PROFILE ON FRIDAY BENJI BAKARE ESQ

Born in 1964, Mr Friday Benji Bakare had his primary and secondary education in Kaduna between 1971 and 1982.  After training privately for and obtaining some advanced secretarial qualifications, Mr Bakare began his public service career in Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in 1985 first as a professional secretary and later as university administrator, rising to his present position as Deputy Registrar in 2009. While in service, Mr Bakare attended the Kaduna Polytechnic, Department of Education (Technical) (1988) and University of Jos (1991) for  training in pedagogy and administration leading to the award of a Technical Teachers Certificate (Professional Diploma in Education equivalent) and an Advanced Diploma in Public Administration respectively.  He also attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1996 - 2002 for Bachelor of Laws degree and the Nigerian Law School, Bwari-Abuja where he was called to the Bar in 2004.  

    For his professional courses, he attended the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Topo-Badagry (1995) where he obtained a Training and Development Certificate.  He also attended the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji Senior Course 28 (2005) where he won the prize for the Best Director’s Paper in the Department of Air Warfare.  Moreover, he studied for a Master in International Affairs and Strategic Studies (MIASS) as well as Master in Public Administration (MPA) at the Nigerian Defence Academy (Postgraduate School) in 2009 and 2014 respectively.

    He has held several portfolios within the administrative cadre including handling of NDA Governing Council matters, admissions, examinations, establishment, training, staff welfare/pensions, legal advising and general administration amongst others.   An astute administrator, prolific writer and public speaker, Mr Bakare has delivered several papers at professional fora and published articles in journals.  He has also served in several strategic committees as chairman, member or secretary.  He was the pioneer editor and current Chairman Editorial Board of the NDA Academic Branch News Bulletin.  A trainer to the core, he has been involved in the training and mentorship of younger administrators and secretarial staff for several years.  In the 1998-1999 academic training year, he designed a new curriculum for, and taught, Typewriting as a military subject to Final Year Army Cadets of 46 Regular Course.  He is also involved in policy development, writing of speeches and policy papers as well as the production of administrative manuals for the administration of civilian staff and cadets in NDA.
    Mr Bakare is a member of several professional bodies including the Association of University Administrators (AUA) (UK) and the Association of Nigerian Universities Professional Administrators (ANUPA).  Others are the International Bar Association (IBA) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).  He was recently elected Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Administration (FCIA) He has attended several conferences and workshops both locally and internationally.    

    Mr Bakare’s areas of professional interest include Higher Education Management, Human Capital Management and Development, Pension Administration, Company Secretarial Administration and Legal Drafting/Advisory Services.  His hobbies include jogging, playing badminton and reading.  He is happily married and blessed with a daughter.