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Five things Nigeria’s first executive president, Shehu Shagari, will be remembered for

Nigeria’s first executive president, Shehu Shagari, died late Friday after a brief illness. He was 93.

Shagari, who was the first executive president of Nigeria’s second republic, was born in 1925 in Shagari, a village founded by his grandfather. After finishing his education, he became a teacher before venturing into politics in 1951.

He held a number of political posts and was appointed by Gen. Yakubu Gowon as the federal commissioner for economic development in 1971 following the Nigerian Civil War.

Shagari’s death was confirmed by his grandson Bello Shagari, on his Twitter account, 

Tributes from leaders across Nigeria and the world have been pouring since the announcement on Friday. 

“On behalf of my family, the government and the people of Nigeria, it is with immense sadness that I received the news of the passing away of the First Executive President of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari,”  President Muhammadu Buhari said in a statement.

As Nigeria mourns its first executive president, here are a few things the leader will be remembered for.

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Nduta Waweru

Nduta Waweru considers herself a reader who writes. Like a duck, she’s calm on the surface, but she’s always busy paddling underneath to get you the best stories in arts, culture and current affairs. Nduta has published a poetry collection called Nostalgia, is a YALI Fellow and a member of Wandata-Ke Network.

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