Birthdays

Ernest Shonekan, lawyer, former head of state, 74, May 9. Born in Lagos, he studied in Nigeria, United Kingdom and United States of America. He was chairman, Implementation Committee, Vision 2010. Shonekan is a fellow, Institute of Directors and Nigeria Institute of Management. He is a member, Board of Trustees, Lambo Foundation, Nigeria Conservation Foundation and Lions Club. He holds the traditional title of Abese of Egbaland.

Khamis Olatunde Badmus, businessman, philanthropist and journalist, 64, May 9. A businessman whose business interests extend into farming, manufacturing and shipping, he was a former director of Nigeria Machine Tools Limited, Osogbo; former chairman of Poultry Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, and at present, executive chairman, Tuns International Holdings Nigeria. He holds the traditional title of Otunba Akayejo of Osogboland and Asiwaju Musulumi of Yoruba land.

Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, former governor of old Anambra State, former senator and former minister of youths and sport, 70, May 9. Born in Lafia, Nasarawa State, he was educated at the Government Secondary School, Kaduna, Nigeria; College of Arts, Science and Technology, Enugu, and University of Ibadan. He was a teacher, Kings College, Lagos, and later joined Shell HP, now Shell Petroleum Development Company, Port Harcourt. He was chairman and executive director, Link Group International Limited and Jim International Cargo Agencies Limited.

Gbemi Saraki, senator, 45, May 3. Born in Ilorin, Kwara State, she was educated in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. She studied at the University of Sussex, United Kingdom, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics. She did her National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, with the Nigeria Bank for Commerce and Industry, Lagos. She also worked with the Societe Generalle Bank Limited. In 1994, she became executive director of Ashmount Insurance Brokers, Lagos, where she was until 1999 when she was elected into the House of Representatives. She was later elected into the Senate. She is now chairman, Senate committee on Marine Transport.

Tolu Ajayi, novelist, poet, playright, newspaper columnist and psychiatrist, 64, May 7. Born in Lagos, he studied at Archbishop Holgate’s School, York, England; University of Liverpool Medical School and University of St John’s New Foundation, Canada. He was medical officer, Lagos State Hospital Management Board; medical director, Lagos City Clinic and executive director, Granny Fatima Publishing. He is a member of the Medical Association of Nigeria; member, Association of Nigerian Authors; fellow, British Council Cambridge Literature seminar.

Dare Babarinsa, journalist, 55, May 9. Born in Oke Mesi, Ekiti State, he studied at Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife and University of Lagos. He was a staff writer, Drum magazine; National Assembly correspondent, National Concord; chief correspondent, National Concord, Akure; assistant editor, Newswatch and executive editor, Tell magazine. He is now the editor-in-chief of the Westerner.

Died

Margaret Mary Agbor, mother of  Ajan Agbor, former editorial staff of Newswatch, at the age of 77. A seasoned educationist, the late Agbor retired as a principal inspector at the Cross River State Ministry of Education in the 1970s.

She was also an ardent Catholic. In recognition of her contributions to the growth of the church, she was inducted as a Lady of St Mulumba , LSM,  in 1984. In 2004, she was decorated by the Calabar Ecclesiastical Archbishop with the Papal Medal and on May 30, 2009, she was conferred with the prestigious Ambassador of Mary by the National Council of Catholic Women Organisation, NCCWO. She is survived by Daniel Owor Agbor, her husband, children and grandchildren. She will be buried in Calabar on May 7, 2010.

Buried

Emily Tanimowo Odugbesan at Ososa, Ogun State after a funeral service at St  Jude’s Church, Ebute Meta, Lagos, April 29. Mama Odugbesan died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, April 7, at the age of  95. Born to the Sosanya family in Isara-Remo, Ogun State, she worked as a nurse at the Ijebu-Ode General Hospital, and later taught at some schools in Lagos including Christ Church Cathedral School, Faji. She was a devout Christian who spent most of her time as a church worker and matron of several groups at St Jude’s Church, Ebute Meta, and St John’s Church, Ososa, Ogun State. She was ordained Licenced Lay Reader of the Ijebu Diocese of the Anglican Church.

Mama Odugbesan is survived by five of her six children including Babatunde Odugbesan, Modupe Oshin, Toyin Odugbesan and Titilope Damilola Soyinka, wife of Kayode Soyinka, publisher, Africa Today, and Action Congress, AC, governorship aspirant in Ogun State.