Dr Michael Iheonukara OkparaAge: 63 years1920–1984
- Name
- Dr Michael Iheonukara Okpara
- Name prefix
- Dr
- Given names
- Michael Iheonukara
- Surname
- Okpara
Birth | December 25, 1920 |
Occupation | Premier of Eastern Nigeria October 1, 1959 (Age 38 years) |
Death | December 17, 1984 (Age 63 years) |
Family with Adanma Enyidiya … |
himself |
Birth: December 25, 1920 — Umuegwu Okpuala, Ohuhu, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria Media object: Michael Iheonukara okpara Occupation: Premier of Eastern Nigeria — October 1, 1959 Death: December 17, 1984 — Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria |
wife |
Adanma Enyidiya … |
son |
Nnawuihe Okpara |
son |
Uzodinma Okpara |
daughter |
Chinyere Okpara |
son |
Enyinna Okpara |
daughter |
Ugonwa Okpara |
daughter |
Ijeoma Okpara |
Occupation | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 960 × 960 pixels File size: 69 KB Type: Photo |
Media object | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 422 × 429 pixels File size: 23 KB Type: Photo Highlighted image: yes |
Note | Michael Okpara was Premier of Eastern Nigeria during the First Republic, from 1959 to 1966. He was the nation's youngest Premier. |
Note | At 39 years, Michael Okpara was the youngest Premier of Nigeria & the Eastern Region for six years & Port Harcourt as part of the Eastern region. He was responsible for setting up the Trans Amadi Industrial Area, Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt and Enugu Michelin Tyre Factory in Port Harcourt, Obudu Cattle Ranch in Calabar, the Owerri shoe Industry, the Aba Textile Mill and Port Harcourt seaport expansion. He did all these with No crude Oil revenue, but resources from palm oil, coal and limestone. In Port Harcourt, Dr Michael Okpara’s visionary acumen blossomed in the establishment and development of a vast Trans Amadi Industrial Estate which, to this day, remains the heartbeat and bulwark of industrial development in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Dr Okpara was the son of a labourer but rose to become a medical doctor of distinction. He never owned a house. He practised “Pragmatic Socialism” and his hobby was building infrastructure development for the Old Eastern Nigeria as well as encouraging agriculture. After the unfortunate civil war, he went to exile in Ireland where he practised Medicine. Before his return from exile in 1979, his friends took up the task to build him a house in his village at Umuegwu in Umuahia, Abia state and that was the only house and property he had.Dr. Michael Okpara died on December 17, 1984, and today, a University of Agriculture is named after him in Umudike and likewise, a street is named after him in Abuja. It was in the house built by his friends that he was buried in 1985. |
- Generation 1
Dr Michael Iheonukara Okpara, premier of Eastern Nigeria (on October 1, 1959), was born on December 25, 1920 in Umuegwu Okpuala, Ohuhu, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria and died on December 17, 1984 in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria at the age of 63.
Dr Michael Iheonukara Okpara had 6 children.