Nigeria: Ex-Interim President Ernest Shonekan Dies at 85
Chief Ernest Shonekan, the former head of the Interim National Government that succeeded the military junta of General Ibrahim Babangida, is dead.
Shonekan, a boardroom guru before his selection to head the Interim National Government, died in Lagos at the age of 85, according to TVC.
Shonekan died in a hospital in the Lekki area of Lagos state. He was the Chairman of the interim National Government between August 26 and November 17 1993 when he was ousted in a palace coup led by late General Sani Abacha who was Secretary of Defence.
He was born on May 9, 1936, into a family of six children and received his education at the CMS Grammar School and Igbobi College in Lagos, before going on to the University of London to pursue a law degree.
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Shonekan, who also attended Harvard Business School, worked as a lawyer and businessman before entering politics.In 1981, he was given the title of Abese of Egbaland, Ogun State, in addition to a number of other titles.
He was the chairman and CEO of the United African Company of Nigeria, which took over from the Niger Company. In 1980, he was appointed chairman and managing director of the United Africa Company of Nigeria.
Read Also |From August 25, 1993, to November 17, 1993, Shonekan served as Nigeria’s interim President. His provisional National Government was removed by the late General Sani Abacha, who was then the Chief of Army Staff.
He formed the Nigerian Economic Summit Organisation, an advocacy group and think-tank supporting private sector-led development of the Nigerian economy.
Shonekan is the father of four children, Adeboye, Korede, Kemi, and Yele, from his wife Margaret Shonekan.
Source: TVC & The Punch
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