Birthdays

Alex Ekwueme, architect, politician and administrator, 77, October 21. Born in Oko, Anambra State, he was educated at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington DC, USA, 1952-1957; University of Strathclyde, Scotland, 1976-1978. He served as clerk, Nigeria Railway Corporation; technical assistant and science instructor, King’s College, Lagos; and later, physics master, Hussey College, Warri 1950-1952. He was an assistant architect, Leo A Daly and Associates, Seattle, USA, 1956-1957. He later established Ekwueme Associates. He was vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1979-1983. He is one of the founders of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

Ladipo Olushola Olatayo-Ajayi, insurance practitioner, 53, October 22. Born in Offa, Kwara State, he was educated in Nigeria and was appointed clerk in Sun Insurance Company in 1973. He later became managing director, Summit Insurance & Company, 1993-1996. He has been managing director of LASACO Assurance Plc from 1996 to date. He is fellow, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, 1991 and fellow, Chartered Insurance Institute, London, 1991.

Shuaibu Oba Abdul- Rahman, university lecturer, 62, October 22. Born in Ilorin, Kwara State, he was educated at the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, 1970-1974; University of Sheffield, UK, 1976-1977; University of Kent, UK, 1979-1982. He was appointed sole administrator, Kwara State College of Education, Oro, 1984; chairman of council, Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, 1984-1986. He later became senior lecturer and head, European Languages, Bayero University, Kano.

Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, marine engineer, chartered transporter, shipping consultant and administrator, 58, October 25. Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, he was educated at the University of Benin, Benin City; Wysza Szkota Morska Gdynia, Poland, and the University of Gdansk, Sopot, Poland. He was appointed chief planning officer, Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, 1978-1983; head, water transport division, federal ministry of transport and aviation, 1983; chief of staff to the Gongola State Governor, 1983; managing director/chief executive, African Ocean Lines Limited, 1989. He is currently the chairman, DAAR Communications Limited, owners of African Independent Television, AIT, and Ray Power radio.

Cyril Chima Agbele, chartered accountant and accountant- general, 49, October 25. Born in Ute- Okpu, Ika North East local government area of Delta State, he was educated at the University of Benin, 1991-1993. He was a lecturer, College of Education, Nsugbe, Anambra State.

Ime Sampson Umanah, industrialist and businessman, 66, October 24. He was born in Uruk Uso, Otoro Abak, Akwa Ibom State. He has attended several professional business and management courses in Nigeria, UK and USA. Currently, he is the chairman and chief executive, Imesco Enterprises Limited; and director, Newswatch Communications Limited.

Patrick Tor Alumuku, Catholic priest, 51, October 10. Born in Alumuku Village, Benue State, he was educated at St  James, Junior Seminary, Keffi, 1971; obtained West African School Certificate in 1975. He was a student of St Augustine’s Major Seminary, Jos, where he received a diploma in Religious Studies and Bachelor of Divinity, BD, degree. He was ordained priest, May 1981;  became assistant priest at St  Mary’s Parish, Wukari, Taraba State; vocations director and the youth chaplain for the Diocese of Makurdi the same year; became the parish priest of St Jude’s Catholic Church Koti- Yough, 1984; rector of his alma mater, St James Seminary, Makurdi. He later moved the seminary to Aliade, where he was rector for six years. He was posted to St Augustine’s Seminary, Jos, Plateau State, as the seminary bursar in 1990; the parish priest of St  Patrick’s Parish, Tarau, 1991 and is presently the director of communications of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja.

Chika Julius Odom, lawyer, politician and administrator, 49, October 19. Born in Okwu Ikeduru, Imo State, he was educated at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Umuahia; old Imo State University, now Abia State University, Uturu, where he graduated with a bachelor of law degree in 1986.

He began his private law practice in Aba before he was appointed special assistant to Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia State, in 1999; served as deputy chief of staff and two-time commissioner in the same administration. In June 2007, he was appointed commissioner for works, housing and transport in Imo State. He became the minister of state for environment, housing and urban development in September 2007, elected  chairman, African Conference of ministers of housing and urban development in July 2008; re-appointed minister of state in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in December 2008. Odom is married with children.