obiem thanks for the information, so okpara studies medicine at Yaba Higher College, which later became university of ibadan.  my father also went there. It was attached I think to the university of london.  They now move the student  who became the first patch of the university of ibadan. my father told me the story.

People can see Yaba tech is not the first higher institution  in nigeria but Yaba Higher College

My father best childhood friend was Henry Fajemirokun. He was said to be nigeria first millionaire, only Odumegwu Ojukwu father could Compete with. So when I say that post and you keep on bumping the post. I assume if Odumegwu Ojukwu was the one online. or one of his children they are the only one who could know.

We have several pictures of Henry Fajemirokun in the house, while he was young.


Michael Iheonukara Okpara
« on: August 05, 2010, 02:00 PM » 

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Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara was the Premier of Eastern Nigeria and leader of the National Convention of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), known at its birth as the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon. He and Chief Dennis Osadebay of the Mid-West were the only Regional Premiers who survived the army revolt of January, 1966, in which two other premiers were killed.

An Ibo from Ohuhu, near Umuahia-Ibeku in the then Eastern Nigeria - Nigeria's first military ruler, Major-General J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi, also came from Umuahia - Dr. Okpara was at 46 the country's youngest Premier. The son of a laborer, he was born in December, 1920. After attending mission schools, he went to the Uzuakoli Methodist College, near his village, and won a scholarship to the then Yaba Higher College, Lagos, to study medicine. Completing his medical studies at the Nigerian School of Medicine, Dr. Okpara worked briefly as a government medical officer before setting up private practice in Umuahia. While

.carrying on his practice, Dr. Okpara showed great interest in the Zikist Movement (named after Dr. Azikiwe), the militant wing of Dr. Azikiwe's NCNC which brought the independence struggle to a head in the late 'forties. After the shooting of rioting workers at the Enugu coal mines (1949), Dr. Okpara was one the Zikists arrested by the government for allegedly organizing the workers for political ends. He was later released. Following the granting of internal self-rule by Britain, Dr. Okpara was elected to the Eastern House of Assembly in 1952 on an NCNC ticket. Between then and 1959, when he took over from Dr. Azikiwe as Premier of the East, he held various Cabinet posts from Minister of Health to Agriculture and Production.

When in 1953, NCNC legislators in the Eastern House of Assembly and the Central Government in Lagos revolted against the party leadership, Dr. Okpara was among party loyalists who joined forces with Dr. Azikiwe. It was not until November, 1960, when Dr. Azikiwe finally left active politics to become Nigeria's first African Governor-General, that Dr. Okpara was elected leader of the NCNC. Very forceful and outspoken, Dr. Okpara is uncompromising on vital national issues. This in 1963 led to severe strain in relations with the ruling Northern Peoples' Congress of the late Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, with which the NCNC formed the country's first post-independence Government.

A strong advocate of what he calls 'pragmatic socialism', Dr. Okpara believes the country's salvation lies in agricultural revolution. He owns a large farm in his hometown and thus inspired many Eastern Nigerian leaders to take and interest in farming.

Dr. Okpara was one of the politicians detained soon after the military coup of January, 1966, which brought an end to civilian rule. He was released in July after a second coup swept General Ironsi out of power. He received the award of GCON (Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger), the country's highest decoration, in 1964 in recognition of his services to the country.


Another great son of Nigeria which people hurriedly 4got, some say he lived under the shadow of Zik but under his reign as premier, eastern Nigeria(Including the present day niger delta) thrived basically on agriculture which was his fulcrum for socio economic empowerement.

Would like to hear various views,

My father best childhood friend was Henry Fajemirokun. He was said to be nigeria first millionaire, only Odumegwu Ojukwu father could Compete with. So when I say that post and you keep on bumping the post. I assume if  Odumegwu Ojukwu was the one online. or one of his children they are the only one who could know.

We have several pictures of Henry Fajemirokun in the house, while he was young.

Why didn't your father catch up with Henry Fajemirokun in the millionaire club or was he busy drawing maps for Christopher Columbus and Mungo Park?

This is the problem with you people in lagos. If your father build 1 house on the lagos Island in lekki or ikoyi, you people assume you are rich, you are just pretending to be rich. how can you compare that to those  whose father built several houses on the mainland.You alway think people on the mainland are poor.

Wake up my friend, 1 house in Ikoyi or lekki, does not make you rich. Look you the elementary school I went to. The owner had over 200 houses on the mainland, and you people whose father just had 1 house in ikoyi or lekki still assume you are richer than them.

1 house in Ikoyo or lekki does not make you rich.  you are just pretending to be rich. several houses on the mainland makes you rich.

Look britain was the reason  Fajemirokun was rich. Britain love  Fajemirokun, because he was a honest man and would not scam you. This how my father  built his houses. this was before you Nigeria started running scams or 419 on them. 

Britain gave Fajemirokun credit facilities no other nigerian had, and britain had backup plan for thier investment after they leave  nigeria , They knew nigeria govt was going to scam them. So they invested in fajemirokun lifes as a backup. That was why when Nigeria govt tried to take over  british business they sold  most of british business to  Fajemirokun.   He got nearly all of britain business in Nigeria. That how smart britain was.

Britain gave  credit facilities to Fajemirokun so that he could help britian export british goods and service to nigeria. This is how countries which are honestly interested in export to africa can do it. Using the british model.  Fajemirokun created the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce. Even the Queen of England knows who Fajemirokun is, my father childhood friend.

As long as you people continue to run scam or 419 on them, you are the lossers.

Fajemirokun, son dele is nearly about 47 or 48 year old or so by now.

@becomrich3

Did u read the article with maps? It didn't say Yaba College of technology was later re-christened University College, Ibadan. U of all people should know that there are two states involved here, Lagos and Oyo!

Meanwhile there's no difference between Yaba Higher College and today's Yaba College of Technology. It's d same thing, just a re-christening.