Birthdays

Ebenezer Oluwole Babatope, politician, lawyer, 68, January 26. A former editor, Nigerian Tribune. Babatope was also a university administrator, national director of organisation, Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, and minister of transport in the Abacha administration. He is a member of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

Godwin Abbe, retired major general and former minister of interior, former minister of defence, 63, January 20. Born in Benin-City, Edo State, he was educated at United Baptist School, Benin-City, 1953-1960; Ihuodala Secondary Modern School, Benin-City, 1961; Kiriji Memorial College, Igbajo, Ifelodun, Oyo State; Obafemi  Awolowo University,  Ile-ife. Abbe enlisted in Nigerian Army in July 1967, and became a lance corporal, 1967; lieutenant, 1969; battalion commander, 1969-1972, captain, 1971. He became the military governor  of Akwa Ibom State, 1988-1990; military governor of Rivers State, 1990-1992; director, army operations, 1992-1993; general officer commanding second mechanised Division, 1993-1994.

Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, businessman, industrialist, politician and administrator, 57, January 15. Born in Ede, Osun State, he was educated at Alafia Institute, Mokola, Ibadan; Ogbomosho Grammar School; Western Kentucky University, Kentucky, USA; Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, Alabama, USA. Adeleke was governor, Osun State, 1992-1993; director, Pacific Farm Limited, Ede, and Lagos; Pacific Merchant Bank, Lagos; Pacific Drilling Company, Lagos, and Theorley International.  He is also the chairman, Tadel Investment Limited, Lagos. Adeleke is a member of Ede Progressive Union and People’s Democratic Party, PDP. He represented Osun State in the Senate in 2007.

Bunu Sheriff  Musa, engineer, administrator and former minister of power and steel, 65, January 15. Born in Maiduguri, Borno State, he studied in Nigeria and Britain. Musa was a hydrological assistant in the Federal Ministry of Transport, Inland Water Way Division, Lokoja. He later became the general manager, Chad Basin Development Authority, CBDA, Maiduguri. He is a member  of the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria, COREN.                           

Grace Ekpenyong, managing director, Amazing Quality Products Limited, Abak, Akwa Ibom State, 57, January 9. Born at Ikot Etok Udo, Abak local government area of Akwa Ibom State. Ekpenyong holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from the University of  Ibadan in 1979 and Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the University of Lagos in 1986.  She also holds  a Doctor of Divinity, from LOGOS Christian College and Graduate School, Jacksonville, Florida, United States. She is the president of Widows Mite Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation. She is married to Chris Ekpenyong,  former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State.

Died

Abraham Ezuma Isaac Efughu , 84, retired civil servant  from Umuawa Alaocha in Ohuhu Umuahia, Abia State, and father-in-law to Nsidifok Nsukaba, controller of marketing, Newswatch. He schooled at the prestigious Methodist College Uzuakoli, from 1942 to 1946. He started work in January 1950 as an accounting inspector at the Sub-treasury in Eket, Akwa Ibom  State. He worked in several towns and cities in the old South Eastern region. He retired in 1984, at the sub-treasury Umuahia, in 1984, as a chief executive. He passed away on December 25. He is survived by his widow and eight children, numerous grandchildren and relatives. He will be buried in his compound on January 21, 2012.

John Olayinka Sunmonu, 68, retired air vice marshal. He enlisted in the NAF in 1967, and was trained in West Germany as a pilot. During his 31 years of service, Sunmonu held several appointments, some of which are commander, NAF station, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; commander, NAF, station, Ilorin; commander, executive wing Air Traffic group; acting military governor of Rivers State; director of Air Faculty, Command and Staff College, Jaji; director of Plans and Air Officer Inspection. He is survived by his widow, Arinola, children and grandchildren. He will be buried on January 19, at Victoria Crown Cemetery, after a church service at This Present House, Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.