Biography

4 Celebrities From Abia State With The Most Inspiring Biographies.

1. Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi.

Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi (deaceased) was born on March 3, 1924. He was the son of Mazi Ezeugo Aguiyi a native of Umuahia- Ibeku in the present day Abia

State of Nigeria.

Aguiyi-Ironsi joined the Nigerian Army on February 2, 1942 when he was only eighteen years of Age. He had his military training at Eaton Hall, England and later, Royal Army Ordinance Corpse before he was confirmed as a Lieutenant on June 12, 1949.

Aguiyi-Ironsi came back to Nigeria and was attached to John Macpherson, the then Governor General of Nigeria as an aide. When Queen Elizabeth visited Nigeria in 1949, it was Aguiyi-Ironsi that was assigned as Equerry to her after training for such task at Buckingham Palace.

When there was Crisis in Congo of the year 1960s, Aguiyi-Irosi led the 5th Battalion of the Nigerian Army to Kivu and Leopoldville provinces of Congo. Having done his job successfully, Aguiyi-Ironsi was appointed the Force Commander of the United Nations Operation in the Congo.

When the British General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army, Major General Welby-Everard stepped down from his position as GOC, to allow the government to appoint an indigenous GOC, it was Aguiyi-Ironsi who became the General Officer Commanding of the Nigerian Army on February 9, 1965.

After the coup of January 14, 1966, Aguiyi-Ironsi became the military head of state. However, On July 29, 1966, a bloody counter coup led to the eventual death of Aguiyi-Ironsi, as his body and that of Adekunle Fajuyi, the then military governor of Western Nigeria were later discovered in a forest.

2. Orji Uzor Kalu.

Orji Uzo Kalu was born on April 21, 1960.

For his secondary education, Orji attended Christ the King School Aba and Government College, Umuahia. He concluded at Barewa College, Zaria, from where he got admission into the University of Maiduguri, where he studied political science. Orji later left the University of Maiduguri to study at and obtained his degree in Abia State University. He also has a degree in Business Administration, which he obtained from Harvard University. University of Maiduguri later honored him with a doctorate degree.

When he completed his university education, Orji borrowed $35 from his mother, a token he used to start trading in palm oil. He would buy the oil in the Eastern part of Nigeria and travel all the way to the North Nigeria to sell them and make reasonable profit. He later started trading on furniture which he would buy and resell for some profits. Later, Orji Uzor Kalu founded a company called SLOK Holdings, a conglomerate that consists of other companies he had founded like International Bank Limited, Adamawa Publishers Limited, Ojialex Furniture Company, Supreme Oil Limited, SLOK Airline, SLOK Botswana, Cotonou, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, South Africa, SLOK Korea, SLOK Nigeria Limited, SLOK United States Incorporated, SLOK United Kingdom Limited, SLOK Vegetable Oil, Aba, SLOK Paper Factory, Aba, Sun Publishing Limited etc.

Putting all he has accomplished into consideration, especially their benefits to the Nigerian economy, Orji Uzor Kalu was honored with the National Merit Award by President Ibrahim Babangida, at the age of 26 in the year 1986, making him the youngest Nigerian to receive such Award.

Orji Uzo Kalu later ventured into politics and became the governor of Abia Sate of Nigeria.

In the year 2014, Forbes listed Orji Uzor Kalu as the 26th richest man in Africa he was worth One Billion Dollars.

3. Bright Okpocha (Basket Mouth).

Bright Okpocha popularly known as Basket Mouth was born in Lagos, Lagos State of Nigeria on September 14, 1978.

Basket Mouth had his early education in Apapa, Lagos State from where he proceeded to the University Of Benin, for his Degree program. Eventually, he obtained a degree in Sociology and Anthropology.

Basket Mouth was formerly a drummer and a part-time musician, however, in the year 2001 he had a break through, when he discovered he can be good as a comedian after meeting Alibaba. Eventually, he added event management to the things his company could do.

Basket Mouth came to lime light when in the year 2003, he was among the international celebrities feature in Europe in a show where Akon, Beyonce, Boys 2 Men, Chriss Brown, Ciara, Dru Hill, Wyclef Jean, Snoop Dogg, and many others had a live performance. Later in 2006, he had a wonderful performance in Atlanta during the Nigerian Reunion.

Today, Basket Mouth is well respected in the entertainment industry and have inspired thousands of Nigerian youths, who now know that one can actually earn his living by being funny.

4. Chinedu Ikediezie.

Chinedu Ikedieze a Nigerian actor popularly known as Aki was born on December 12, 1977 in Bende in Abia State Nigeria. Chinedu Ikedieze is a unique actor that has distinguished himself in the

Nigerian movie industry. His size for one, makes him to stand out amongst other actors.

Chinedu Ikedieze has featured in many Nigerian Movies, 95% of which he did alongside with OsitaIheme another Nigerian actor of the same unique stature with him. Chinedu Ikedieze got a breakthrough in the movie industry when he did the film ?Aki na Ukwa?.

However, in 2007, Chinedu Ikedieze received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the African Movie Academy Awards.

Chinedu Ikedieze was also given a National award by the Nigerian Government when he was made a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria(MFR) in 2011.

In December 2011, Chinedu Ikedieze got married to Miss Nneoma Nwaijah; a Fashion Designer and in 2012, the couple were blessed with a Daughter.

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- Basket Mouth; Biography.
BasketmouthBiography of Basketmouth.Bright Okpocha popularly known as Basket Mouth was born in Lagos, Lagos State of Nigeria on September 14, 1978. Basket Mouth is however an Igbo, one of the major tribes of Nigeria. Basket Mouth is particularly, an indigene...

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- Biography Of Orji Uzo Kalu; Ex-governor; Billionaire; Abia State Celebrity.
Orji Uzo KaluABOUT ORJI UZO KALU Orji Uzo Kalu was born on April 21, 1960. He attended Christ the King School Aba and Government College, Umuahia. Orji Uzo Kalu also attended Barewa College, Zaria, from where he got admission into the University...

- Biography Of Yakubu Gowon; Former Military Head Of State Of Nigeria; Plateau State Celebrity.
Yakubu GowonYakubu Gowon was born on October 19, 1934. He is from Plateau state Nigeria. Yakubu Gowon had his early education in Zaria before joining the Nigerian Army. After joining the army, Yakubu Gowon was trained in Ghana and later in England....

Biography