Prof Uche, while alive, was a highly cited law expert, an accomplished diplomat, an astute businessman and a great family man
By Kehinde Okeowo
Erudite lawyer and top academic, Professor Uche Uko Uche, has died at the age of 87.
The news of his death was announced via a press statement titled ‘Home Call of an Icon’ and made available to TheNiche newspaper by his daughter, Dr. (Mrs) Ijeoma Onyeator, a Senior Producer with Channels Television.
According to her, the late professor, who will be best remembered for his philanthropic gestures, died on August 2, 2022.
Professor Uche, while alive, was a highly cited law expert, an accomplished diplomat, and an astute businessman. He was also a great family man and a devout Christian.
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He hailed from Ohafia in present-day Abia State and started his secondary education at the Aggrey Memorial College, he later proceeded to the University of Ghana, Accra before traveling to the United Kingdom to further his studies.
He was called to the English Bar in 1963 and later established a partnership with Professor Sundstrom in Nordic Law and a Consultancy with Common Market Practice in Brussels, Stockholm, and Geneva.
He was also Founding and Managing Partner, U.U. Uche and Associates (Barristers and Solicitors), Lagos and President of Otu Oka Iwu, an Association of Igbo Lawyers in Lagos.
The statement reads, “With utmost gratitude to God for a life well lived and total submission to the will of God, we announce the passing to glory of our father, grandfather, and great grandfather, Professor Uche Uko Uche on August 2, 2022. He was aged 87.
“Professor Uche is best remembered as a legal luminary, a top academic, a highly cited law expert, an accomplished diplomat, and an astute businessman. He was also a great family man, a devout Christian, a philanthropist, and an entrepreneur who invested his time, energy, and resources in developing people.
“Professor Uche was born on November 7, 1934, and hails from Ohafia in present-day Abia State. He was educated at the Aggrey Memorial College, Arochukwu (1948-52), Teachers’ Training College, Uyo (1954-55), University of Ghana, Accra (1958-61), University of Oxford, England (1962-63), and the University of London, England (1963-65). Among his numerous academic laurels are an LLB, an LLM, and a PhD.
“He was called to the English Bar, Gray’s Inn, London in 1963. At various times, he was a legal practitioner at Messrs A.K. Uche Chambers, Aba (1965-66); Lecturer in African Law at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London (1965-76); Queen’s Counsel, Messrs Dingle Foot and Desmond Ackner (1967-72); Professor of Public Law, University of Nairobi, Kenya; Consultant, Waruhiu and Waruhiu, Nairobi, Kenya, (1972-77) and Visiting Professor Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (1977-1978. He established a partnership with Professor Sundstrom in Nordic Law and a Consultancy with Common Market Practice in Brussels, Stockholm, and Geneva.
“He was also Founding and Managing Partner, U.U. Uche and Associates (Barristers and Solicitors), Lagos and President Otu Oka Iwu (Association of Igbo Lawyers in Lagos 1997-2006). He was invited by the Hague Academy of International Law to deliver the 1991 lecture series and Seminar on Private International Law.
“He was a Senior Legal Consultant, U.N. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); former Chairman, Board of Directors, Centre for African Family Studies, Nairobi, Kenya; member, Board of Directors, Development Law and Policy Programme, Centre for Population and Family Health, Columbia University, New York; Chairman, Board of Directors, African Continental Bank, Lagos; and member, British Institute of International and Comparative Law). He was the traditional title holder of Ugwumba of Isiama, Ohafia.”
Professor Uche is survived by his wife, Chief (Mrs) Gladys Adaibe Uche, children, several grandchildren and great grandchildren
