iki we ▁as ▁a ▁parliament arian . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 9 ▁he ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁Minister ▁of ▁Agricult ure ▁( E astern ), ▁in ▁the ▁first ▁republic ▁of ▁Niger ia , ▁a ▁position ▁which ▁he ▁held ▁till ▁ 1 9 6 6 . ▁O ke ke - O ji ud u ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁Minister ▁to ▁join ▁the ▁then ▁Premier ▁Michael ▁Ok para ▁in ▁his ▁cabinet . ▁ ▁As ▁minister ▁he ▁turned ▁his ▁attention ▁to ▁establish ing ▁Farm ▁settlement s ▁throughout ▁the ▁region , ▁which ▁in ▁turn ▁led ▁to ▁an ▁increase ▁in ▁food ▁production . ▁Next ▁he ▁turned ▁to ▁the ▁problems ▁of ▁the ▁African ▁Cont inental ▁Bank , ▁the ▁establishment ▁of ▁the ▁Universal ▁In sur ance ▁Company , ▁re - organisation ▁of ▁the ▁Eastern ▁Niger ia ▁Development ▁Corporation ▁( E . N . D . C .), ▁and ▁Niger ian ▁Const ruction ▁And ▁F urn iture ▁Company ▁( N . C . F . C .). ▁Even ▁N IG ER CE M ▁N kal agu ▁now ▁a ▁major ▁re venue ▁ear ner ▁for ▁Eastern ▁states ▁was ▁to ▁some ▁extent ▁under ▁his ▁super vision . ▁He ▁also ▁assist ed ▁the ▁regional ▁government ▁in ▁se cur ing ▁a ▁loan ▁for ▁the ▁starting ▁and ▁running ▁of ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Niger ia ▁N su k ka . ▁ ▁Business ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁w ake ▁of ▁the ▁military ▁take over ▁of ▁January ▁ 1 9 6 6 , ▁he ▁retired ▁into ▁private ▁life ▁and ▁gave ▁full ▁rein ▁to ▁his ▁private ▁enter prise . ▁He ▁is