Raphaël Chukwu Uwechue (13 May 1935 – 13 March 2014), often abbreviated as Raph Uwechue, was a Nigerian minister, diplomat and publisher. He is a former president-general of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, an Igbo socio-cultural organization in Nigeria.[1][2][3]
Raph Uwechue | |
|---|---|
| Born | Raphaël Chukwu Uwechue 13 May 1935 |
| Died | 13 March 2014 (aged 78) Abuja, Nigeria |
| Alma mater | University of Ibadan Graduate Institute of International Studies |
| Occupations | Diplomat and publisher |
Training
editBorn on 13 May 1934, in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria, Uwechue attended St. John's College in Kaduna from 1949 to 1954. He graduated from the University of Ibadan in 1960 with a degree in history. In 1964, he obtained a diploma in international law from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.[2] He was a doctoral student in political science at the École pratique des hautes études from 1970 to 1973.[4]
Career
editUwechue entered Nigeria's foreign service at its inception in 1960 and served in Cameroon, Pakistan and Mali. In 1966, he opened the Nigerian embassy in Paris, France, as its first envoy. From 1967 to 1967, during the Nigerian Civil War, he acted as Biafra's representative in Paris. He was then made ambassador to Liberia and to the United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire.[2][4]
After leaving the foreign service in 1970, Uwechue became a publisher of books and magazines on Africa. From 1971, he was editor-in-chief of Africa magazine ("an international business, economic and political monthly" produced in London by the Africa Journals Group Limited),[5] publisher of Africa Yearbook from 1976, and from 1977 was publisher and editor-in-chief of the renowned "Know Africa" series,[6] a three-volume encyclopaedia comprising Africa Today, Africa Who's Who and Makers of Modern Africa.[7]
In 1999, Uwechue became the Special Presidential Envoy on Conflict Resolution in Africa to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.[2] In that role, Uwechue played an active role in the peaceful resolution of the Sierra Leone Civil War.[1][8]
He was made minister of health under President Shehu Shagari in 1993.[9] From 2000 to 2007, he became the Economic Community of West African States' Special Representative in Cote d’Ivoire during the political crisis in that country.[4]
In 2003, Uwechue was made an officer of the Order of the Federal Republic.[2]
He died on 13 March 2014, at the National Hospital in Abuja, aged 79.[2]
References
edit- 1 2 Ibekwe, Nicholas (14 March 2014). "Former Ohaneze leader, Ralph Uwechue, is dead". Premium Times.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Ex-Ohaneze Leader, Ralph Uwechue Dies - PM News, Lagos". Sahara Reporters. New York City, United States. 13 March 2014.
- ↑ Nwaokocha Agboli, Chris (4 March 2016). Anioma: Bridgehead to Nigerian Integration a Microcosm of the Nation. ISBN 9781514400692.
- 1 2 3 "UWECHUE, Raphael Chukwu (Late)". Blerf's Who's Who in Nigeria. Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. 30 March 2017.
- ↑ "Africa No 121 September 1981" (PDF). salimahmedsalim.com. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ Iioegbunam, Chuks (13 May 2011). "Raph Uwechue @ 76". Vanguard. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "Ralph Uwechue, Former Ohaneze Ndigbo dies at 79". CEOAfrica. 14 March 2014.
- ↑ Adebowale, Segun (9 May 2014). "Ex-Ohaneze N'digbo president, Nwechue, laid to rest Adewole Martins". The Eagle Online.
- ↑ Comrade Godwin, Ameh (14 March 2014). "Former Ohaneze president, Ralph Uwechue dies at 80". Daily Post. Lagos, Nigeria.