Jaja Anucha Wachuku (1 January 1918 – 7 November 1996), a Royal Prince of Ngwaland, "descendant of 20 generations of African chiefs in the Ibo country of Eastern Nigeria" [2] - was a Pan-Africanist; [3] and a globally distinguished Nigerian statesman, lawyer, politician, diplomat and humanitarian. He was the first Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives[4], as well as first Nigerian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations [5]. Wachuku was also the first Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs. [6] On Thursday 30 September 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria conferred on Wachuku a posthumous special Golden Jubilee Independence Anniversary Award for his outstanding contributions towards the development of Nigeria. [7] [8]

Jaja Anucha Wachuku's powerful father King Josaiah Ndubuisi Wachuku, who died in 1950, was the Paramount Chief, Servant Leader and Head of all Ngwa [9] of the then Aba Division of Eastern Nigeria. Jaja's mother, Queen Rebecca Ngwanchiwa Wachuku [née Nwaogwugwu], who died in 1963 was a pioneer Women's rights advocate and humane royal land-owner. From both parents, Wachuku inherited an intrepid, confident, emotional intelligence, diplomatic, forceful, yet caring personality. His apical ancestor Mgbawa had moved from Umulolo, Eziama Ntigha, Abia State, Nigeria about the last quarter of the 17th century to settle in their present Nbawsi homeland. His paternal grandfather Wachuku Ogbaregbe, a distinguished Statesman and Merchant Prince was involved in the oil trade of that time with King Jaja of Opobo. It was in memory of the friendship, partnership and association of the Wachuku family with King Jaja of Opobo that he was named Jaja. His second name: Anucha, in full Igbo language, says: Anucha mba agaa n'ama ha: "after celebrating victory over a people, you parade through their town or village main square." [10]