Milestone
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Peter Jasper Akinola, former Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, former Bishop of Abuja and Archbishop of Province III, 70, January 27. Born in Abeokuta, Ogun State, he was educated at the Virginia Theological Seminary, US, 1981; ordained a deacon, 1978 and a priest 1979. Akinola was the first Archbishop of Abuja Province, 2002-2010 and former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN. In 2006, Akinola appeared on TIME magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people in the category leaders and revolutionaries. Upon his retirement as Primate of Nigeria in 2010, he launched the Peter Akinola Foundation, a non-profit-making and non-governmental organisation that focuses on missionary and evangelism.
Bemigho Reno Omokri, special assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on new media, author, pastor and founder of Build Up Nigeria, 40, January 22. He was educated at the University of Wolverhampton, England. He is noted for using social media to conduct surveys and project the developments undertaken by the Nigerian government. He was also a signatory to a letter by a group of eminent Nigerians that called for the resignation of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, after he was evacuated from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia on November 23, 2009, for a medical emergency.
Ebenezer Oluwole Babatope, politician and lawyer, 70, January 26. Babatope was a former editor of Nigerian Tribune, a university administrator and a former national director, Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN. He was a minister of transport in the Abacha administrator and a member of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
Godwin Abbe, retired major general, former ministers of interior and defence, 65, January 20. Born in Benin-City, Edo State, he was educated at United Baptist School, Benin-City, 1953-1960; Ihuodala Secondary Modern School, Benin-City, 1961; Kiriji Memorial College, Igbajo, Ifelodun, Oyo State and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Abbe joined Nigerian Army, 1967, and became a lance corporal, 1967; lieutenant, 1969; battalon commander, 1969-1972, and captain, 1971. He became the military governor of Akwa Ibom State, 1988-1990; military governor of Rivers State, 1990-1992; director, army operations, 1992-1993 and general officer commanding second mechanised division, 1993-1994.
Compiled by Anayo Ezugwu
— Jan. 27, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT
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