Milestone

Alexander Opeyemi Akinyele, former minister of information, public relations consultant and industrialist, 75, April 24. Born in Ondo, he was educated at All Saints’ Primary School, Ondo, 1946-1948; Gboluji Grammar School, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, 1949-1953; St Andrew’s College, Oyo, and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 1963-1966. Akinyele was appointed superintendent collector, Department of Customs and Excise, 1967. He became the first public relations officer of the Department of Customs and Excise and retired as a controller in 1978. He was chairman, Cybele Cosmetics Nigeria Limited; executive chairman, National Sports Commission, NSC, 1991-1993; chairman, National Reconciliation Committee, NARECON, 1994-1998. He was chairman Newswatch Communications Limited. Akinyele is a member, International Public Relations Associations, London.

Uffot Ekaete, economist and former minister of Niger Delta ministry, 74, April 17. Born in Ikot Edor, Onna local government area of Akwa Ibom State, he was educated at Qua Iboe Mission Secondary School, Etinan; Kings College, Lagos; University College, Ibadan where he graduated in economics. He joined the federal civil service in 1964, and was principal private secretary to the then head of state, commander-in-chief of Armed Forces in 1975, and later permanent secretary, federal ministry of industries. He was the director-general of the defunct directorate of foods, roads and rural infrastructure, DFRRI; director general, federal ministry of Social Development, Youths and Sport. He was deputy governor, Akwa Ibom State, and a non-executive director, First Bank PLC, a pposition he held before becoming the secretary to the government of the federation. He holds the traditional titles of Attah of Akwa Ibom and Adaidaha ke Efik Ebrutu.

Maurice Iwu, professor of pharmacognosy and former chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, 63, April 21. Born in Mbano, Imo State, he attended Christ the King School, Aba, 1957-1962; St Paul X College, Ogoni, Rivers State, 1963-1967; University of Bradford, England, 1972-1978. Iwu was employed as a lecturer 11 in the Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, 1978-1980; lecturer 1, 1980-1982; senior lecturer/head of Department of Pharmacognosy, UNN, 1987. He was chairman, Biopharm Incorporated; commissioner, INEC, 2005-2010. Iwu is a member of International Society for Medical Research; Institute of Pharmacy Management; World Health Organisation, WHO, visiting scientist. He has won several prizes including Royal Society of Chemistry Research Award, 1982; WHO Research Fellow Award to Oxford University, 1980.

Eddie Okechukwu Iroh, journalist, publisher and administrator, 68, April 21. He was educated at St Theresa’s Primary School, Mgboma, Imo State, 1951-1957. He started his career at the ministry of information, Enugu, 1967-1970; editorial representative, Evens Publishers, 1973-1974; executive producer, Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, 1979; associate editor, New Nigerian newspapers and African magazine; managing editor; The Guardian, and later, its regional editor, in Europe and North America, London, 1983-1987; publisher, CHIC magazine, London, 1988. He was made director general, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, 1999 – 2004.

Anthony Ifeanyichukwu Ezenna, businessman, philanthropist, and chairman, Orange Drugs Limited, 56, April 21. A native of Owerre Akokwa, Ideato North local government area of Imo State, he was educated at St John’s Nursery School, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; St David’s Primary School, Akokwa; Akokwa High School and Christ the Kings College, CKC, Onitsha, Anambra State. He was manager, Eastern Industrial Chemist. He is chairman, Orange Drugs West Africa Limited, Orange Kalbe Limited and Tony Ezenna Foundation. He is a member, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN; Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Nigerian-Asian Chamber of Commerce. He was director of Spring Bank and Transcorp PLC. He was chairman, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja. Ezenna is a papal knights of Saint Sylvester of the Catholic Church.

Compiled by Anayo Ezugwu 

— Apr. 22, 2013 @ 01:00 GMT

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