Milestone

David Alechenu Mark, retired army brigadier-general and Senate president, Federal Republic of Nigeria, 65, April 8. Born in Otukpo, Benue State, he was educated at the Nigeria Military School, Zaria, and the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, Kaduna. Mark was military governor of Niger State, 1984-1986. He was commander, Army Corps of Signals, 1986-1987; minister of communications 1987. He was a member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council, AFRC, 1986-1989. Mark retired from the army in 1993, and was elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1999 and re-elected three times since then on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

Yakubu Mohammed, journalist, administrator and former deputy chief executive officer, DCEO, Newswatch Communications Limited, 63, April 4. Born in Ologba, Dekina local government area, Kogi State, he was educated at St Joseph Primary School, Anyigba, 1964; Government Secondary School, Okene, 1965-1969; University of Lagos, 1972-1975; Glasgow College of Technology, Scotland, United Kingdom, 1978-1979. He started his journalism career at the New Nigerian newspapers as an associate editor, 1976-1980, and became its managing editor, 1980. He was editor, National Concord, 1982-1984. He is co-founder of Newswatch; former pro-chancellor and chairman, governing council of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; member, Commonwealth Journalists’ Association; fellow, Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, and member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. Mohammed, who was a People’s Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in Kogi State, was appointed member of a committee set up by Idris Wada, governor of Kogi State, to fashion out a blueprint for the socio-economic development of the state.

Adams Oshiomhole, trade unionist and governor of Edo State, 60, April 4. Born in Etsako West, Edo State, he studied at Ruskin College, Oxford, United Kingdom, 1977-1979; National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, near Jos, 1987. Oshiomhole worked with Arewa Textiles PLC, Kaduna, and was branch secretary, National Union of Tailoring, Garment and Textile Workers’ Union of Nigeria, 1971-1974. He was deputy president, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC. Oshiomhole was elected national president, NLC in 1999, and was re-elected in 2003. He was elected governor of Edo State in 2008 and re-elected in 2012 under the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.

Oluwatoyin Adunni Salaam, businesswoman, 41, April 5. She was educated at Army Children’s Primary School, Maiduguri, Borno State; Anglican Secondary Grammar School, Origbo-Education, Osun State; Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. Salaam is a member of the board of directors, Alshlean Nigeria Limited, Abuja.

Donalson Oladipo Diya, retired lieutenant-general and former chief of general staff, 69, April 3. Born in Odogbolu, Ogun State, he was educated at Yaba Methodist Primary School, Lagos; Odogbolu Grammar School, Odogbolu; Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna; United States Army School of Infantry, Fort Genning, Georgia; Command and Staff College, Jaji; Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, 1983, and University of Lagos. He started his military career as a cadet at the Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna, and was commissioned second lieutenant in March 1967. He was commander, Nigerian contingent to Lebanon and chief military personnel officer, UN Interim Forces in Lebanon, 1979-1985; commander, National War College, 1992, and chief of defence staff, 1993; chief of general staff and vice-chairman, Provincial Ruling Council, PRC, 1993-1997. He was implicated in a phantom coup and was sentenced to death in 1998. He was granted state pardon by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013.

Comet Uchechukwu Ojiabor, chartered accountant and certified fraud examiner, 51, April 7. Born in Isuikwuato, Abia State, he was educated at Amiyi Obinohia Community School, Isuikwuato, Abia State; Central Advancement College, Kaduna, and the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State. He is an associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN. Ojiabor, who recently earned a Six Sigma Certification from Aveta Business Institute in the United States, is currently the founding managing director/chief Fraud Examiner for Accesway Consulting Limited, Ikaje, Lagos.

Compiled by Anayo Ezugwu

Apr. 8, 2013 @ 01:00 GMT

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