Chike Obi facts for kids

Chike Obi (born April 17, 1921 – died March 13, 2008) was a famous Nigerian politician, mathematician, and professor.

Many believe he was the first Nigerian to earn a PhD in mathematics. Dr. Obi was known for his important work in a field of mathematics called differential equations. His ideas helped other mathematicians around the world.

He also wrote many books and articles about mathematics and Nigerian politics.

Early Life and Learning

Chike Obi went to school in different parts of Nigeria. He studied mathematics on his own through the University of London.

After his first degree, he won a scholarship to study at Pembroke College, Cambridge. Then, he went on to get his PhD at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States. In 1950, he became the first Nigerian to earn a PhD in mathematics.

Career as a Mathematician

After his studies, Obi returned to Nigeria to teach at the University of Ibadan. However, his interest in politics soon took him away from teaching.

After the Nigerian Civil War, he returned to teaching in 1970 at the University of Lagos. He quickly became a senior professor there. Later, he moved back to his hometown of Onitsha and started the Nanna Institute for Scientific Studies.

Chike Obi won the Sigvard Eklund Prize for his original work in differential equations. This award came from the International Centre for Theoretical Physics. He taught at universities until he retired as an Emeritus Professor in 1985.

In 1997, Obi said he had found a solution to Fermat's Last Theorem. This was a very famous math problem. He published his work, but later, other mathematicians found that his proof was not correct.

Career in Politics and Helping People

In Ibadan, Chike Obi started giving talks about his political ideas. He believed in a system called Kemalism and how it could help Nigeria. He helped create the Dynamic Party of Nigeria and was its first secretary-general. He ran for election in 1951 but did not win.

His party later worked with bigger groups like the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons. Obi was chosen to be part of the Nigerian team that discussed Nigeria's path to self-rule in London in 1957 and 1958.

After Nigeria became independent from Britain in 1960, Obi was elected as a legislator in the Eastern House of Assembly. He refused to leave his seat in the national government in Lagos. Because of this, he was physically removed from the regional house. After this, Obi decided to focus on regional issues.

In 1962, Obi was arrested. He was accused of planning against the government. He was later released because there was not enough evidence.

When the Nigerian Civil War started in 1967, Obi supported Biafra. He worked with the Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. For a short time in the 1970s, he also worked for the National Revenue Mobilization Commission.

Chike Obi did not like unfairness in politics. He also spoke out against extreme views about religion and ethnic groups. In the 1980s, he wrote a newspaper column called "I speak For the People."

Awards and Recognition

Chike Obi was a visiting professor at the University of Rhode Island in the USA, the University of Jos in Nigeria, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He received a national honor called Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). He was also a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science.

Personal Life

Chike Obi passed away in 2008. He was survived by his wife, Belinda, who was a nurse. She passed away in 2010. They had four children.