Chief Ernest Shonekan, the former Head of the Interim National Government 0f Nigeria which succeeded the military junta of General Ibrahim Babangida is dead. He died on Tuesday in Lagos at the age of 85.

Shonekan was a highly distinguished corporate administrator and one of Nigeria’s most celebrated boardroom gurus before his selection to head the Interim National Government. He founded the Nigerian Economic Summit Group long before he was called to head the Nigerian government.

He was head of the Interim National Government from August 26 to November 17, 1993 when he was ousted in a coup led by late General Sani Abacha.