He is the Ide of the Oko kingdom in Anambra State, where his younger brother, Lazarus, is the traditional ruler.
He was also honoured by the council of Traditional Rulers in the old Aguata as the Ide of Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State comprising forty-four (44) towns.
Ekwueme is a distinguished architect who started his professional career as an Assistant Architect with a Seattle-based firm, Leo A. Daly and Associates, and also with the London-based firm Nickson and Partners.
He worked briefly with ESSO West Africa, Lagos, overseeing the Construction and Maintenance department. He founded Ekwueme Associates, Architects and Town Planners, the first indigenous architectural firm in Nigeria.
Dr Alex Ekwueme who was Vice President to President Shehu Shagari was ousted in a coup staged by military officers led by Brigadier Muhammadu Buhari on 31 December 1983.
He attended the University of London; King’s College; Lagos, Nigerian Law School; University of Strathclyde and University of Washington.
The second republic Vice President, was confirmed dead in a London clinic. Ekwueme was said to have died late Sunday night after he battled with what the family said was a chest infection.
Confirming his death in a statement early Monday morning, Ekwueme’s younger brother and tradional ruler of Oko community in Anambra state, HRH, Prof. Laz Ekwueme said the sad event occurred in London at about 10pm Sunday night.
The statement said “The Ekwueme family regrets to announce the peaceful passing away of their patriarch, the former Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme GCON.
“The sad event occurred at The London Clinic at 10:00 pm on Sunday 19th November 2017.” Ekwueme suffered stroke two weeks ago and was stabilised in an Enugu hospital before a Federal Government Ambulance aircraft flew him to London.
Ekwueme’s party NPN won the 1983 election but they were sacked in a military coup and General Mohammadu Buhari became the Head of State.
Ekwume turned 85 October 21
