Birthdays

Fri, Feb 22, 2013

By publisher

4 MIN READ

Ahmadu Ali, administrator, retired army colonel, 77, March 1. Born  in Gbobe, Kogi State, he was educated at Elementary School,  Dekina, 1943-1948; Middle School, Okene, 1949-1950; Barewa College, Zaria, 1950-1954; Nigerian College of Technology, Zaria, 1955-1957; University College, Ibadan, 1958-1963; Edinburgh Postgraduate Medical  School, 1966-1968. Ali was appointed medical officer, 68 Armed Forces Hospital, Yaba,  Lagos, 1964-1965; regimental medical officer, First Battalion, Nigerian Army, Enugu, 1965; senior house officer, Psychiatric Unit, Stobhill General Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, 1967-1968. He was also appointed the director-general, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, 1973-1975; federal commissioner for education, 1975-1978. Ali voluntarily retired from the Nigerian Army in 1979. He was elected senator representing Kogi-East senatorial zone thrice and was the national chairman of PDP between 2005 and 2007.

Ikechukwu Nosike Simplicius Dozie,  professor of medical microbiology and parasitology,  Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 47, March 3. Born in Umuokisi  Amuzi, Ahiazu Mbaise local government area of Imo State, Dozie holds a BSc combined honours in Microbiology/Biochemistry and an MSc medical microbiology from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, and a PhD in Public Health Parasitology, University of Jos. He is a member, Nigeria Society of Microbiology; American Society of Tropical Medicine of Hygiene; Biotechnology Society of Parasitology. Dozie was a consultant to the World Health Organisation, WHO’s African programme for Onchocerciasis.

Abdul Abubakar, former managing director of Nigeria Railyway Corporation, NRC, 59, February 28. Born in Ankpa, Kogi State, Abubakar was educated at the Kwara College of Technology, Ilorin, 1974-1977; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Victoria University, Manchester, UK, 1989. Abubakar was appointed commissioner for agriculture and natural resources, Benue State, 1983; lecturer/head of department of English, College of Education, Ankpa, Kogi State; chief of administration, NRC,1988-1989; assistant director, administration, NRC; divisional manager, north-eastern division; railway divisional manager/chief executive for northern division, 1991-1992; director of administration, 1992-1995; director of administration and finance, NRC, 1995-1999; chairman, Nigeria Railway Pension Trust Fund, 1997.

Wada Abdullahi Maida, journalist and former managing director of News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, 63, March 5. Born in Katsina, he studied at Government College, Katsina, 1964-1968; Nigerian Institute of Journalism, NIJ, 1971; Indiana Institute of Mass Communication, 1972-1975; Aberdeen  College of Commerce, 1975-1977. He was appointed information officer, Kaduna State, 1971-1978; zonal editor, 1978-1981; foreign correspondent, NAN, in-charge of Western Europe, London, 1981-1983; chief press secretary to Muhammadu Buhari, former  Head of State, 1984-1985; editor-in-chief, NAN, 1985-1994, and later promoted managing director, 1994. Maida, now chairman, People’s Daily newspapers, belong to several organisations, including Nigerian Guilds of Editors, NGE, Vision 2010, Foreign Press Association, London, and Amnesty International. He was among distinguished Nigerians conferred with fellowship award in December 2011 by the NIJ, Lagos.

Dan Obaegbu Iheagwara, engineer and managing director, Gold Engineering Company Limited, 49, February 26. Born in Ogbe Ahiara, Ahiazu Mbaise, Imo State, he was educated at the Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State, 1984-1985; University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1985-1990; Centre for Management Development, 1998-1999 and Lagos Business School, 1999-2000. He was production manager, Ben Plastics, 1992; project manager, Capital Preservatives Limited, 1992-1993; assistant head of department HFP Engineering Limited, 1993-1995; head, Optimum Metals, 1995-1997; assistant general manager, Optistal Limited, 1998-2000. He belongs to many professional associations including the Nigerian Institute of Engineers, NSE and the Nigerian Institute of Management.

Honoured

Oloropo Owolabi, managing director, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL, has been honoured with a Fellow and Distinguished Merit Award in transport by the Institute of Transport Administration, Nigeria. Owolabi, who was presented with a certificate and a plague, was commended for his sheer resilience, astute business acumen and innovative approach to corporate turnaround in the industry.

Compiled by Augustine Adah 

— Mar. 4, 2013 @ 01:00 GMT