Passion or Profession: Statesman

Period: 1904–1996

Azikiwe founded a chain of newspapers in Nigeria before becoming a political leader. When Nigeria gained independence from the United Kingdom, Azikiwe became the first president. However, his government was overthrown a few years later in a coup. Soon after, he supported secession of the Biafra region, but he later advocated reunification. He ran for president two more times, but was not elected again.