SIR KENNETH APHUNEZI OLISA OBE
A Nigerian name Sir Kenneth Aphunezi Olisa, OBE, was in the order of procession for the Late Queen Elizabeth’s funeral and happens to be the first black Briton so honored.
Sir Kenneth Olisa was born in the UK in 1951 to a Nigerian law student father and British mother. He has never met his father.
He is a High Bailiff and Searcher of the Sanctuary of Westminster Abbey, a prominent role in which he was connected with the funeral, and he has appointed the position in 2021.
The High Bailiff functions as one of the extreme external advisers to the Dean and chapter of Westminster Abbey and also participates in Special ceremonial occasions or functions.
This is a vital ‘palace chieftaincy’, one significant of 96 countries that act as the Queen’s personal representatives in their localities. They usually stand in for the Queen when unable to attend an event and also welcome her when she visits the locality.
Sir Kenneth and his wife were worth the E2m Olisa Library at his alma mater, Fitzwilliam college College Cambridge, where he studied Natural sciences and also further went to study Political and Management Science.
He’s the past master of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists.
He’s popularly recognized as the most influential black Briton.
SIR KENNETH APHUNEZI OLISA, OBE
Sir Kenneth is the second Lord Lieutenant known to have some connections with Nigeria.
The first known Lord Lieutenant is an African American who lived in Ibadan and taught at Loyola College in the 1970s. Her name is Peaches Golding, OBE Lord Lieutenant.
Her husband was the founding manager of the UI Zoo. Late Bob Golding.
Reports have it that, Sir Kenneth Olisa is also the chairman of Interswitch. He heads the Charles Olisa Charity Foundation a newly established foundation named after his late father, Charles Olisa of Aboh who died in 1963.
