Bungwon was born to A̠tyoli Bungwon Yawa and A̠yanga̠li Atoh Bungwon on 25 November 1949 in Bafwoi-Ka̠nai, Atyapland, Kaduna State, Nigeria. His father died in 1953, when he was only four years old. His educational career began in January, 1957 at the age of seven in Native Authority Junior Primary School, Bafwoi-Ka̠nai. After passing his entrance examination in 1961, he got admitted into Native Authority Senior Primary School, Kachia. In 1963, Bungwon got admitted into Government Technical School, Soba, Zaria, where he had a two and a half year stint before he got admitted in 1965 into the prestigious Government Technical College, Kano. He thereafter developed the interest in studying Mechanical engineering while in Government Technical College, Kano, which prompted him to apply for and successfully got awarded a Bureau for External Aid Scholarship to study in the USSR in 1969 on completion of his secondary school level, form five. Between 1971 – 1975, he studied Mechanical Engineering and obtained a Bachelor's degree and Master's degree at the Byelorussian Technical University, Minsk, where he graduated with distinction. In 1977, he proceeded for his doctorate programme to the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, United Kingdom and graduated in 1980.
Career
Bungwon was an erudite scholar, a distinguished Engineer, a teacher emeritus, a diplomat and a celebrated fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers with over 16 years of scholarship, teaching in one of Africa’s largest polytechnics, Kaduna Polytechnic. Between 1986 – 2002, Bungwon served as:
External Exerminer in Mechanical Engineering, Plateau, Katsina, Idah, and Kwara State Polytechnics.
In his domain, he did serve as the first Chairman, Board of Governors, Zangon Kataf Community Technical and Vocational School.
In September, 2002, Dr. H. Y. Bungwon bowed out of the engineering service after several years of meritorious service to his motherland of the pinnacle of his state govenment.
Awards and Memberships
Awards
In recognition of his career of excellence, Dr. H. Y. Bungwon was a recipient of several honours and awards including:
As a Manchester-trained Engineer, Bungwon had been an associate member of the Institute of Industrial Managers, United Kingdom; a member of the American Institute of Industrial Engineers and a registered engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering of Nigeria.
Kingship
At the demise of his predecessor, HRH Agwam B. A. Dauke in 2005, Bungwon reigned as Agwatyap II and was the second indigenous Agwam of the Atyap Nation. He held the position for about 11 years before passing onto eternal glory in the cold morning of 6 April 2016. He was a first-class chief and his demise was seen as a great loss and shocking.
Legacy
During his years of active service as a civil servant, Bungwon wholeheartedly contributed to the growth and development of engineering study in Nigeria and beyond. Even till today, his outstanding legacy is still making great impact on Kaduna State engineering as a whole. Like a sensitive father as he was, HRH Agwam Dr. H. Y. Bungwon knew the meaning of service. As a practising Christian, he had kept close in mind the words of the Lord Jesus Christ which says: This is fitting, he had had to learn to serve people all his life. HRH had always derived joy in bringing satisfaction to others. He has flown several kites but has still accepted to come down as Agwatyap, Atyap Traditional Council, Atak Njei, Zangon Kataf. As the second indigenous Royal Father to rule over the Atyap Nation, Agwam Dr. H. Y. Bungwon had a great responsibility meeting the expectations of Atyap and her neighbours. In his own words: But he had a vision. In his vision, he sets a sterling example, not only to other chiefdoms, but also to leaders in the state. At the demise of Bungwon, the lawmaker representating Zangon Kataf/Jaba federal constituency, Barr. Sunday Marshall Katung described him as a peacemaker who in his words added...:
