Alex Ibru

Alexander Ibru (known as Alex Ibru) was born on March 1st, 1945 in Agbara-Otor, Ughelli North local government area of Delta State, Nigeria to Pa Peter Ibru and Madam Janet Omotogor Ibru. His brother, Chief Michael Ibru, is the founder of the Ibru Organization, one of the largest business conglomerates in Nigeria. Alex was also a businessman and founder of the Guardian Newspaper.

Alex Ibru Age

Alex Ibru would have been 79 years old, if he were alive today. May his soul rest in peace.

Alex Ibru Early Life

Alex grew up with his family in Delta as the last of seven children. He moved to Lagos where he attended Yaba Methodist between 1951 and 1977. After this, he proceeded to the Ibadan Grammar School in Oyo State where he spent two years from 1958 to 1960 before moving to Igbobi College in Lagos to complete his secondary education from 1960 to 1963. He thereafter, attended Trent Polytechnic in the United Kingdom from 1967 to 1970, where he studied Business Economics.

Alex Ibru Career

Alex worked at as chairman of Rutam Motors between the late 1970s and early 1980s. He also served as a Minister of Internal Affairs. He established The Guardian Newspaper in 1983, He was assisted by Stanley Macebuh, a top journalist with the Daily Times newspapers. The newspaper, which was published by Guardian Newspapers Limited pioneered the introduction of high quality journalism to Nigeria with thoughtful editorial content. The paper was first published on February 22nd, 1983 as a weekly, appearing on Sundays. It started daily publication on July 4th, 1983. In the early 1980s the Guardian had a long-running campaign against the use of traditional chieftaincy titles, calling for Nigerians to be addressed simply as “Mr.” or “Mrs.”

The paper remains one of the few relatively long lasting national papers in Nigeria. It is believed its durability is a result of its broad range of issues, and contacts, its close link to the Ibru family and non-partisanship. In its early stages of circulation, The Guardian was one the few national dailies that did not publish advertised obituaries though the policy has changed since 1989 and elite advertisement now makes a large percentage of the newspaper’s revenue.

The military regime was a tough time for Alex and his career. He cheated death about 15 years ago when he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during the military regime of General Sani Abacha. On February 2nd, 1996, he was shot at on the Falomo Bridge area in Ikoyi, Lagos by people suspected to be state agents. The attack cost Ibru an eye and two fingers. 

Over two and half years after the attack, former Chief Security Officer to the late General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Military Administrator of Zamfara State, Lt Col. Jibrin Bala Yakubu, former Police Commissioner for Lagos State, Mr. James Danbaba, and former Head of State House Anti-riot Police, Mohammed Rabo Lawal were arrested on October 22nd, 1998, and charged with the offence. They were later discharged by a court in Lagos.

Alex Ibru Personal Life

Mr Ibru was married to Mrs Maiden Ibru. His children include; Sophia, Alexandra, Annabella, Anita, Toke, Ose, Tive and Uvie. He died on November 20th, 2011, which happened to be his wife's 62nd birthday.

In December 2011, his wife gave a detailed account of how her husband died of colon cancer. According to her, the turning point started in October 2009, exactly two years ago, when medical tests at Chelsea and Westminster Hospitals showed that Ale was already in the last stage of the terminal disease.

Alex Ibru Awards

• In April 2011, Mr. Ibru received the Life Achievement Award from Bill Clinton and Arnold Schwarzenegger at the This Day awards in Lagos.
• In December 2011, he received the post-humous award of "Lifetime Achievement, Media Entrepreneurship" at the 20th Diamond for Media Excellence Award (DAME).

Alex Ibru Net Worth

His net worth is not available.

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