James Ajibola Idowu Ige, popularly known as Bola Ige, was born on 13 September 1930 in Esa-Oke, Osun State. A brilliant lawyer, politician, and writer, he carved his place in Nigerian history as one of the most outspoken voices of his generation, earning the nickname “Cicero of Esa-Oke” for his sharp intellect and fearless oratory.

Educated at Ibadan Grammar School, Ige later studied Classics at University College, Ibadan, before qualifying as a lawyer in London. His legal and political careers were deeply intertwined with the struggle for democracy in Nigeria. A member of the Action Group and later the Unity Party of Nigeria, he stood firmly for progressive politics, advocating education and social justice.

In 1979, he became Governor of old Oyo State, where he introduced the Free Education Programme, a landmark policy that broadened access to schooling for thousands of children. His political journey continued with his appointment as Minister of Power and Steel under President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, later serving as Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

Tragically, Bola Ige’s life was cut short on 23 December 2001 when he was assassinated in his Ibadan home—a murder that remains unresolved. His death shocked the nation, silencing a voice that had consistently spoken truth to power.

Bola Ige’s legacy lives on in his writings, his bold politics, and his vision for a just Nigeria.

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Lieutenant General Olusegun Obasanjo remains one of Nigeria’s most influential leaders, credited with major national developments.

Infrastructure: In March 1979, he inaugurated the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, which today stands as Nigeria’s busiest gateway to the world.

Education:

He introduced the Universal Primary Education (UPE) scheme in 1976, which expanded free access to schooling across the country.

Agriculture:

Through Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), he encouraged food production and self-reliance.

Democracy:

He made history by becoming the first Nigerian military leader to hand over power to a civilian government (1979).

Telecommunications:

As civilian president, Obasanjo liberalized the telecom sector in 2001, bringing Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) into Nigeria. This revolutionized communication, connecting millions of Nigerians and boosting the economy.

International Role:

He positioned Nigeria as a respected African voice in global affairs, mediating in regional conflicts and strengthening the ECOWAS bloc.

From infrastructure to education, agriculture, telecoms, and democratic transitions, Obasanjo’s leadership left a lasting mark on Nigeria’s history.

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Francisca Nneka Okeke is a Professor of Physics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). She has contributed to the development of physics at the secondary and tertiary levels in her country Nigeria, writing several textbooks and articles that have enhanced the teaching and learning of the subject in the country.

A trailblazer, Prof. Okeke was the first female Head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy (2003-2006), the first female Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences (2008-2010), the first indigenous woman who became a Professor in the Faculty of Science and Engineering of the UNN and the first woman Professor of Physics in East Nigeria. She currently serves as the Director of ICCSEE-UNN, where she continues supporting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and mentoring women and girls in science.

Prof. Okeke received several awards and recognitions for her contribution to her field. She is a laureate of the L’Oreal-UNESCO 2013 Award for Women in Science for Physical Sciences. She also received accolades from Nigerian academia in 2016 as one of the 10 Most Influential Nigerian Women in Science and among the top 10 lecturers in research and publication at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

She has supervised 25 doctorate and 38 master’s students, including two who won the AU-TWAS Young Scientist Award in 2010 and the PG First VC’s Award for 2015-2016, respectively, while publishing 140 papers in international journals.

She is a Fellow of the World Academy of Science (FTWS), the Africa Academy of Science (FAAS), the Nigerian Academy of Science (FAS), and the Japanese Society for Promotion of Science (FJSPS).

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