BABANGIDA, Ibrahim Badamasi (rtd) politician, administrator and former Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces will be 74 tomorrow, Monday, August 17, 2015. He was born on August 17, 1941 in Minna, Niger State and attended Military Training College and graduated in 1963; Indian Military Academy, 1964; Royal Armoured Centre, England, 1966-67; United States Army Armor School, 1972; Command and Staff College, 1972 and Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, 1979-80. He was Career Military Officer; President of Nigeria, 1985-93. He served as Commanding officer during Nigeria’s civil war, 1968-70; taught at Nigerian Defense Academy, 1970-72; became lieutenant colonel, 1974; served as regiments commander of Nigerian Army, 1973-75; and as Army’s armored corps commander, 1975-81; became director of army staff duties and plans, 1981; promoted to major general, 1983; appointed as Chief of Army Staff by Buhari, 1984; served on the Supreme Military Council, 1984-85; assumed presidency and made himself commander-in-chief of Nigeria’s armed forces, August 27, 1985; stepped aside on August 27, 1993; instituted various political and economic reforms; drew up plan for the nation’s return to democratic rule; allowed two parties to be established for national elections; declared himself minister of Defense, 1990. He controversially nullified the June 12, 1993 election.

ABEBE, Dr. John Warrimeme, former Chairman of the Nigeria Cricket Association will be 64 on Wednesday, August 19, 2015. Born on August 19, 1951 to the family of Dr. Christopher Abebe, the first African Chairman of UAC Nigeria Limited, he attended the famous St. Gregory’s College, Lagos and the University of Lagos for hospital first degree in Medicine. He later proceeded to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, England where he bagged M.Sc in Medicine. He established Inducon Nigeria Limited in 1985 and successfully brought about the re-entry of Statoil into the Nigerian oil industry. He is also the Chairman of the AAA Foundation. International Cricket Council (ICC) honoured him in 2006 with a Lifetime Achievement Award

OSADOLOR, Kingsley Osayande, former Editor of The Guardian on Sunday, former Commissioner of Information, Edo State, Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria was 55 yesterday. Born on August 15, 1960 in Benin City, Edo State, he attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he graduated with First Class Honours in the department of Mass Communication in 1984. He later attended the University of Lagos, Nigeria, where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) and the Nigerian Law School, where he earned the Barrister-at-law (B.L) degree. He has received many awards, including Distinguished Alumnus Award and Induction into the University of Nigeria Hall of Fame (October, 2004); Graduated at the top of the class (June 1984) and delivered Valedictory Address at Convocation, February 1985; Vice-Chancellor’s book prize for best overall graduating student; Campus Club cash prize and trophy for the best overall graduating student; Departmental book prize for the best student of Mass Communication; Daily Times cash and typewriter prize for the best Mass Communication graduate; and Alhaji Babatunde Jose prize for the best Mass Communication graduate in reporting.
Compiled by Gbenga Akinfenwa