Chief Onuora Nzekwu, the author of Eze Goes to School, a novel, and founding General Manager of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has died at the age of 89, the family confirmed on Saturday.
Nzekwu, died at 4:30p.m. on Friday in his home in Onitsha, Anambra, where he had been living in retirement, a family member, Mr Louis Chuke, said.
Nzekwu joined the Federal Civil Service as an editorial assistant at the Nigeria Magazine Division of the Federal Ministry of Information.
He worked as an editorial assistant from 1956 to 1958 when took over the position of editor-in-chief of the magazine.
In 1966 when the Nigerian civil war broke out, he transferred his services to the Eastern Nigeria Public Service and returned to the federal service at the end of the crisis in 1970.
He served as General Manager of NAN from 1979 to 1985.
Nzekwu wrote Troubled Dust, a novel that recounts the experiences of the civil war.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the family of Onuora Nzekwu, the pioneer General Manager of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), and author of “Eze goes to School’’.
The President’s condolence message is posted on his twitter handle, @MBuhari, in Abuja on Saturday.
President Buhari said the deceased’s literary works had contributed immensely in uplifting the quality of education across the country.
He particularly noted that the publication `Eze goes to School’’ had been an important part of the lives of countless school children across Nigeria and beyond.
The President wrote: “I commiserate with the family of Chief Onuora Nzekwu, pioneer GM of NAN and author of Eze Goes To School’’ and many other books.
“Since its publication, ‘Eze goes to School’ has been an important part of the lives of countless school children across Nigeria and beyond.
“May the soul of Chief Nzekwu rest in perfect peace and may almighty God grant his family the fortitude to bear his demise.’’
Mr. Nzekwu, who served as General Manager of NAN from 1979 to 1985 died by 4.30p.m on Friday in his home in Onitsha, Anambra, where he had been living since he retired.
(NAN)