# Nnamdi Azikiwe

> Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904–1996), popularly known as "Zik," was a Nigerian nationalist, journalist and politician who founded the influential West African Pilot newspaper in 1937 and co-founded the NCNC party in 1944. He served as Nigeria's last colonial Governor-General (1960–1963) and became independent Nigeria's first President in 1963, a largely ceremonial role he held until the military coup of January 1966.

**Category:** People & Ethnicity · **Updated:** 2026-07-26 19:36:35 · **Canonical:** https://nigeriastuff.org/a/nnamdi-azikiwe

## Key facts
- **Born:** 16 November 1904, Zungeru (now Niger State)
- **Died:** 11 May 1996, Enugu, aged 91
- **Newspaper founded:** West African Pilot, Lagos, 22 November 1937
- **Party co-founded:** National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), with Herbert Macaulay, 1944
- **Governor-General of Nigeria:** 1960–1963
- **First President of Nigeria:** 1963–1966 (ceremonial head of state; executive power held by PM Tafawa Balewa); removed in the 15 January 1966 coup
- **Popular epithet:** "Zik of Africa"

## Sources
- Nnamdi Azikiwe — Encyclopaedia Africana (https://encyclopaediaafricana.com/nnamdi-azikwe/)
- The Roles of Nigerian Nationalist Nnamdi Azikiwe — AustinTommy (https://www.austintommy.com.ng/2020/03/28/the-roles-of-nigerian-nationalist-nnamdi-azikiwe/)
- Nigeria — Independent Nigeria — Encyclopaedia Britannica (https://www.britannica.com/place/Nigeria/Independent-Nigeria)
- Nnamdi Azikiwe, the First President of Nigeria, Dies at 91 — The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/14/world/nnamdi-azikiwe-the-first-president-of-nigeria-dies-at-91.html)

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