Background
The son of an Igbo Chief, he was born in Owerri and raised in a Roman Catholic household.
The son of an Igbo Chief, he was born in Owerri and raised in a Roman Catholic household.
He attended Our Lady"s School at Emekuku, for primary education. After completing his Law studies at Cambridge: Bachelor of Laws Honours Peterhouse College Cambridge, England. He was called to the bar at Inner Temple.
After brief stints at tutorship in various schools including Street Gregory"s College, Lagos and Street Charles, Onitsha, he decided to change course and study law. Njoku returned to Nigeria and was a successful lawyer in Aba, Eastern Nigeria, 1949-1954. He was president of Igbo State Union of Nigeria in succession to Doctor Nnamdi Azikiwe.
Vice President NCNC (National Council of Nigeria & the Cameroon), and also served the Aba community as the leader of the Aba Community League of the Ibo State Union.
He contested for a regional seat in 1951, but was unsuccessful. However, in 1954, he was elected to the Federal House of Representative.
He was appointed cabinet minister: Commerce & Industry, Transport & Aviation 1954- 1966. He was the chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
Addressed British parliamentarians, including Prime Minister Harold MacMillan, at the Guildhall, London.
During the Biafra War Prime Minister Harold Wilson read his telegram to the House of Commons calling for a ceasefire. Njoku was made a knight of Street Sylvester & Street Gregory by Pope Paul VI.
Sir Hugh Fraser, Duncan Sandys and Patrick Wall were among his members of parliament friends.