Meet First Ever Nigerian First Lady, Flora Ogbenyeanu Ogoegbunam Azikiwe

Flora Ogbenyeanu Ogoegbunam Azikiwe (August 7, 1917 – August 22, 1983) was the first wife of Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first president of Nigeria. She was First Lady of Nigeria from October 1, 1963, to January 16, 1966. Ogoegbunam was born in Onitsha, a town in present-day Anambra State, to Chief Ogoegbunam, an Adazii of Onitsha (Chief Ndichie) of Ogboli Agbor Onitsha. There she met Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1934 and they married on April 4, 1936. Their wedding took place…

Operation and Expansion of Leventis Store in the 1950s

Leventis Store, Marina, Lagos. The car appears to be a 1949 Studebaker Land Cruiser, right-hand drive; Registration A6672. The store was located at the marina, between Abibu Oki and Williams streets. The first Leventis Stores opened in Marina Lagos in the 1950s and soon expanded to include several stores; Many more stores were opened such as in Benin, Calabar, Abuja, Owerri, Kano, Kaduna and Maiduguri etc. Leventis stores were synonymous with quality and affordable household items. It became a household…

Inspection of the Imperial Airways by Northern leaders in 1934

A picture of northern leaders, the Sultan of Sokoto, the Emir of Gwandu and the Emir of Kano inspect imperial Airways’ brand new ‘Syrinx’ aircraft at Croydon Airport on July 2, 1934. Imperial Airways was one of Britain’s first long-haul commercial airlines, operating from 1924 to 1939, serving primarily British Empire routes to South Africa, India, Australia and the Far East, including Malaysia and Hong Kong. Imperial Airways never reached the level of technological innovation…

Celebration of the Ofala Festival and its Significance to the Igbo Culture

The Ofala festival is an annual ceremony practiced by the Igbo people, particularly the indigenous people of Onitsha, Umueri, Umuoji and other nearby communities such as Aguleri, Nnewi and Ukpo in Dunukofia Local Government Area. It serves as a renewal ritual for the king, Igwe or Obi, and is similar to the Igue festival in Benin and the Ine, Osi or Ogbanigbe festival in many Igbo communities in west-central Nigeria. The term Ofala comes from two Igbo words: ọfọ…