Milestone

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Ray Ekpu, journalist, and former chief executive officer, Newswatch Communications Limited, 65, August 6. Born in Ukanafun, Akwa Ibom State, he was educated at Ibibio State College, Ikot Ekpene, 1960-1964; Holy Family College, Abak, 1966-1968; University of Lagos, 1970-1973, and Indiana State University, Bloomington, USA, 1977. Ekpu was appointed information officer, Ministry of Information, Sokoto, during his NYSC, 1973-1974; features editor, Nigerian Chronicle, Calabar, 1974-1976; acting editor, Sunday Chronicle, Calabar, 1976-1977; editor Nigerian Chronicle, Calabar, 1977-1980; editor Sunday Times, 1980-1982; editor, Business Times, 1982; chairman, editorial board of Concord newspapers, 1982-1984; co-founder and executive director, Newswatch Communications Limited, 1985; deputy editor-in-chief and deputy chief executive, Newswatch, 1985-1986, and editor-in-chief/chief executive, 1986-1993. He was also former president of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN. He has won several awards, including the International Editor of the Year award, 1987; Nigeria Institute of Journalism Awards; University of Lagos Alumni Association Achiever’s Award, 1997, among others. He was a member, Human Rights Commission; member, board of the National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, NACA; former member, Police Service Commission and director, Ultimate Publication Limited.

Lawrence Anebi Onoja, retired major general, 66, August 10. Born in Idekpa Okpiko, Onyagede, Ohimini local government area of Benue State, he was educated in Nigeria, England and the United States. Onoja was military governor of old Plateau State, 1986-1987, and later Katsina State. He was the principal staff officer, PSO, in the office of the chief of general staff, CGS, during the Abacha regime. He was senatorial candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Benue South senatorial district in the 2011 general elections but lost to David Mark, senate president, and the candidate of the PDP.

Ahmed Makarfi, senator and former governor of Kaduna State, 57, August 8. Born in Kaduna State, he was educated at Federal Government College, Enugu, 1973-1978; School of Basic Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, 1978-1979; Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, 1979-1982, and 1985-1987. He was appointed chief accountant and later assistant general manager, defunct Universal Bank, Kaduna; chairman, Cares Industrial General Merchants Limited; chairman, Makerfi Motors and Transport Limited; director, Kaduna Industrial and Finance Consultancy Limited; Hamdala Community Bank Limited; appointed commissioner, Finance and Economic Development, Kuduna State. Makarfi was elected governor, Kaduna State, 1999-2007, and became a senator on the platform of PDP, 2007-2011. His attempt to return to the Senate in the 2011 general elections suffered a setback as he was defeated by the candidate of Congress for Progressive Change, CPC.

Akintola Williams, chartered accountant, 93, August 9. Born in Lagos State, he was educated in Nigeria and England. Williams is the first indigenous chartered accountant. He was the president, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN. He is also a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and the principal partner, Akintola Williams and Company.

Ikedi Ohakim, former governor of Imo State, 56, August 4. Born in Aba, Abia State, he was educated at the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Enugu, 1977; University of Lagos, 1982-1987; Colorado School of Management, 1994. He was appointed commissioner for commerce, industry and tourism, Imo State, 1992-1993; managing director/chief executive officer, Aluzon Building Products Limited, Lagos; president, African Investment Promotions Network, AFRINET, 1995. Ohakim was elected governor of Imo State in 2007, on the platform of Progressive Peoples’ Alliance, PPA, but later decamped to the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

Compiled by Anayo Ezugwu 

— Aug. 12, 2013 @ 01:00 GMT

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