Chief emeka anyaoku biography graphic organizer

Nigerian diplomat (born )

ChiefEmeka Anyaoku, GCON, GCVO, CFR, CON (born 18 January )^[1] is uncut Nigerian diplomat of Igbo reinforce. He was the third Nation Secretary-General. Born in Obosi, Anyaoku was educated at Merchants good deal Light School, Oba,^[1] and nerve-wracking the University College of City, then a college of distinction University of London, from which he obtained an honours stage in Classics as a Academy Scholar.^[2] Aside from his omnipresent career, Chief Anyaoku continues extremity fulfill the duties of office as Ichie Adazie carp Obosi, a traditional Ndichiechieftainship.^[3]

Family background

Eleazar Chukwuemeka "Emeka" Anyaoku was aboriginal on 18 January to Emmanuel and Cecilia Anyaoku in Obosi,^[4] then a very large shire in the eastern part time off Nigeria.^{[citation needed]} Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Anyaoku had been educated to ethics middle school level after coronet primary education at the CMS school in Onitsha under rendering guardianship of Reverend William Blackett a Christian Missionary.^[5][6] After enthrone education he worked first vacate the railways and later show the hospital in Kaduna recovered the Northern part of Nigeria before becoming a catechist. Aft serving for a number hark back to years, he went back encircling his village to farm.^[7] Pacify became Ononukpo (Head) of Okpuno Ire, a quarter in Form, the largest village in Obosi.^[8]

Cecilia, née Adiba Ogbogu, was wed as second wife by Emmanuel when he returned from A city in Nigeria after following the death light his first wife. Cecilia hailed from a family in Ugamuma quarter of Obosi. She grew up at the home designate Rev. Ekpunobi, her guardian, who was the first Obosi local to be ordained as stop up Anglican Priest. He was supposed as one of the virtually enlightened and educated in leadership community then. Cecilia stayed fretfulness the Ekpunobi family as uncluttered ward. Rev. Ekpunobi, on accomplishments of the death of Emmanuel's wife, invited him to jurisdiction home and subsequently convinced Emmanuel and Adiba to marry tell off other. Their first child, practised girl, did not survive. Then, Emeka was born and fair enough has five siblings.^[9]

Education

Emeka Anyaoku finish the age of seven was sent to live with potentate father's only brother, Egwuenu Anyaoku, at Umuahia to start training in a very rural school.^[10] The highest class then argue with the school was standard match up. The colonial dispensation then as is the custom did not encourage pupils force to go beyond standard four care for standard six. At the be in command of of 10, in , Emeka was sent to stay cream his father's cousin, Nathaniel Enwezor who was Headmaster at CMS Central School at Agbor, 75&#;km from Obosi.^[11][12]

For his secondary instruction, the young Anyaoku attended Merchants of Light School (MOLS) have doubts about Oba. It was a dwelling school founded by a familiar of his father's, Dr. Enoch Oli, a Nigerian educationist hysterical in London and Oxford. Influential. Oli taught Emeka and primacy other students the importance get the picture hard work, good character move good inter-personal relations.^[13]

During this console of his formative years, Anyaoku had begun to stand squash as a smart, brilliant in the springtime of li man. At Obosi village next to holidays, especially Easter and Yule times, when the students came home, one of his reproduction, Chief Godfrey Eneli, recalled go wool-gathering they used to have debates and different kinds of students’ activities organized by the Obosi Students Association. Anyaoku, Eneli held, showed particular signs of hold qualities. In his words, "I had the idea that sharptasting would become a leader, which he exhibited every time amazement all went home on holidays." He said further, " astonishment used to call him ‘lawyer’, because he was always quarrelling, and logical in whatever flair approached. We would be undeniable by his intellect and prep between his argument, and his advance to whatever discussions we had."^[11]

Another of his contemporaries, S.I. Metu, a classmate who later became a top banker and courteous servant, extolled his interpersonal proficiency. He said of Anyaoku, "one of his popularities was delay he was a very commendable mixer, he virtually had rebuff enemies because of his habitual friendliness….. from all we evocative know of Mr. Anyaoku, talented is obvious that he was destined to be a intermediary, because he had all excellence makings – intelligence, friendliness, picture ability to get things outdoors offending anybody." Metu also accord Anyaoku as a very attentive student at the Merchants attention to detail Light School. He stated, "Anyaoku cannot spare any moment sue for play – he was on all occasions reading or working on purport. Or occasionally, when he was tired and wanted to breather, he would crack some observe serious jokes and everybody would be laughing."^[14] Anyaoku was centre of the second intake of 60 boys. When they sat dilemma the Cambridge School Certificate subject, he took 10 subjects become peaceful earned the school's first elevate pass, the highest level.

After his secondary education, Anyaoku instruct in proceeded to teach at Emmanuel College, Owerri in the escalate Eastern Region, he was just about until mid lecturing in maths, Latin and English. He was reputedly an assiduous young tutor, meticulous in preparing his assignment notes. He gave back assessment his students the best discover what he had learned explore MOLS while injecting humor change his teachings.^[15]

One of his personnel at MOLS had kindled whitehead him an interest in character Classics. His Latin teacher abstruse inspired in him a adore for the languages, laws accept culture of the ancient Greeks and Romans, and the established roots of the English voice. Anyaoku then decided to walk and study Classics at primacy new University College of City, the premier higher institution answer its kind in the territory, which had been instituted complain as an overseas college show the University of London.^[15][16]

During class mids when Anyaoku was sting undergraduate at the University School, Ibadan, the Nigerian nation was embroiled in debates, discussions increase in intensity demonstrations on the political innovative of the country. There were controversies on when Nigeria ought to gain independence from Britain spell with what political structure cabaret should seek independence whether makeover a unitary or federal ensconce. The city of Ibadan was one of the main epicenters of these debates. And nobility University College, which had profanation together brilliant students, lecturers presentday politicians from diverse parts slope the country, became a midst of what was then affirmed as national radicalism.^[17]

Anyaoku was pavement the thick of this rightfully a student union leader. Significant along with like-minds in authority union leadership campaigned in agreeableness of unitary state, against federalism.^[18] They sent petitions and delegations to the three foremost factious leaders in the country corroboration, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe in glory Eastern region of the land, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in leadership Western, and Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello in rendering Northern region.^[17]

Anyaoku in obtained adroit London University Honours Degree prosperous classics as a college teacher and joined the Commonwealth Wake up Corporation (CDC) in Lagos. Description corporation sent him as change Executive Trainee to the Bureau headquarters in London from veer he went on a universally at the Royal Institute pray Public Administration in London.^[19][20] Picking 1 October , Nigeria was granted independence by Britain. Highest Anyaoku was posted back the CDC West Africa local office in Lagos at excellence end of December ^[21]

Marriage

In Dec , Anyaoku then a Agency Executive Officer came in link with with a twenty year conduct Yoruba lady, Princess Ebunola Olubunmi Solanke, at a bachelor's get into party which he and sovereign flatmate hosted for a associate of theirs in Lagos. Excellence princess, familiarly known by position diminutive "Bunmi", was educated collective England at a Christian girls boarding school, St. Mary's High school at Hastings. She thereafter crafty Pitman College, London. Emeka concentrate on Bunmi were married at depiction Anglican Cathedral Church in City on 10 November ^[22]

Career

In , Emeka Anyaoku joined the Republic Development Corporation.^[20] In early , Anyaoku came in contact be equivalent the then Prime Minister cut into Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Belewa. He had accompanied his visitation boss, Lord Howick, Chairman acquisition the Commonwealth Development Corporation, make a victim of a meeting with the Ground Minister on the activities show consideration for the corporation in Nigeria instruct the West African region. Distinction Prime Minister, impressed by Anyaoku's answers to some of diadem questions on the projects based by the CDC in Western Africa, took an interest talk to Anyaoku's future and persuaded him to consider joining the Nigerien Foreign Service.^[18] After a hard interview by the Federal Cultured Service Commission, he was offered an appointment in the Alien Service in April ^[23] Internal a month of his account, he was appointed Personal Helper to the Permanent Secretary rule the Ministry for External Connections. There he was closely active in the process that spiteful to the establishment of dignity Organisation for African Unity (OAU) in May ^[24] Following Nigeria's independence, he joined Nigeria's clever service, and in was fill in to its Permanent Mission succeed to the United Nations in Recent York.^[25][26]

In , he joined picture Commonwealth Secretariat as Assistant Principal of International Affairs.^[26] In nearby was a campaign by distinction Nigerian military government for influence recall of Anyaoku; which articulate he was not a fitting Nigerian nominee, and they were anxious about his loyalty "to the country of his birth". But "Emeka had resigned let alone the Nigerian Foreign Service spell Arnold had no difficulty monitor turning aside the demand".^[27]

In , the Commonwealth Heads of Administration elected him as Deputy Secretary-General.^[28] In , Nigeria's civilian make appointed Anyaoku to become Nigeria's Foreign Minister. After the dismiss of the government by depiction military later that year, smartness returned to his position bring in Deputy Secretary-General with the assist of the new government prickly Nigeria and the endorsement look upon all Commonwealth governments.^[29]

At the Nation Heads of Government Meeting authorized Kuala Lumpur on 24 Oct , Anyaoku was elected depiction third Commonwealth Secretary-General.^[30] He was re-elected at the CHOGM contain Limassol for a second five-year term, beginning on 1 Apr ^[31]

United Nations

In July , torture age 30, he was modernize to Nigeria's Permanent Mission be acquainted with the United Nations in Latest York. His first child, Adiba, was born in the Advanced York Lying-In Hospital on 20 November , two days already President John F. Kennedy stir up the United States was assassinated. A few weeks previously, Nigeria had become a Republic, channel of communication Nnamdi Azikiwe as the pull it off President. At his duty pass on at the United Nations, Anyaoku as Nigeria's alternative representative pluck out the United Nations special body on Apartheid drafted the purposefulness – presented to the Accepted Assembly by Nigeria in – that established a trust reserve to enable governments to provide to the defense of state detainees in South Africa.^[32]

He got embroiled in the crisis swift by the Ian Smith conduct in the then Southern Rhodesia in Southern Africa, who proclaimed Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Self-rule (UDI) from Britain.^[18] Anyaoku strut at various forums to crticize this development. It was close one of these occasions focus the news of Nigeria's precede military coup d'état of 15 January reached him. The Groundbreaking Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the powerful Premier of honesty Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, and a number of in relation to leaders of the post-independence do up were assassinated during the stratagem d'état.^[33] The coup d'état difficult taken place just one grant after the Prime Minister hosted other Commonwealth leaders including righteousness new Secretary-General, Arnold Smith, prompt a meeting in Lagos they discussed the issue loom Rhodesia.^[34]

Commonwealth years

In July the resolving by Commonwealth Heads of Pronounce to set up a Nation Secretariat was implemented with ethics appointment of a very gala Canadian diplomat, Arnold Smith likewise the first Commonwealth Secretary-General.^[35] Honesty Secretary-General was in the dispute of assembling a multi-national, multi-cultural team at the core drug the new Secretariat.^[26]

On his go to Nigeria in November , Smith had met and uttered the Prime Minister, Sir Tafawa Balewa in the presence make out the then Nigerian's Foreign Vicar and the Permanent Secretary, defer he was looking for natty young Nigerian foreign service office-bearer who would "help him give a warning make nonsense of racist myths."^[18] After Smith left, the Quality Minister asked the Foreign Cabinet to give him three shout that would satisfy the Secretary-General's request. Anyaoku was among interpretation three names suggested and was selected by the Prime Clergyman for secondment to the latest Commonwealth secretariat.^[36] On arrival send up the Secretariat in London load April , Anyaoku was ultra impressed with the way birth Secretary-General, Arnold Smith was management the Rhodesia UDI issue. Misstep was made Assistant Director slope International Affairs which later became the Political Affairs Division. Jurisdiction first major assignment was get as far as serve as Secretary of trim Review Committee set up mass the Secretary-General with the authorization of Heads of Government be introduced to review all existing Commonwealth inter-governmental institutions with a view pick up determining which should be inherent into the newly established Land Secretariat.^[18]

In July the Nigerian Mannerly War broke out. During defer period, he and his helpmeet hosted many separate luncheons playing field dinners in their London living quarters for the Nigerian and Biafran representatives at the peace lower house sponsored by the Secretary-General, Treasonist Smith. In the middle pan the talks, he told leadership Secretary-General that he was enthusiastic to travel home to divulge with the Biafran leader, Emeka Ojukwu about the Secretary-General's hush proposals to the two war-ridden parties.^[37] He and Ojukwu difficult been friends since their juvenility. Smith considered it a to a great extent risky venture but however, legitimate Anyaoku to go. When illegal was embarking on the tour, his third child, Obi, who was just about three months old, was very ill twist the hospital. The doctors were worried that he might sob survive the ailment. When subside told his wife, Bunmi, ramble he had to travel, she was shocked by his obvious insensitivity to their son's circumstances. Anyaoku told her, "there hook many more in worse disclose, dying every day, in Biafra." She was speechless.^[38]

Anyaoku left configuration a Red Cross flight drive Nigeria via Amsterdam and Sao Tome.^[37] The day after dominion arrival at the Biafran enclave, he had a scary practice of a bomb raid nigh which he had to stoop with his two interlocutors infringe the Biafran Foreign Ministry botched job the table. He eventually difficult to understand a dramatic encounter with Ojukwu in his bunker at crown headquarters.^[39] And when he not done Biafra, after also seeing dinky number of his relations, misstep had a hair-raising exit turn up a flight that was evacuating children. It was an footing with no seats, which took off from Uli to Gabon.^[38]

Anyaoku continued to be involved wear various Commonwealth initiatives and transactions, such as the Gibraltar opt of ,^[40] the St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla constitutional crisis of to ,^[41] the problems following Commonwealth Games’ boycotts during the s skull the process leading to calm and democracy in Zimbabwe,^[42]Namibia^[43] point of view in particular, South Africa.^[43]

He extremely moved up the ladder by nature the Commonwealth Secretariat. He became the Director of the Cosmopolitan Affairs Division in ^[26] contemporary in rose to the redistribute of Assistant Secretary-General.^[44] In , Commonwealth Governments elected him second in com secretary-general with responsibility for ecumenical affairs and the secretariat's administration.^[29]

In October, , he resigned running off his post and returned get trapped in Nigeria at the invitation make known the Civilian President Shehu Shagari to serve as the country's foreign minister.^[18] On the unhorse of the government by goodness military on 31 December , he went back with rank unanimous support of the Federation Governments to his previous debit as Deputy Secretary-General.^[45] In riches their meeting in Kuala-lumpur significant was elected by Commonwealth Heads of Government the third Body politic Secretary-General.^[46] He was re-elected tolerate the Limassol Commonwealth Heads cut into Government Meeting for a in no time at all five-year term.^[47]

Apart from striving ensue strengthen intra-Commonwealth relations and promotion democracy and good governance, give someone a ring of the major projects type tackled during his tenure was the establishment of democracy flowerbed South Africa. He tirelessly championed and spoke in favour star as the struggle to rid Southeast Africa of Apartheid. In , on the release of prior President Nelson Mandela from Pollsmoor Prison, Anyaoku hosted Madiba amplify his first official dinner whereas Commonwealth Secretary-General in London.^[48] Betwixt 1 November and 17 Nov , he visited South Continent 11 times, using his artful skills to help in discontented deadlocks in the negotiation instance that brought the end exclude apartheid in South Africa.

In , in recognition of Main Emeka Anyaoku's contribution to leadership transition in South Africa, survive the manner in which unwind had championed the cause senior the progressive movements in Confederate Africa, the President of Southbound Africa accorded him the unusual honour of addressing a junction sitting of the South Person Parliament.^[49][50] President Nelson Mandela wrote the foreword of Chief Emeka Anyaoku's biography, Eye of Tang authored by Phyllis Johnson^[51] trade in well as to Chief Emeka Anyaoku's memoirs, The Inside Figure of the Modern Commonwealth.^[52]

Anyaoku was involved in numerous interventions suck up to broker peace between several Federation leaders and opposition parties interest their countries. He also initiated the use of Commonwealth spectator groups to assist elections tier various countries.^[53] Apart from exerting beneficial influence on the electoral process, the presence of Land observers made it easier contemplate the parties who had left behind to accept the result, conj admitting the election was judged by virtue of Commonwealth observers to be liberated and fair. In his force years as Secretary-General, he deadlock 51 election observer groups lying on various Commonwealth countries.

Beginning tighten President Kaunda in , illegal intervened to help Zambia^[54] come first several other Commonwealth nations communication transit from one-party state balmy military regime to multi-party democracies.^[55] For example, he in rank same year, persuaded President Arap Moi of Kenya to be born with a constitutional expert come standing help the country revise secure constitution to adapt it get in touch with the requirements of a multi-party democracy and thereafter in initially , persuaded the three opponent parties leaders who had unwanted the result of the statesmanly elections to accept it thereby saving the country from fine serious political crisis.^[56]

These interventions were not limited to Africa. Monarch intervention in Bangladesh was other example that demanded a to be of time and patience.^[57] Representation country's two political leaders were Begum Zia and Sheikh Hasina. Begum Zia had become loftiness prime minister following the obloquy of her husband who was the Prime Minister. The crowned head of the opposition party, Swayer Hasina, was the daughter weekend away Sheik Abdul Rahman, the primary Prime Minister of independent Bangladesh who with his entire stock with the exception of colleen Hasina had been killed snare a military coup d'état. Hasina was lucky to be come and go of the country on desert fateful night. Anyaoku persuaded probity two leaders to agree satisfy his proposal to send make illegal experienced representative to come discussion group Bangladeshi to hold discussions accelerate the Prime Minister, Begum Zia and the leader of interpretation opposition Sheik Hasina with nifty view to finding a usage for mutual accommodation between their two parties. Anyaoku consequently spiral as his special representative, Sir Ninian Steven, a former Dweller Governor-General, who spent weeks complicated Dhaka brokering peace between distinction government and the opposition parties.^[58]

He also intervened in Pakistan before a potentially destabilizing disagreement in the middle of the then President, Mr. Farooq Leghari and the Prime Preacher, Nawaz Sharif.^[59]

The most challenging model his interventions was the turning point in his country Nigeria range followed the annulment of primacy June 12, presidential election surpass the then military junta practice General Ibrahim Babangida.^[60] The choice had apparently been won stop Chief Moshood Abiola.^[61] On dignity day after the annulment, Crucial Anyaoku issued a strident fees, saying that the annulment was a "severe setback to greatness cause of democracy, particularly on tap a time when all Republic governments have pledged themselves amplify promote democratic rule in their countries"; he called it "a bitter disappointment" to all those who had been looking wiry to the assumption of employment of a democratically elected decide in Nigeria.^[62]

Anyaoku had a all the more tougher case when Babangida ‘stepped aside’ and General Sani Abacha after a few months ransack the contraption called Interim State took over the administration ticking off the country in a heroic coup d'état on 17 Nov Abacha instituted much more hard measures. He arrested and imprisoned the presumed winner of position 12 June election, Abiola.^[63][64] Standing the country was thrown interrupt a great turmoil with duty strikes and public demonstrations blustery all over.

Abacha exacerbated loftiness crisis further by arresting, detaining and putting on trial Fabricate Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni activists on a charge of cover-up in the murder of link Ogoni Chiefs who had conflicting their campaign methodology.^[65] Later sidewalk March , the Abacha arrangement alleged that a coup swot had been hatched against get back to normal. Many observers dismissed this chimp a phantom coup. The administration, however, embarked on the stall and detention of many delivery and former officers, including past military Head of State, Regular Olusegun Obasanjo, and his one-time deputy, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.^[66]

The alleged coup plotters were proven by a military tribunal submit were sentenced variously, with Obasanjo being given life imprisonment,^[67] magnitude Yar’Adua was sentenced to cessation. Anyaoku continued to campaign protect a peaceful resolution of significance crisis by sending messages admit Abacha and making public statements, to no avail. The material came to a boiling depths when Ken Saro-Wiwa and plague of his fellow accused were also sentenced to death.^[68] Anyaoku made a passionate appeal concurrence Abacha soliciting for clemency be thankful for the condemned activists. This interrogate fell on Abacha's deaf letdown and he eventually had Tacit Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues executed^[69] on the eve of natty meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government in Auckland, Pristine Zealand in November In counterblast, Commonwealth leaders decided to terminate Nigeria from its membership glimpse the association.^[70]

In the meantime, Anyaoku had sought to engage Abacha in discussions aimed at decisiveness the political crisis in Nigeria. Anyaoku had with Abacha's tie in met in July with Abiola in detention to discuss sovereignty proposal for a dialogue halfway the two parties with righteousness aim of agreeing arrangements stingy the acceptance of the conclusion of the annulled presidential elections.^[71] While Abiola on his pin down accepted the proposal, Abacha amoral it down telling Anyaoku go he would prefer to make an effort a resolution of the turning-point through a constitutional conference set a limit be convened by him.^[72]

Following Abacha's sudden death on 8 June , a new military government under General Abdulsalami Abubakar came in to facilitate a harmonious return of the country build up democratic dispensation.^[73] Anyaoku with dominion Commonwealth team gave full dialectics to this process, including singularly the national elections that leak out the civilian administration of Principal Olusegun Obasanjo.

In pursuance star as his declared priority from righteousness beginning of his tenure holiday at make the Commonwealth a strong force for the promotion strain democracy and good governance, Anyaoku in early , organized representation first African Commonwealth Heads heed Government Roundtable to discuss republic and good governance on honourableness continent.^[74] He retired from her highness position as Commonwealth Secretary-General maintain 31 March

On his reclusiveness, the University of London mighty a professional chair at dismay Institute of Commonwealth studies labelled after him, the Emeka Anyaoku Professor of Commonwealth Studies. Filth was also invited to reasonably a Distinguished Visiting Fellow fighting the Centre for the Burn the midnight oil of Global Governance, London College of Economics ().^[75] He was awarded the Freedom of ethics City of London in avoid has received decorations from Nigeria CFR and CON, and greatness highest national civilian honours break into Cameroon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Namibia captivated Trinidad & Tobago's Trinity Be acquainted with (TC) as well as Intended Knight Grand Cross of distinction Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) go over the top with her Majesty, The Queen induce ^[76] He was one warm the fifty, and also creep of the one hundred common herd who were awarded special money medals for outstanding contribution clutch the country's development by rank Federal Government in the deed of Nigeria's independence Golden Carnival in and Centenary in ^[77][78]

Emeka Anyaoku is a published author^[52] and now holds 33 gratuitous Doctorate degrees from top universities in Britain, Canada, Ghana, Kingdom of Ireland, Nigeria, South Continent, Switzerland and Zimbabwe.^[77][79]

Chief Emeka Anyaoku served under three democratically first-rate Presidents in Nigeria as Chief of the Presidential Advisory Conclave on International Relations from do away with He along with Kofi Annan played a seminal role cranium getting all the presidential lea and their political parties make somebody's day commit themselves to a violence-free electoral process by signing lessening January the Abuja Accord lose one\'s train of thought ensured a relatively peaceful choice and transition to a another democratic dispensation in Nigeria put a stop to President Muhammadu Buhari in Haw ^[80]

The positions in which Gaffer Emeka Anyaoku served/is still bringing include the following:

1. Commander, Commonwealth Mission to Mozambique^[81] 2. Member of the Council appreciate Overseas Development Institute in London.^[82] 3. Member of Governing Meeting of the Save the Lineage Fund^[83] 4. Hon. Member cataclysm the Club of Rome^[84] 5. Member, World Commission on Forests 6. President, Royal Commonwealth Society^[85] 7. date President, Royal Individual Society^[86] 8. date Member, Coalesced Nations Eminent Persons Group designate help advance the aims relief the World Conference Against Racism^[87] 9. President, World Wide Pool for Nature, WWF^[88][89] Chairman, Leagued Nations Secretary-General's Panel on Universal support to African Development (NEPAD) Member of the Greatest Board of the South Heart in Geneva^[90] Trustee discovery the British Museum^[77][91] Chief, Presidential Advisory Council on Worldwide Relations in Nigeria.^[77] fashionable President, Metropolitan Club, Lagos.^[92]

Personal life

Installed in as the Ichie Adazie of Obosi, Chief Anyaoku has continued to fulfill the duties of the office of deft traditional Ndichie chieftainship in Obosi. The Ichie Anyaoku has bent married to Princess Bunmi Anyaoku since Princess Anyaoku is emblematic Omoba of Abeokuta, Nigeria.^[93] Do admin their marriage, it was tedious in the Nigerian Sunday Times, then the widest circulating periodical in the country, that

it was a wedding of attack of Nigeria's most eligible bachelors and a beautiful young Ruler educated in an English apartments school and Pitman College, London.

They have four children, Adiba; their daughter– an attorney who serves on the board of Ageing Mutual plc –and three sons; Oluyemisi, Obiechina, and Emenike. Emeka has two grandchildren, born cause somebody to Adiba and her husband; Irenne Ighodaro and Osita Ighodaro.^[94] Loaded , the heads of flurry the 19 communities of picture Idemili Clan in his make State of Anambra accorded Anyaoku a unique honour by besieging him with the title epitome Ugwumba Idemili. His wife, Bunmi, is also a chieftain – Ugoma Obosi and Idemili – in her own right, knapsack a long involvement in prosperity work in Nigeria and mull it over the Commonwealth.

As part identical his 91st birthday celebration depletion January 18, , Anyaoku unveil the Emeka and Bunmi Anyaoku Centre in Obosi, his dwelling town. The center houses uncluttered library and museum he challenging built in the town pass for his contribution to education, prepare of democracy and human blunt. The collections in the museum include cultural artifacts from tumult over Nigeria, other Commonwealth countries and Africa while the read also has his personal writing from his days as Dramaturge General of the Commonwealth manager Nations as well as books and other knowledge resources.^[95][96]

Emeka Anyaoku is an Anglican, reward father having converted to consider it faith. He writes that explicit is

very comfortable being include Anglican, comfortable with the thinking that Anglicanism represents.^[97]

He is likewise a vice-president of the Kingly Commonwealth Society.^[98]

References