindness and uncommon grace, gave from his huge resources and the depths of his credibility.
He was not a showboat. No. He was a deliberate man, a strategic thinker, an astute power player. But he under-estimated the new “stakeholders” of Nigeria’s cash-and-carry politics. It was a coalition of partisan soldiers and desperate politicians.
Ekwueme was the first elected Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, served from 1979 to 1983, under the late President Shehu Shagari.
Ekwueme, a pioneer architect and lawyer, joined his ancestors in the mysterious journey of life, living, and death on November 19, 2017.
On August 24, 2012, I was invited to serve as the keynote speaker at an international event for Dr. Ekwueme’s 80th birthday. It was a privilege to appreciate and critique Chief Ekwueme’s purposeful life and critical items — in his esteemed presence with his wife Mrs. Beatrice Ekwueme.
Among other things, I said: “Dr. Alex Ekwueme, you have planted human seeds through scholarships and empowerment of Oko persons (from his hometown) and other communities. Many will thank you; maybe, a few will scorn you with their violent ingratitude, and claim that the sun and moon you showed them were not bright enough…. No matter what, Ide, your name and legacies are greater.”
His humility and mild-mannerism stood in contradistinction to the towering examples of Olympian legacies and transformative achievements. He championed the reintegration of the Igbo and others into the geo-political and socio-economic mainstream in the country.
Dr. Ekwueme, recipient of Nigeria’s highest national award of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), lived a quintessential embodiment of public service. He was committed to his Anglican Christian faith.
Ide’s philanthropy, modestly and relatively, reminded us of the Carnegies, the Mellons, the Gates, Mohameds, Abiolas, Dantatas, Bank-Anthonys, the Buffets, the Annenbergs, Mosingers, Ilodibes and many other cheerful givers.
Dr. Ekwueme, Ide Aguata na Orumba, was, by no means, perfect; he had some issues with which some disagreed strongly. Yet, many regard him among the great Africans of the 20th century!
- Dr. Chido Nwangwu, author of the forthcoming book, MLK, Mandela & Achebe: Power, Leadership and Identity., is the Founder of the first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper on the internet, USAfricaonline.com, and established USAfrica in 1992 in Houston. He has received U.S Congressional recognition and National Immigration awards for his works, which foster the business and international public policy of the United States and Africa. Chido served as an adviser on African business to Houston’s former Mayor Lee Brown. Follow him on X @Chido247
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