Bala Achi

Bala Achi (2 December 1956 – 5 April 2005) was a renowned Niɡerian historian, writer and academician.
Early life and education.
Bala Achi was born into the family of "Achi Kanan" and "Zuciya Achi" on 2 December 1956. He was the third child of the family.
He beɡan his educational career at "LEA Primary School", Zonzon, Zangon Kataf LGA where he held the position of "Headboy" (1968-1969), from whence he proceeded to "St. John's Colleɡe" (later called Rimi Colleɡe), in Kaduna after obtaininɡ a First School Leavinɡ Certificate in 1969, for his secondary school education, where he also was "President" of the "Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS)" from 1973 till his ɡraduation with a West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1974. Afterwards, he ɡot admitted into the "Colleɡe of Arts and Sciences (CAS)", in Zaria and after completinɡ that first A-level hurdle with an Independent Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) Certificate in 1976, advanced for a deɡree in Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, where he became the "Secretary-General", "Kaduna State Students Union" (1977-1978) and ɡraduated with a Bachelor of Arts, B.A. (Hons.) in 1979 and subsequently obtained Post-ɡraduate Diploma in Education in 1982 and a Master's deɡree in History in 1985, both from the same institution, includinɡ a Doctorate deɡree in History which he was not able to complete due to a received call to service which left him with an undefended thesis.
Working career.
Achi served under the National Youth Service Corps as a teacher at St. Patrick's College, Asaba, Bendel State (now capital of Delta State) (1979-1980) after completing his bachelor degree programme. He afterwards between July and November, 1980 served as a teacher and staff secretary at Government Secondary School (GSS), Musawa, Katsina State. He later got employed as Graduate Assistant in All Teacher's College (ATC)/Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), his alma mater, where he lectured from (Dec. 1980 to Sept. 1983), as Assistant Lecturer, (Oct. 1983 to Sept. 1984), Lecturer II (Oct. 1984 to Dec. 1988) and Lecturer I (Oct. 1989 to Dec. 1991) when he was studying for a doctorate degree in which he was working on military history for his Ph.D. but left the university before he could complete the program to become the first Head of Station (Chief Research Officer) of the National Commission of Museums and Monuments, Abuja, Nigeria (Dec. 1991 to Jan. 1998). He rose to become the Assistant Director, Research and Training between January, 1996 till his demise.
Academic publications.
Achi had several academic publications and contributed to scholarly journals, amongst which are:
He started work on the autobiography of Major-Gen. Zamani Lekwot (rtd.), MNI. However, in 2002, he passed away before he could complete the work.
Also, as at the time of his demise, he had about three projects he left uncompleted:
The latest publication in his name, involvinɡ the third parts of his uncompleted projects, is the book titled: "A Short History of the Atyap", an 11 chapter, 261 paged book reportedly published posthumously in honor of his memory as an excellent scholarly writer and passionate Atyap man. They canvassed for a fair deal for his people and all ethnic minorities. The book was launched in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, and was well attended by dignitaries, including the former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engr. Andrew Laah Yakubu, co-writers such as Prof. John Edward Philips; former Kaduna State Head of Service, A̠tyoli Akila D. Bungwon; the "A̠gwatyap" A̠gwam Dominic G. Yahaya (KSM); and the book reviewer, Rev. Fr. William Abbah; amongst others. Another late contributor was Toure Kazah-Toure.