Odumegwu Ojukwu

Odumegwu Ojukwu was a Nigerian military officer and politician, best known as the leader of the Igbo-led Biafran independence movement. In 1967, he declared the independence of Biafra, leading to a brutal civil war with Nigeria that resulted in significant loss of life. Ojukwu is remembered for his strong sense of Igbo identity and resistance to perceived marginalization. After the war, he went into exile but later returned to Nigeria and became involved in politics. His legacy is complex—celebrated by many for fighting for Igbo self-determination, but also associated with a painful chapter in Nigeria’s history.