In the News

By Rosemary Udoh
Monday, October 20, 2003

Birthdays

Alex Ekwueme, architect, politician and former vice-president in the Second Republic, 71, October 21. Born in Aguata, Anambra State, he was educated in Nigeria, United States and Scotland. Ekwueme, who is a founding member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was a presidential aspirant in the last primaries of the party. Ekwueme is married and has children.

Olusola Olatayo Ladipo-Ajayi, insurance practitioner, 47, October 22, Born in Offa, Kwara State, he studied in Nigeria. Ladipo-Ajayi was the managing director, Summit Insurance and Company, 1993-1996; also managing director, LASACO Assurance Plc since 1996. He is fellow, Chartered Insurance Institute, London and Chartered Institute of Lagos.

Ime Sampson Umanah, industrialist and businessman, 60, October 24. Born in Unukotoro, Abak, Akwa Ibom State, Umanah studied at Otoro 1 Lutheran School, Abak and attended several professional business and management courses in Nigeria, United States of America, USA and the United Kingdom, UK. He is a former chairman, board of directors, Newswatch Communications Limited. Umanah is married and has children.

Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, marine engineer, shipping consultant and private electronic media proprietor, 52, October 25. Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Dokpesi was educated in Nigeria and Poland. He was the managing director, African Ocean Lines, Lagos, between 1984 and 1988. He is currently the chairman and proprietor, Daar Communications, owners of African Independent Television, AIT, Ray Power, 100 FM. Dokpesi is married and has children.

Abubakar Audu, banker, administrator and politician, 56, October 27. Audu was educated at Denis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, and Jos Commercial College, Jos. He worked in several managerial positions in the banking industry and was commissioner for finance and economic planning in the old Benue State, 1987-1988. Audu was a two-time governor of Kogi State.

Appointed

Paul Suru Maforikan, deputy pastor and superior evangelist, Celestial Church of Christ, CCC Worldwide as the spiritual head of the church. He was appointed by the council of superiors of CCC Worldwide following the demise of Gilbert Oluwatosin Jesse Maforikan, the former spiritual head.

Sylvester Okonkwo, former executive director of legal and corporate services, Reliance Telecommunications Limited, as president and chief executive office of Chinto Technologies Limited, an information communication technolgy, ICT service provider and consultancy firm. The company is affiliated to Fusion Technologies of the United States of America.

Adebayo Adeleke, as managing director and chief executive officer of First Bank of Nigeria, FBN. Until his new appointment, Adeleke was deputy general manager and group head, commercial banking, FBN, and he was in charge of the bank's commercial business, segment, which include credit and marketing. His responsibility also included ensuring a sound portfolio and profitable relationship with diversified income streams. Adeleke has a vast working experience cutting across marketing, insurance and banking. He has worked with American International Group-p, New York, United States, American Insurance Company, International Bank Limited (Now CitiBank) and United Bank for Africa Plc. He was educated in Nigeria and the United States of America, USA. His appointment took immediate effect.

Doros Constantinou, as managing director of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, South Africa following the resignation of Irial Finan, former managing director and member of the board. Constantinou's appointment is with immediate effect.

Nigerian Bottling Company Plc announced appointment of Ladi Akinsiku as staff, health services manager. He is to coordinate and manage the general health services provided for NBC's staff and families, which are currently provided under the auspices of Hygeia and Eko Corp, its health maintenance organisations, HMO.

Died

Gilbert Jesse, the former spiritual head of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide, CCC. Jesse died October 14, after a protracted ailment. Until his death, he was at the centre of the protracted leadership crisis in the Celestial Church of Christ after the demise of Samuel B. Oschoffa, the founder of the church.