Igwe, Ambassador Dr. Lawrence Okolio Chikezie Agubuzu

Brief Biography of HRM Igwe, Amb. Dr. Lawrence Okolio Chikezie Agubuzu

He spoke from the heart, unpretentious. Straight to the point with with fill respect to the leadership and authority of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR.

This is about the Enugu State Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Amb. Dr. Lawrence Okolio Chikezie Agubuzu who spoke during an event at the State House in Abuja recently. He requested Mr. President to find a way to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and if possible retune him Kenya from where was abducted by the Nigerian Government or United Kingdom, where he lives.

But who is this man that spoke so dispassionately the President?

His Majesty Igwe, Ambassador Dr. Lawrence Okolio Chikezie Agubuzu, was born at Awene Village of Ezema Olo, Ezeagu Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria, on 27th October, 1942.

He passed out from Saint Joseph’s Primary School, Olo town, in 1955, at the top of his class. Early in life he  set a high standard of brilliance, excellence and hard work that has been his lifelong benchmark even during his years as a Primary School Teacher in the early 1960s.

He graduated from the  University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1967 and won the best student and prize winner in Political Science that year. He later pursued a postgraduate courses at the University of Lagos (1980-1981); Howard University in Washington, DC, (1982-1984); and the University of Besancon in France (1987).

He worked as a Foreign Service Officer  from 971-1996. He was a Commissioner for Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Matters, 1984-1986, in the old Anambra State; an Ambassador of Nigeria to the United Nations in New York with the portfolio of Deputy Permanent Representative, (1989-1991); High Commissioner (Ambassador) of Nigeria to Zambia with concurrent accreditation to Malawi from 1991-1999; and Assistant Secretary-General of the defunct Organization of African Unity (OAU)/Commissioner of the African Union (AU) 1999-2003.

He was coronated as the Traditional Ruler of Ezema Olo Kingdom since 2006; and served as Chairman, Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, 2013-2023. He was one for the South East Delegates to the National Conference in 2014.

HRM Agubuzu was the first Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) 2015-2021; and later the First Chancellor, Federal University of Kashere (FUK), Gombe State, 2021 to date.  Chairman, South East Council of Traditional Rulers, 1st August 2022-to date.

By Iheukwumere Okogwu Otu