MILESTONES: Banjo elected, Ogunsanya honoured, Braithwaite passes on

ELECTED

Omoyemi Banjo, a former branch controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Minna, has been elected president of the CBN Pensioners Club.

A statement on Tuesday, March 29 by the club’s spokesman, Chimezie Ahaneku, in Lagos said the election took place during the Biennial National Conference of the club.

Mr. Chimezie said the conference, held at CBN Learning Centre, Alakija, Satelite Town, Lagos, was attended by delegates from 21 branches across the country.

Other members of the new executive include Charles Katchy, 1st vice president; Bon Onwubualili, 2nd vice president; Nicholas Mbah, general secretary and Micheal Akinbola, assistant general secretary.

Also elected are Chimezie Ahaneku, publicity secretary; Barth Eyo, assistant publicity secretary; Francisca Arueze, treasurer; Charles Ughulu, financial secretary; Al-Hassan Bala, assistant financial secretary; Anthony Egbenyor, provost (1); and Jamiu Akanbi, provost (2).

LAUNCHED

Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), a philanthropic initiative devoted to entrepreneurship, on Monday, March 28, launched the second round of its entrepreneurship programme with the selection of 1,000 entrepreneurs.

The foundation made a 10-year $100 million commitment, to identify and empower 10,000 African entrepreneurs, create a million jobs and add $10 billion in revenues to Africa’s economy.

A statement from the organization said over 45,000 entrepreneurs from 54 African countries applied, more than doubling the number of applications received in 2015.

The statement said successful candidates represented diverse industries, led by agriculture, ICT and fashion, just as the highest numbers of applicants came from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Cameroon.

“In TEEP’s first year we spent over $8 million of our $100 million commitment with $5 million going directly to entrepreneurs as seed capital and the results have far exceeded our expectations,” the founder, Tony Elumelu, said.

“We have funded entrepreneurs, established networks and helped extraordinary people take control of their destinies.

“The 2016 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs will become a generation of newly empowered African business owners, who are the clearest evidence yet, that indigenous business growth will drive Africa’s economic and social transformation.”

HONOURED

Adenrele Adeniran-Ogunsanya, former Secretary to Lagos State Government, has been conferred with the title of Omowonuade of Owu Kingdom.

The ceremony was performed by His Royal Majesty, Oba Olusanya Amororo II, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Abeokuta, Ogun State on Saturday, March 26.

The palace of the monarch played host to eminent personalities who were in attendance to felicitate with the princess of Owu kingdom.

The ceremony, witnessed by eminent Nigerians, was part of the week-long activities to commemorate the 10th coronation anniversary of Oba Dosunmu.

ANNIVERSARIES

Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, popular Nigerian juju musician, on Sunday, March 3, clocked 74 years of age.

He was born on April 3, 1942 as Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Obey-Fabiyi in Idogo, Nigeria

Chief Commander, as he’s fondly called, is of an Egba-Yoruba ethnic background.

Obey began his professional career in the mid-1950s in Lagos. Shortly after receiving training from Fatai Rolling-Dollar, he formed a band called The International Brothers in 1964, playing highlife–jùjú fusion. The band later metamorphosed into Inter-Reformers in the early-1970s, with a long list of Juju album hits on the West African Decca musical label.

The Inter-Reformers band excelled in praise-singing for rich Nigerian socialites and business tycoons.

Obey’s music weaved in Christian spiritual themes and has since the early-1990s retired into Nigerian gospel music ministry.

TRANSITION

Tunji Braithwaite, a frontline politician, lawyer and former presidential candidate of the Nigeria Advance Party (NAP) on Monday, March 28 passed away at the age of 82.

The octogenarian reportedly died at St. Nicholas hospital after a brief illness.

Mr. Braithwaite, the youngest son of eight children, was born in 1933.

He was educated at the prestigious C.M.S Grammar School, entering the school’s Preparatory Section in 1946 and completing his education there in 1953.

He then went on to sit for his A Levels at the London University at Kennington College in 1955 and enrolled in 1957/58 as a Law student at the Council of Legal Education, London.

He was admitted into Lincoln’s Inn that same year and graduated as a barrister in 1960.