Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa

Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa , 1912-66, Nigerian political leader. He was born Mallam Abubakar. After studying to become a teacher, he held a series of posts in education and then became a member of the Northern Region house of assembly in 1947. Later (1951), he was elected to the federal house of representatives. He was appointed the first prime minister of the Federation of Nigeria in 1957. When the federation became independent (1960), he retained his office. He was a founder and deputy president general of the country's largest political party, the Northern People's Congress. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. In 1966, he was killed in a military coup.

Balewa, Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa (1912–66) Nigerian statesman. He entered politics in 1946, and became a member of the Central Legislative Council in 1947. The first Prime Minister of the Federation of Nigeria, he retained his office when the country became independent (1960) until he was killed in an army coup.

Balewa, Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa (b. Dec. 1912, d. 15 Jan. 1966). Prime Minister of Nigeria 1957–66 Born in Tafawa Balewa Town, he became a teacher, and in 1945–6 went to the UK to attend the London Institute of Education. After returning to Nigeria he was elected to the Northern Region House of Assembly. In 1947 he became a member of the Central Legislative Council and in 1949 co-founded what became Nigeria's largest political party, the Northern People's Congress (NPC). He joined the federal government in 1952, and became the first Prime Minister of the Federation of Nigeria, a post which he retained when the country became independent in 1960. Despite his efforts, he was unable to unite the divided country, or to establish some sense of law and order. He was himself re-elected in 1964 in rigged elections, which led to arguments with Azikiwe. A three-month period of nearanarchy preceded the 1966 army coup, in which he was killed.