Birthdays
OGBEH, Chief Audu Innocent, former university teacher, farmer, educationist and former Minister of Agriculture, will be 74 on July 28, 2021.
Born in Otukpo, Benue State on July 28, 1947, he was educated at St. Francis Primary School, Otukpo, 1956- 60; St. Michael’s Secondary School, Aliade, 196266; King’s College, Lagos, 1967- 68; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1969- 72; and University of Toulouse, France, 1973- 74.
He was a lecturer at the Institute of Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1972- 76; Head, Department of Humanities, Murtala College of Arts, Science and Technology ( now Benue Polytechnic), 1977- 79; Deputy Speaker, Benue House of Assembly, 1979- 82; and Chairman/ Managing Director, Efugo Farms, Makurdi.
In early 2000, he became the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party. He was a Minister of Communication in the Second Republic ( 1979- 1983); a holder of the national award of Commander of Federal Republic ( CFR). He was Minister of Agriculture between 2015 and 2019.
He holds the chieftaincy title of Ochagwu Idoma of Idoma Kingdom.
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BIODUN, Mrs. Bamidele, businesswoman, philanthropist and wife of Ogun State Governor, was 55 on July 16, 2021.
Born on July 16, 1966 to the family of Professor Oladipo Oduye, a former deputy vice chancellor at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and the late Mrs. Abimbola Wosilat Oduye both from Ilishan- Remo, Ogun State. She attended The International School, Ibadan for her secondary education and then obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology from The University of Ibadan in 1988.
In June 2019, she was appointed as the United Nations Sustainable Development Champion by the Civil Society Coalition on Sustainable Development ( CSCSD). As first lady of Ogun State, she has initiated several programs with a focus on social welfare, health, education and poverty reduction.
She has also been linked with ongoing work at the School for Special Needs in Abeokuta. In August 2019, Mrs. Abiodun, in partnership with Learn Africa Plc., donated 42,000 books to primary and secondary schools in Ogun State.
In November 2019, Abiodun presented her commitment to advance the implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development ( ICPD) Programme of Action, at a high- level conference convened by the United Nations Population Fund ( UNFPA) in Nairobi, Kenya.
On the February 6, 2019 Abiodun partnered with First City Monument Bank ( FCMB) on the SHEVENTURES programme, an initiative focused on boosting the economic capacity of women by offering both financial and non- financial support to small and medium scale businesses owned by women.
The one- day capacity building seminar held in Abeokuta, had over 150 women with businesses registered and operational in the state. SHEVENTURES announced plans to grant 40 businesswomen with small and medium scale businesses in Ogun State, interestfree loans quarterly.