Things you probably didn’t know about Ernest Shonekan

Chief Ernest Shonekan, former head of the Interim National Government which succeeded General Ibrahim Babangida’s military government on August 25, 1993, died on Tuesday at 85. However, there are things you probably didn’t know about him.

1. He was born on May 9, 1936 into a family of six children and had his education at the CMS Grammar School and Igbobi College, Lagos before bagging a law degree from the University of London.
2. Shonekan who also studied at Harvard Business School was a lawyer and businessman by profession before he ventured into politics.
3. He was given the Abese of Egbaland in 1981 in addition to various other titles he held.
4. He served as chairman and chief executive of the United African Company of Nigeria which succeeded the Niger Company.
5. The boardroom guru was made chairman and managing director of United Africa Company of Nigeria in 1980.
6. Shonekan served as the interim Head of State of Nigeria from August 25, 1993 to November 17, 1993.
7. His interim National Government was ousted by the late General Sani Abacha, who was then the Chief of Army Staff.
8. He founded the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, an advocacy group and think-tank for private sector-led development of the Nigerian economy.
9. Shonekan was married to Margaret Shonekan and they have four children, Adeboye, Korede, Kemi and Yele.
10. He was announced dead on January 11, 2022.
11. At the time of his death, he was the third oldest surviving Nigerian head of state by age after Elizabeth II and Yakubu Gowon.