1968 (Mar. 15)
Lt. Colonel Louis Austin Chude-Sokei, commander of Biafran Air Forces, dies aged 31
A British-trained officer and one of Biafra’s top military leaders, Chude-Sokei led daring air operations for the secessionist state. Under his leadership, the Air Force undertook significant operations, including the audacious hijacking of a Nigeria Airways Fokker F27 aircraft from Benin to Enugu, which was repurposed for Biafran use. He was killed by Nigerian mortar fire on March 15, 1968, at the age of 31, during a strategic meeting in Ogidi.
1974 (Mar. 7)
Ejike Aghanya, via his company NICON, patents Nigeria’s first indigenous traffic light.
Ejike Ebenezer Obumneme Aghanya (27 November 1932 – 3 July 2020) served as a Major in the Nigerian Army and a Colonel Biafran Army. He was an electrical engineer responsible for producing ordinances, ammunition, and vehicles. He was also a founder of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (1958). After the war, he founded an engineering company which went on to patent an indigenous traffic light.
1968 (Mar. 15)
Lt. Colonel Louis Austin Chude-Sokei, commander of Biafran Air Forces, dies aged 31
A British-trained officer and one of Biafra’s top military leaders, Chude-Sokei led daring air operations for the secessionist state. Under his leadership, the Air Force undertook significant operations, including the audacious hijacking of a Nigeria Airways Fokker F27 aircraft from Benin to Enugu, which was repurposed for Biafran use. He was killed by Nigerian mortar fire on March 15, 1968, at the age of 31, during a strategic meeting in Ogidi.
2014 (Mar. 18)
Author and Activist, Catherine Obianuju Acholonu, Dies Age 62
Catherine Obianuju Acholonu (Oct 26th, 1951 – Mar 18th, 2014)was born in Orlu, Imo State. She would be educated in Dusseldorf, Germany before returning to teach in Nigeria. She authored over 16 books, and several impactful poems. She rejected feminism and developed the concept of Motherism.
1931 (Mar. 20)
Birth of Entrepreneur and Pan-Igbo Activist, Sunny Odogwu
Chief Sunny Iwedike Odogwu (Mar 20, 1925 - Nov 5th, 2018) was born in Asaba, Delta State. He would rise to work in the British dominated insurance industry. The developed the SIO Group of companies which included indigenous businesses. He was a staunch supported of Igbos during the Civil War. This includes his initiative of the Post Express which is noted as promoting Igbo consciousness.
2013 (Mar. 21)
Author, Chinua Achebe, Dies Age 82
On 03/21/2013, iconic author Chinua Achebe dies at the age of 82 in Boston Massachusetts.
1957 (Mar. 22)
Robert Stapledon, Colonial Administrator of Eastern Nigeria, Addresses the Government
Sir Robert Stapledon (Feb 6th, 1909 – Aug 30th 1975) addressed the House of Assembly on Mar 22nd 1957. This was one of the last addresses before Nigerian Independence. The speech is recorded in the Nigerian archives and give a clear view of how the colonial powers highly emphasized high production of good that were needed by British industry.