By Peter Aware from Jos
One time minister of Defence, Retired General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, GCON, was recently honoured by the University of Jos with the Doctor of Science Honourary Causa for his meritorious contributions to the peaceful co-existence of the country and for his uncommon philanthropic gesture.
The general was honoured alongside some other credible individuals at the combined 27th and 28th convocation ceremony of the leading institution.
Born in Takum in Taraba State on the 9th of December, 1937, Danjuma started his education at the Elementary School in Takum and completed it at St. Bathlomew Primary School in Wusasa Zaria.
He attended Benue Provincial Secondary School Katsina-Ala and passed out in 1958 before proceeding to the Nigerian College of Arts Science and Technology, Zaria, the institution that later became the famous Ahmadu Bello University (ABU).
The foundation of a military career was laid in 1960 when he attended Nigerian Military College Kaduna. He was also at the Officers Cadet Training in the United kingdom between 1960 and 1961 and the School of Infantry also in the United Kingdom.
He was at the Special Wardare Centre at North Carolina in 1963 as well as the Army College United Kingdom in 1967.
Danjuma served twice in Congo as the Commander of the United Nations Forces in 1961 and 62 and he also served as the Company Commander with the Nigerian Army Contingent to Tanzania in 1964.
By 1966, he was the Commander of 44 Battalion of the Nigerian Army. In October 1967, he was sent to Enugu as a Commander and overran the Biafara troops and played a pivotal role in sustaining the unity of Nigeria during the tragic civil war years.
After the civil war, he served as the Chairman of the Military Tribunal at Trinidad and Tobago between 1970 and 1971 and on his return to Nigeria, he was appointed the General Officer Commanding of the Army Staff Infantry Division where he served from 1971 to 1975.
Between 1975 and 1979, Danjuma served with a distinction as the Chief of Army Staff and retired in 1979 after a glorious and fulfilling military career.
He was appointed as Chairman of the nation’s strategic think tank, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, near Jos, where he served from 1979 to 1982.
In 1989, Danjuma served in the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission up to 1992.
It is to be recalled that between 1984 and 1994, he was the Chairman of the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria.
He is the Chairman of the Nigeria and America Line Limited, Commet Shipping Agency Limited and TY Holdings among others.
A man with a large heart, he has been honoured with national and international titles such as Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger as far back as 1979.
He was given Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration, Honourary Causa, by the University of Liberia in 1990, Doctor of Letters, Honourary Causa, by Benue State University, Markudi, in 1997, Doctor of Letters Honourary Causa by the Nassarawa State University, Keffi, in 2006, Doctor of Science Honourary Causa by the Nigerian Defence Academy in 2008, Doctor of Laws Honourary Causa by Bayero University Kano in 2011 and Doctor of Science Honourary Causa by Federal University of Technology, Akure, in 2012.
Danjuma was also a recipient of awards from the Republic of Somalia, Poland and France.
His traditional titles includes Abota of Wukari, Jagunla of Akure, Geegee of Karu, Jarman Zauzau and the Barde Baba.
He played a pivotal role in 1998 for Nigeria to return to democracy, serving as Minister of Defence between 1999 and 2003.
He was also appointed as the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee in March 2010 and in that capacity played a role for Goodluck Jonathan to become the Acting President during the illness of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
Danjuma continues to pursue his philanthropic passion today as the Chairman of Mission to Help the Hopeless, an NGO he founded and is dedicated to combating River Blindness among other foundations.