Nnamdi Kanu is a British-Nigeria national and a pro-Biafra activist that gained popularity in 2009 from his broadcasts on a United Kingdom-registered radio station, Radio Biafra, on issues of neglect of the government, inequitable resource distribution, ethnic marginalization, and political alienation of the Southeastern region of Nigeria. In 2012, the Abia-born political activist, Nnamdi Kanu founded the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist organization with the objective of independence for Biafra. IPOB was however proscribed as a terrorist group by the Government of the Federation on September 18, 2021. His wife is Uchechi Okwu Kanu, a British-Nigeria national residing in North England, United Kingdom.
This article attempts to unravel details that are worthwhile to know about Mrs. Uchechi Okwu Kanu, the wife of Nnamdi Kanu:
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Early Life and Childhood
Uchehi was born on April 18, 1981, in the United Kingdom to parents of Nigerian heritage, particularly Abia State, in the Southeastern region of Nigeria. By her place of birth, she is a bonafide citizen of the United Kingdom. Hence, Uchechi is a British-Nigerian citizen.
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Educational Background
Being born in the United Kingdom, the law outrightly mandates that full-time education be compulsory for all children from 5 years until 18. In line with the educational system of England, Uchechi began schooling starting from the Early Years Foundation where she had nursery and reception education. At the age of 5, she started primary education for infants which comprises of Year 1 and Year 2 of the Key Stage 1. At 7 years of age, being Year 3, and the start of Key Stage 2, she obtained junior primary education, and wrote Standard Attainment Tests (SATs) when she was about 11 years of in Year 6 of KS2. At 11 years of age, Uchechi began her secondary school education and sat for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GSCE) examination in Year 11 upon completion of her secondary school education. Uchechi continued post-16 education, which is the Year 5 comprising of Year 12 and Year 13, to prepare and sit for the A(Advanced ) Level examination. With good results in the A’ Levels examination, she applied for tertiary education in the United Kingdom. She is a bachelor’s degree holder from a university in the United Kingdom.
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Marriage and Family Life
The couple met and dated in the United Kingdom before getting married in 2009. On January 4, 2016, Nnabuikem Nnamdi Okwu Kanu, the couple’s first child was born in England, United Kingdom. The birth of their son, Nnabuikem, came shortly after the arrest and prolonged detention of Nnamdi Kanu by the Nigerian authorities. The residence of Nnamdi Kanu and his wife is in North England where Uchechi, Nnabuikem her Step-son lives.
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Support for Nnamdi Kanu’s Activism
Uchechi Okwu Kanu has been a very supportive wife to her husband, Nnamdi Kanu, concerning his activism and continued advocacy for the movement for independence for Biafra. In 2015, when Nnamdi Kanu was held in detention by the Nigerian authorities after being arrested at a hotel in Ikeja, Lagos State, on charges of sedition, ethnic incitement, and treasonable felony, Uchechi Okwu Kanu did not relent a bit but canvassed for international support especially from the United Kingdom. Nnamdi Kanu rubbed off on his wife as Uchechi Okwu Kanu is known to participate in meetings, conventions, and so on, relating to the actualization of Biafra and finding solutions to societal Ills plaguing the Southeastern region. Just as her husband, Uchechi criticizes the Government of Nigeria for engaging in ethnic marginalization, lopsided resource distribution, poor investing, and political alienation of the Southeastern parts of the country.
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Nnamdi Kanu’s Recent Arrest
On June 29, 2021, Nnamdi Kanu was rearrested again in Kenya by security forces believed to be Interpol. He was extradited to Nigeria to face his court trial. In interviews granted after the rearrest of her husband, Uchechi Okwu Kanu admits devastation by the news. She still upholds support for her husband as he goes to trial.
Trail of Nnamdi Kanu started in October with the following charges leveled against him; jumping bail, terrorism, treasonable felony, involvement in a banned separatist movement, inciting public violence through radio broadcast, and defamation of Nigerian authorities.