She began her education at Township School, Port Harcourt, before attending Queen’s School, Enugu, where she earned a Grade I pass in the West African School Certificate in 1962.

She later studied Pure Mathematics and Applied Physics at the Federal Science School, Lagos, before gaining admission to ABU in 1963 to study Electrical Engineering—an uncommon choice for women at the time.

Upon graduating in 1966, she joined the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) as a Communications Engineer and went on to serve in various roles, including Research Engineer at Afam Power Station and Commercial Engineer in Lagos. In 1973, she obtained a management certificate from the Nigerian Institute of Management.

In 1974, she married Dr. Paul O. Ezema, a lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the couple had four children. That same year, she was transferred to NEPA’s Enugu office, where she worked as Planning and Construction Engineer.

In 1978, Ezema left NEPA to establish Guftane Engineering Nigeria Limited, delivering rural electrification projects across Nigeria.

She also ventured into agriculture with Pisces Integrated Farms Limited and served on the Governing Council of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu.

Later in life, she joined IMT as a Senior Lecturer in Electrical and Electronics Engineering in 1998 and became Head of Department from 2004 until her retirement in 2006.

A registered member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and COREN, she was also a founding member of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN).

Engineer Grace Chijimma Ezema passed away on May 8, 2024, at the age of 81, leaving behind a lasting legacy as Nigeria’s pioneering female engineer.

Born on July 12, 1923, in Sagamu, Ogun State, Ogunlesi emerged from modest beginnings to become a towering figure in Nigerian medicine. He began his education at St. Paul’s Primary School, Sagamu, progressed to CMS Grammar School, Lagos, and underwent pre-medical and medical studies at Yaba Higher College. His academic excellence earned him further training at the University of London and the University of Minnesota.

On returning home, Ogunlesi served as a medical officer within the Western Nigeria Civil Service from 1950 to 1956, carving a reputation for rare dedication. In 1961, he joined the University of Ibadan as a lecturer. Just four years later, in 1965, he achieved a historic milestone by becoming Nigeria’s first Professor of Medicine.

His influence extended far beyond his title. Professor Ogunlesi was the inaugural head of University College Hospital, Ibadan, and played a foundational role in the establishment of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. A highly respected scholar, he authored influential academic works and mentored many who would go on to advance medicine both locally and internationally.

He was also a fellow of esteemed bodies, including the Royal Colleges of Physicians (London and Edinburgh) and the Association of Physicians of Nigeria, further cementing his status in the field.

After a distinguished career, Professor Theophilus Oladipo Ogunlesi retired in 1983 and was honoured with the title Professor Emeritus at the University of Ibadan’s College of Medicine, a position he held until his passing on January 19, 2023, six months before his 100th birthday. He was 99.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his team extend New Year greetings while showcasing their growing business in Nigeria.

This newspaper advertisement, published on January 2, 1986, features Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the staff of the Dangote Group of Companies sending New Year greetings to both the President of Nigeria and their customers.

At the time, Dangote Group was emerging as a nationwide distributor of general goods.

Products and services listed in the ad included food items, tyres, and spare parts, demonstrating the company’s early diversification.

The advertisement provides contact details for the company’s Apapa, Lagos office, reflecting its operational hub during the 1980s.

Historical Context

In 1986, Aliko Dangote was building his business empire in Nigeria, focusing on trading and distribution.

This advertisement illustrates how Dangote positioned his company as both customer-oriented and politically aware, acknowledging the President while promoting commercial services.

Such public greetings and newspaper placements were common strategies among Nigerian businessmen of the era to strengthen visibility and credibility.

Significance

The ad highlights Dangote’s early entrepreneurial efforts before he expanded into cement, sugar, and other industrial sectors.

It reflects the business culture of Nigeria in the 1980s, where local companies were establishing nationwide recognition through print media.

The combination of greetings and product promotion showcases the founder’s strategic approach to brand building and customer engagement.

Source

Newspaper archive, January 2, 1986