Oliver Mobisson

Oliver Udemmadu Ogbonnia Mobisson (April 23, 1943 – February 18, 2010) was a Nigerian-born scientist, professor, activist, and entrepreneur. He was also a founding Professor of the Anambra State University of Technology (now the Enugu State University of Science & Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Ebonyi State University).

Mobisson was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. He grew up with his family in Umu Ezike, Edenta in Awo Idemili, the son of a palm wine tapper. As a young boy, he attended St. Matthews Primary School (now known as Pioneer Primary School) in Imo State and went on to the Christ the King College (CKC) in Onitsha. His excellence in academics caught the attention of local US Peace Corps volunteers who recommended that he pursue university studies in the United States or UK. He reluctantly agreed, having reservations about the role of the US and UK in colonial Africa. Ultimately, the Nigerian Ministry of Education granted him a fellowship to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Mobisson enrolled at MIT in 1965 just before the start of the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970). Being of Igbo descent, the homeland of the Biafran movement, he had to choose between finishing his graduate school program or devoting himself to the Biafran movement. His studies gave way to organizing in the Boston Area a group of Biafran secessionists. Together, they funneled funds and resources to Biafran-based rebels and publicly protested in the US and other Western countries to recognize Biafra sovereignty. With his wife, Tama, he founded a humanitarian organization, Lifeline For Biafra. When the war ended in 1970, Mobisson remained in the US so he could learn the technical knowledge to rebuild Nigeria.

...
Wikipedia