On a day like this fifteen years ago this University was founded in modest surroundings. Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1912-1966) was the first prime minister of independent Nigeria, serving from 1957 to 1966. During his tenure as prime minister he also … Indeed, unity today is our greatest concern, and it is the duty of everyone of us to work so that we may strengthen it.”. When Nigeria became independent in 1960, he became the newly independent country’s first Prime Minister and received the instruments of independence from Princess Alexandria (cousin of Queen Elizabeth II). Website Designed & Managed by SETFRON LTD. He is a father of politics in Nigeria, I must attest to that and the contributions he received from Late. Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1912-1966) was the first prime minister of independent Nigeria, serving from 1957 to 1966. He was born on December 1912 in Bauchi, the then Northern Nigeria in what is now known as Bauchi State, to Bageri Muslim, the then district head of the Bauchi divisional district of Lere. The son of the late Prime Minister’s oldest surviving daughter, Alhaji Ahmad Yakubu Wanka (who holds the traditional title of Sarkin Dawaki Mai Tutan Bauchi), graciously contacted me a day after my column was published. Tafawa Balewa was killed in a coup of 1966, though his death remained full of controversy. The House of Assembly also selected him to become a member of the Nigerian Legislative Council. Balewa’s father Yakubu Dan Zala was of Gere ethnicity, and … Abubakar Balewa was the son of a district head in the Bauchi divisional district of Lere. He was a “cool figure” who preoccupied himself with integration of Nigeria’s over 250 ethnic groups as before and during his tenure. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1912-1966) Victor Uraku July 12, 2020 African Facts, African News Leave a comment 84 Views Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was born in the village of Tafawa Balewa in the modern Bauchi area of northeastern Nigeria. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. It is apparent that Abubakar’s quest for togetherness has become a thing of concern as calls for separation sound more louder. Abubakar Tafawa Ɓalewa, Wanda Ya Gabatar A Karon Farko A Matsayin Firaminista A Shekarar (1957). Throughout the 1950s he participated with great skill in the discussions on constitutional reform which ultimately led to independence. He participated in numerous international development fora. From the Muslim North of Nigeria and considered a pro-British conservative, Balewa often clashed with Azikiwe. Originally a trained teacher, he became a vocal leader for Northern interest as one of the few educated Nigerians of his time. Sir Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was born in December 1912 in the present day Tafawa Balewa LGA in southern Bauchi state to the family of Yakubu Dan Zala of the minority Gere ethnic group. In 1946 Tafawa Balewa had been selected by the Bauchi Native Authority as their representative to the Northern House of Assembly, and the House of Assembly in turn selected him to become a member of the Nigerian Legislative Council. History has begun to forget them. The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, ATBU, Bauchi was established in 1980 as the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Bauchi, located in the North Eastern part of the Nigeria with Dr. Jerome Udoji and Professor A. O. Adekola as the pioneer Pro-Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor respectively, while Alh. In 1950 in the Northern House of Assembly he had advocated fundamental reforms to the system of Native Authorities in the North, a proposal highly unpopular among many of the Northern leaders. The way to do this is to create understanding, mutual respect and trust, Unity is our greatest concern, and it is the duty of every one of us to work so that we may strengthen it. Usman Abdullahi Koli, a student of Mass Communication Department, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Bauchi In 1951, in the North's first elections, Tafawa Balewa won seats in the Northern House of Assembly and in the House of Representatives in Lagos, where he became a minister in the Central Council. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the first Prime Minister of Nigeria before and after Nigerian independence from Great Britain in 1960. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was a true patriot, an excellent orator and a politician of uncommon finesse. The peoples of Nigeria must be united to enable this country to play a full part in shaping the destiny of mankind. After his graduation, he came back to Bauchi and took the role of a teacher and later the headmaster of Bauchi Middle school from 1933- 1944. As Prime Minister Balewa helped shape the early foreign policy of Nigeria. Unlike the majority of Northern Nigerian political leaders, he was of humble background, his father having been a client to a district head. Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, KBE(1) (December 1912 – January 15, 1966) was a Nigerian politician, and the only prime minister of an independent Nigeria. Their memories should be celebrated. He remains Nigeria's first and only Prime Minister. He was also an international statesman, widely respected […] Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1912-1966) was born in Tafawa Balewa, present-day, Bauchi State. A school teacher, politician. He was nicknamed as the “Golden Voice Of Africa” over his eloquence and oratorical prowess. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was born in late 1912 in Tafawa Balewa, North East State, (Bauchi) Nigeria. The name of his birthplace was appended to Abubakar’s name (Abubakar Tafawa Balewa). Okotie-Eboh was killed on January 15, 1966 alongside the prime minister, Tafawa Balewa, premier of the north, Sir Ahmadu Bello, premier of the west, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola and some senior military officers. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was born in Tafawa Balewa, North East State, Nigeria. Unlike the majority of Northern Nigerian political leaders, he was of humble background, his father having been a client to a district head. Born December, 1912, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was assassinated at the age of 53 on January 15, 1966 in Lagos State. Unlike the majority of Northern Nigerian political leaders, he was of humble background, his father having been a client to a district head. Learn how your comment data is processed. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the first Prime Minister of Nigeria before and after Nigerian independence from Great Britain in 1960.. Born in December of 1912 in Bauchi in Northern Nigeria, Balewa’s father, Mallam Yakubu, was a minor official in the Native Authority, part of the British colonial administration. Abubakar proposed an amendment to Nigeria’s constitution to give due recognition to the nation building role played by then Governor-General Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. In 1943 he founded the Bauchi Discussion Circle, an organization interested in political reform. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was born in Tafawa Balewa, North East State, Nigeria. Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, KBE(1) (December 1912 – January 15, 1966) was a Nigerian politician, and the only prime minister of an independent Nigeria. Tafawa Balewa was a vocal […] Karfe 11am zamu kawo muku tarihin rayuwar sa kai tsaye daga fitattun masana tarihi a nan cikin garin Bauchi. Following Nigerian independence on October 1, 1960 Balewa continued in his post as Prime Minister of Nigeria in a power sharing arrangement with Nnamdi Azikiwe, the country’s first President. The first Prime Minister was from Bauchi State. Nevertheless, Tafawa Balewa often seemed limited in his own personal power, because as vice president of the NPC he was answerable theoretically to Sir Ahmadu Bello, premier of the Northern Region and president of the NPC. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Prime Minister of Nigeria, became the first indigenous Chancellor of the University in November 1963. He served from 1957 to 1966. Copyright © 2020 Opinion Nigeria. Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, KBE(1) (December 1912 â January 15, 1966) was a Nigerian politician, and the only prime minister of an independent Nigeria. He lost and sacrificed his life to cement our today and tomorrow. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was born in Tafawa Balewa, present-day, Bauchi State. Sir, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the first and only Prime Minister of Nigeria. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was born in December 1912 in modern-day Bauchi State, in the Northern Nigeria Protectorate. He attended Katsina Teachers College from 1928- 1932. Commissioner ministry of culture and tourism. As a teacher and a political gladiator he left a legacy worth appreciating, but it seems the labour of our heroes has been forgotten. He was missing for several days and a search for him was ordered by the new military regime headed by Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Balewa, Abubakar Tafawa, Sir, 1912-1966 - LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies | Library of Congress. A school teacher, politician. On January 15, 1966 he was kidnapped from his official residence by armed soldiers who were executing Nigeria’s first military coup. Aminu Kano, Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and others kept him moving. His father worked in the house of the district head of … Although not overtly political, he founded an organisation named the “Bauchi Discussion Circle” in 1943, and was elected vice president of the Northern Teacher’s Association (the first trade union in Northern Nigeria) in 1948. During his lifetime he emphasized that Nigerians should forget all kind of tribalism, “I appeal to all my countrymen and women to cooperate with me and my colleagues to create a better understanding among our peoples, to establish mutual respect, and trust, among all our tribal groups, and to unite in working together for the common cause, the cause for which no sacrifice will be too great. The famous Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos was named after him as was the Federal University of Technology located in his hometown, Bauchi. He remains Nigeria’s first and only Prime Minister. 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