Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Premier of Eastern Region, introducing Dr. Michael Okpara at N.C.N.C. rally, Urualla, Nigeria

By 1944 Dr. Azikiwe had become the president of the National Council for Nigeria and the Cameroons (N.C.N.C.). The NCNC was a political party which united radical elements that had emerged during the Second World War. The political party won the important 1959 federal elections and helped stimulate Nigerian independence. In 1960 Nigeria became independent from Britain. Dr. Azikiwe was appointed Governor- General and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal State of Nigeria. Three years later he was the first Nigerian to be sworn in as president, when the country became a republic. He held this position until the first coup d'etat in 1966 ended his administration and led to the Nigerian civil war. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from August 18, 1959 to December 20, 1959.