Milestone
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Dan Ochima Agbese, journalist and former managing director, Newswatch Books Limited, 70, May 20. Born in Agila, Ador local government area of Benue State, he was educated at Native Authority School, Otobi, 1957-1959; Government Teachers’ Training College, Keffi, 1960-1962; University of Lagos, 1970-1973; Thomson Foundation, Cardiff, UK, 1976; Columbia University, New York, USA, 1976-1977. He was staff writer, New Nigerian newspapers, 1967-1970; chief sub-editor, The Nigerian Standard, Jos, 1974-1976; assistant editor, The Nigerian Standard, 1978-1980. Agbese was appointed general manager, Radio Benue, Makurdi, 1980; special adviser and director of information, Benue State, 1980-1982; editor, New Nigerian, Kaduna, 1982-1984; co-founder and managing director, Newswatch magazine, Lagos, 1984. He was elevated to the position of deputy editor-in-chief/deputy chief executive, Newswatch, 1994-2010. He became managing director, Newswatch Books Limited, May 2010, until he retired from Newswatch Communications Limited, on May 5, 2011, alongside other directors. Agbese is a winner of the prestigious Pitman Prize Award, Columbia University and several other awards.
Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN and human rights activist, 56, May 20. Born in Ilawe, Ekiti State, he was educated at St. Michael’s Primary School, Ilawe, 1963-1968; Sacred Heart Catholic Seminary, 1971-1975; University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 1977-1981; Nigerian Law School, Lagos, 1981-1982. He was former president, National Association of Democratic Lawyers. Falana has been head of Femi Falana Chambers since 1991. He is a former chairman, West African Bar Association, WABA. He contested the governorship election of Ekiti State in 2007, under the platform of the National Conscience Party, NCP. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, in 2012.
Joseph Wayas, politician and former senate president, 73, May 21. Born in Obudu, Cross River State, he studied in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. He was commissioner for transport, South-Eastern State, now split into Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, and later senate president, 1979-1983. Wayas is a member, Society of International Affairs at Lincoln University, United States.
Gamaliel Onosode, administrator, financial and public affairs consultant, 81, May 22. Born in Sapele, Delta State, he was educated at the University of Ibadan. He was executive assistant to the regional controller, Commonwealth Development Corporation, 1960-1961, and assistant general manager, Nigeria Housing Development Society Limited, now Federal Mortgage Bank, 1962. He was chairman, Dunlop Nigeria PLC and also chairman of many companies.
Compiled by Anayo Ezugwu
— May 26, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT
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