Akanu Ibiam was born in Unwana, Afikpo, Ebonyi State on 29 November 1906, of Igbo background.
14 Facts About Akanu Ibiam
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Akanu Ibiam was the second son of Chief Ibiam, a traditional ruler of Unwana.
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Akanu Ibiam later became traditional ruler, Eze Ogo Isiala I of Unwana and Osuji of Uburu.
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Akanu Ibiam attended Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, and King's College, Lagos, and then was admitted to the University of St Andrews, graduating with a medical degree in 1934.
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Akanu Ibiam was accepted as a medical missionary of the Church of Scotland, in which role he established Abiriba hospital and later superintended mission hospitals at Itu and Uburu.
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Akanu Ibiam was never ordained as a minister, but he was elected and ordained as an elder of the Presbyterian Church.
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Akanu Ibiam was appointed an honorary officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1949 New Year Honours for his work as a medical missionary of the Church of Scotland, and was appointed an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1951 New Year Honours, which was later made substantive.
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Akanu Ibiam was president of the Christian Council of Nigeria.
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In 1959 Akanu Ibiam was president of the University College of Ibadan.
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Akanu Ibiam held office until the military coup of 15 January 1966 that brought Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi to power.
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However, Akanu Ibiam was instrumental in ensuring that the nightly air lift of relief into Biafra was started.
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Akanu Ibiam returned his knighthood and renounced his English name, Francis, in protest against the British government's support of the Nigerian federal government.
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Akanu Ibiam was responsible for the Bible Society of Nigeria and the Christian Medical Fellowship.
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Akanu Ibiam became a president of the All Africa Conference of Churches.