Bitrus Kwaji

Major General Bitrus Kwaji (Rtd.), a professional military officer and financial expert attended the Nigerian Military School Zaria where he obtained his secondary school certificate in 1978. He joined the Nigerian Army and later gained admission into Ahmadu Bello University Zaria where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting in the year 1982.Major General Kwaji, a distinguished Fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (FCNA), also holds a Master of Science in Business Administration from Strayer University in Washington DC, USA. He was one of the two nominated in 1990 to attend the Finance Officers Advanced Course (FOAC), at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis Indiana USA after which he was awarded an Advanced Diploma in Financial Management and an Advanced Diploma in Budgeting and Budgetary Control.

He attended Defence Advisers course at the Nigerian Army Intelligence School in 1991, a condition precedent to enhancing excellent performance as a member of the Diplomatic Corps during his tour of duty as Deputy Defence Attaché Finance in Washington DC, USA.

Until his voluntary retirement in 2014, he served the Nigerian Army in different capacities. Some of the appointments held by him were: Director Finance and Accounts, Defence Intelligence Agency, Assistant Director Army Finance and Accounts 81 Division, Commandant Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration (NASFA), Chairman Military Pension Board, Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army), and just before his retirement in 2014, he was Group Managing Director Nigerian Army Welfare Ltd/Gte., among others.

In the course of his official assignments, Major General Kwaji was Chairman, Lagos State Revenue Generation and Accounts Reconciliation, where his effort brought to fore the need for special focus on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in Lagos State. With the measures he put in place, the IGR of the State, increased by more than 200% from the paltry sum of about =N=300 Million.

In recognition of his sterling qualities and achievements, he was awarded the prestigious National Honor in the rank of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in 2008. He was also decorated with the Force Service Star (FSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS), Distinguished Service Star (DSS) and Grand Service Star (GSS) medals. Major General Kwaji capped all the above with the distinguished National Honour in the rank of Officer of the Oder of Niger (OON).