Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa

Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1912-1966) was the first Prime Minister of Nigeria, serving from independence in 1960 until his assassination in 1966. He was pivotal in Nigeria's transition to independence and played a significant role in the early political landscape of the nation. His government faced numerous challenges, including ethnic tensions and political rivalries, which ultimately culminated in a state of emergency in the Western Region in 1962.