Birthdays

Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, retired major general, politician, 83, March 9. Born in Iyin-Ekiti, Ekiti, State, he was educated  at the School of Infantry, Accra, Ghana, 1951; Staff College, Camberly, England, 1965-1966. He was aide-de-camp to the governor general of Nigeria, 1957-1958; promoted captain, 1957; major, 1960; lieutenant colonel, 1962. He served in the United Nations Peace Keeping Force, Congo, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, 1961-1963; promoted colonel, 1964; appointed military governor, defunct Western Nigeria, 1966-1967; promoted brigadier, 1967; major general, 1971; member, federal executive council, 1967-1971; appointed commandant, Nigeria Defence Academy, NDA, 1971-1975. He retired from the Nigerian Army in 1975.

Michael Subomi Balogun, lawyer, banker and administrator, 77, March 9. Born in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, he was educated at Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos; Nigeria College of Arts, Science and Technology, Ibadan; London School of Economics, London University; Lincoln’s Inn, London; Crown Counsel, Western Regional Ministry of Justices, 1961. He was appointed assistant parliamentary counsel, Federal Ministry of Justice, 1962; principal counsel and secretary, Nigeria Industrial Development Bank; chairman and chief executive officer, First City Monument Bank, FCMB. He holds the traditional title of Otunba  Tunwase of Ijebu-Ode.

Ikechukwu Nosike Simplicius Dozie, university teacher, researcher, administrator, professor of medical microbiology and parasitology, executive assistant and co-coordinator, office of the vice chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 45, March 3. Born in Umuokisi, Amuzi, Ahiazu Mbaise local government area of Imo State, he attended Agbani Road Primary School, Enugu, 1970-1975; Mbaise Secondary School, Aboh Mbaise, 1975-1980. He obtained BSc microbiology/biochemistry-combined honours, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1982-1986; MSc medical microbiology, UNN, 1988-1991; PhD, medical entomology and parasitology, University of Jos, 1997-2002. He was senior lecturer, Imo State University, 1999-2002; associate professor, 2002-2005; professor, 2005. He was consultant to the World Health Organisation, WHO’s African Programme for Onchocerciasis; fellow, African Science Institute; member, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, International Aids Society, and Biotechnology Society of Nigeria. Dozie is also a Knight of St. Mulumba.

Ibrahim Usman, engineer and administrator, 59, March 11. Born in Biu, Borno State, he was educated at Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, 1972-1976; Graduate School of Business, Columbia University, New York, USA, 1977-1978. Usman was appointed management trainee, Centre for Management Development, CMD, Lagos, 1976-1977; principal planning officer, Federal Capital Development Authority, 1978-1979; assistant commercial manager, Nigeria Airport Authority, Lagos, 1979-1981, and assistant general manager, United Bank for Africa, UBA, 1995-1996. He was also chief executive officer, Federal Super Phosphate Fertiliser Company Limited, Kaduna, 1998. He was nominated as the running mate to Pat Utomi, the presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the 2007 general elections.

Victor Uwaifo, musician, sculptor and lecturer, 70, March 1. Born in Benin City, Edo State, he was educated at Holy Cross Cathedral  School, Benin City, 1948-1952; Benin Baptist School, 1953-1955; Western Boys Baptist High School, 1957-1959; St Gregory’s College, Lagos, 1960-1961; Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, 1961-1966; University of Benin, Edo State, 1993-1997. He was appointed graphic artist, Nigeria Television Service, now Nigeria Television Authority, Lagos, 1964-1966. He served as commissioner for culture and tourism in Edo State between 2001- 2003, and has been a lecturer in the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Benin, since 2006.

Abubakar Gimba, economist, author and administrator, 59, March 10. Born in Niger State, he was educated at Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, and the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. He was planning officer, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Niger State, 1975-1976; permanent secretary, Department of Planning and Budget, Office of the military governor, 1983-1984. He was a member of the governing council, Niger State College of Education, Minna. He retired from the service of Niger State Government, March 1987, and was appointed executive director, management services, Union Bank of Nigeria Limited, February 1988.