Jaja Wachuku
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His Excellency The Honourable Jaja Anucha Ndubuisi Wachuku Ugo Ngwa LL.D CFR KSC |
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| Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Relations Minister of Nigeria | |
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In office 1961–1965 |
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| Preceded by | None (position created) |
| Succeeded by | Nuhu Bamalli |
| Ambassador of Nigeria to the United Nations | |
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In office 1960–1961 |
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| Governor-General | Nnamdi Azikiwe |
| Prime Minister | Abubakar Tafawa Balewa |
| Preceded by | None (position created) |
| Succeeded by | Muhammed Ngileruma |
| Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria | |
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In office 1959–1960 |
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| Prime Minister | Abubakar Tafawa Balewa |
| Preceded by | Sir Frederic Metcalfe [1] |
| Succeeded by | Ibrahim Jalo Waziri |
| Senator Representing Aba Zone Nigeria | |
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In office 1 October 1979 – 1 October 1983 |
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| Preceded by | None (position created) |
| Succeeded by | None (Aba Zone abolished) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1 January 1918 Nbawsi, Abia State, Nigeria |
| Died | 7 November 1996 (aged 78) Enugu, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Political party |
National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons; Nigerian People's Party |
| Spouse(s) | Rhoda Idu Oona Jaja Wachuku – née: Onumonu |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Dublin |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Religion | Christianity Anglican Church of Nigeria |
Jaja Anucha Wachuku (1 January 1918 – 7 November 1996), a Royal Prince of Ngwaland, "descendant of 20 generations of African chiefs in the Igbo country of Eastern Nigeria", was a Pan-Africanist, and a Nigerian statesman, lawyer, politician, diplomat and humanitarian. He was the first Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, as well as first Nigerian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations [2]. Wachuku was also the first Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
At a time when the United States government had already listed Nelson Mandela as a terrorist, Jaja Wachuku, who was "widely respected" as Foreign Affairs Minister of Nigeria intervened with the South African government and saved Nelson Mandela and others from the death penalty at the 1963–64 Rivonia Trial.
On Thursday 30 September 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria conferred on Wachuku a posthumous special Golden Jubilee Independence Anniversary Award for his outstanding contributions towards the development of Nigeria. Also, for the 1 January 2014 100-year anniversary of Nigeria, having been nominated for exceptional recognition by the Presidential Committee on the Centenary Celebrations, Wachuku was, on Friday 28 February 2014, honoured as a Hero of the Struggle for Nigeria's Independence from Great Britain and a Pioneer Political Leader by President Jonathan.
Jaja Anucha Wachuku's father, King Josaiah Ndubuisi Wachuku, who died on Friday, 2 June 1950, was the Eze, Paramount Chief, Servant Leader and Head of all Ngwa of the then Aba Division of Eastern Nigeria. Jaja's mother, Queen Rebecca Ngwanchiwa Wachuku [née Nwaogwugwu], who died in 1963, was a pioneer Women's rights advocate and humane royal land-owner. From both parents, Wachuku inherited an intrepid, confident, emotional intelligence, diplomatic, forceful, yet caring personality. [3]
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