Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, lawyer, politician, governor of Lagos State, 48, June 28. Born in Lagos, he was educated at the University of Benin, Edo State, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Law, LLB, Hons, in 1987. He was called to the Nigerian Bar as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in November 1988. His legal career which spans more than one and half decades commenced at the law firm of Sofunde, Osakwe Ogundipe and Belgore where he acquired a lot of experience. Fashola later went into politics and was appointed chief of staff to Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State, in 2004. During the period, he had the privilege of serving the state in various capacities. He was secretary to the land’s subcommittee of the transitional work groups, 1999. He was a member, Lagos State Security Council, 2002-2006, and chairman, ad hoc committee on the review of asset distribution among local governments in the state.

Walter Ibekwe Ofonagoro, historian and administrator, 71, June 24. Born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, he was educated at Baptist Day School, Port Harcourt, 1947-1954; Baptist High School, Port Harcourt, 1955-1959; Holy Family College, Abak, 1960-1961; University of Toronto, Canada, 1962-1966; Columbia University, New York, USA, 1966-1971. Ofonagoro started his career as teacher at Baptist High School, Port Harcourt, 1962; assistant professor of History, Columbia University, New York, USA; director-general, Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, 1983; secretary, National Constitutional Conference Commission, 1995. He was appointed minister for information and culture, 1995-1998.

Julius Omozuanvo Ihonvbere, administrator and political economist, 65, June 25. Born in Oyo, Oyo State, he was educated at CMS School, Oyo, 1962-1964; CAC School, Warri, Delta State, 1965-1968; Edo Boy’s High School, Benin City, 1969-1973; University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 1975-1979; Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, 1980-1981; University of Toronto, Canada, 1981-1984. Ihonbere was appointed lecturer 1, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 1983-1986; senior lecturer and head, Department of Political Science, University of Port Harcourt, 1986; former secretary, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. He is ex-chairman, Bitumen Projects Implementation Committee; member, Jonathan/Sambo Presidential Campaign Team, 2011.

Viola Adaku Onwuliri, educationist, author, woman leader, professor of Biochemistry, 55, June 18. Born in Umuokisi, Amuzi, Ahiazu Mbaise local government area of Imo State, she was educated at Owerri Girls’ Secondary School, Imo State, 1970-1974; University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1975-1979; University of Jos, 1981-1991; Howard University, Washington DC, USA, 1990; Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA. She was graduate assistant, 1981-1984; assistant lecturer, 1984-1987; lecturer 11, 1987-1990; lecturer 1, 1990-1993; senior lecturer, 1993-2001, reader, 2001-2004; professor, 2004. She is a member, executive committee, International AIDS Society, Geneva; Nigerian Society of Biotechnology; Nigerian Society of Experimental Biology; African Society for the Biochemistry of Lipids; founder, Federal University of Technology, FUTO, Women Association; member, Auxiliary Knights of St John International, KSJI. She was deputy governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2011 elections in Imo State. She has 57 publications to her credit.                                

Emeka Ethelbert Okwaranyia, administrator, philanthropist and community leader, 49, June 29. Born in Umuobom, Ideato South local government area of Imo State, he was educated at Holy Rosary Primary School, Abukwa, Umuobom, 1975; Holy Ghost Juniorate, Ihiala, Anambra State, 1981; Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, where he obtained BA first class honours, Summa Magna Cum Lauda, and MA degrees in Philosophy; MA Theology from the Spititan International School of Theology, Enugu. He was teacher, Department of Philosophy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh. He was chairman of Ideato South local government area; interim national secretary, All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP; member, House of Representatives, 2003. He holds the traditional title of Akaekpuchionwa, Ideato.