Paul Unongo Biography: Age, Wife, Children, Burial Date

Paul Unongo Biography: Age, Wife, Children, Burial Date

When the tale of Nigeria’s political evolution is narrated, few names carry as much weight as Paul Unongo. Unongo was a nationalist, an intellectual, and a man with steel convictions. His journey from the parched plains of Benue to the upper echelons of national leadership was one of courage sculpted out of discipline and persistence.

Paul Iorpuu Unongo was born on September 26, 1935, in Turan, Kwande Local Government Area, present-day Benue State, during a period of seismic political shifts in Nigeria. Raised in a Catholic background, he went on to become one of Northern Nigeria’s first intellectuals with a powerful voice during the First and Second Republics.

Education and Political Ascent

Paul Unongo’s early brilliance led him to some of the best institutions of his time. He later studied psychology and political science in Canada and the United States, a background that would shape his political philosophy and nationalist perspective.

Unongo rose to national prominence in the early 1980s, when he was appointed Minister of Steel Development by President Shehu Shagari. His contribution was critical at a period when Nigeria sought to industrialise and achieve economic independence. But Unongo was more than just a technocrat; he was a firm believer in social justice and fair sharing of national riches.

He ran for president under the banner of the Nigerian People’s Party (NPP), with political titans such as Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. Though he did not win, his courage in representing the Middle Belt at that level garnered him long-term respect.

“Leadership is not about power, it is about sacrifice,” Unongo once remarked during a 2004 public lecture in Makurdi. His words, much like his life, were heavy with truth.

Family: Wife and Children

Behind the stern exterior of the public intellectual was a family man deeply devoted to his roots. Paul Unongo was married, and his union was blessed with children who have mostly maintained private lives, away from the glare of national attention.

Though he rarely paraded his family in public, those close to the elder statesman described him as a loving father and a pillar of strength at home. In a tribute penned by his eldest son during a memorial service, he was described as “a man who wore integrity like a second skin and love like an armor.”

His Final Days and Burial

Paul Unongo passed away on November 29, 2022, at the age of 87. His death was not just the loss of a man—it was the closing of a crucial chapter in Nigeria’s socio-political history. He had lived through colonialism, independence, military coups, and democratic transitions, always maintaining his belief in a united Nigeria.

In a solemn but colorful burial ceremony held on January 6, 2023, in his hometown of Turan, dignitaries from across the country gathered to pay their respects. Former and serving governors, traditional rulers, senators, and clergy honored the man who had become a bridge between generations. His burial was a celebration of a life lived for others—a life whose echoes will long be felt in the heart of the Middle Belt and beyond.

Legacy and Tributes

Paul Unongo’s legacy rests not in monuments but in minds. He was the Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum and used his position to advocate for national unity, security, and youth empowerment until his last breath.

In an era where political rhetoric often drowns out truth, Unongo stood firm in the storm—an elder who spoke truth to power. As the nation grapples with its identity and future, voices like his remind us of what leadership should be.

“Nigeria can only move forward if every child, from Sokoto to Yenagoa, believes this country belongs to them,” he once said. These were not mere words; they were the principles that guided his life.

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Paul Unongo Biography Summary

We remember Paul Unongo as someone who lived not only to be heard, but also to make a difference. His biography is not only history, but also a guidepost for Nigeria’s future..