tunjijones:
The Nigerian Armed Forces prides itself as the fourth largest on the African continent (after South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia) and it is the dream of many Nigerian youths to join one of its arms someday. The Nigerian Army is the largest component of the Nigerian Armed Forces and today we are going to take a look at the very first five Nigerians commissioned into the Nigerian Army with a little historical background:

The Nigeria Regiment was formed throughout the First and Second World Wars and throughout this period, not a single Nigerian was commissioned as an officer in the Regiment. But that was not to last because with time, the agitations for independence after the Second World War which in ended in 1945 from British rule by the Nigerian nationalists increased, the Colonial Office saw that it was pointless delaying the formation of a proper Army. The colonialists put things in place to prepare the Army for the inevitable and eventual takeover of command and leadership by a Nigerian Officer Corps. The most brilliant and few outstanding non-commissioned officers (NCOs) with shiny educational backgrounds who were already serving in the technical departments of the Nigeria Regiment as Ordnance, Engineers and Signals, were sent to Eaton Hall Officer Cadet School for Officer Training. When they successfully completed the course, they were granted Short Service Commission. These were the first five:

Paperwhite:
Interesting documentaries of our national histroy.Igbos are always blazing the trail.Igbo kwenu!!!

tunjijones:
The Nigerian Armed Forces prides itself as the fourth largest on the African continent (after South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia) and it is the dream of many Nigerian youths to join one of its arms someday. The Nigerian Army is the largest component of the Nigerian Armed Forces and today we are going to take a look at the very first five Nigerians commissioned into the Nigerian Army with a little historical background:

The Nigeria Regiment was formed throughout the First and Second World Wars and throughout this period, not a single Nigerian was commissioned as an officer in the Regiment. But that was not to last because with time, the agitations for independence after the Second World War which in ended in 1945 from British rule by the Nigerian nationalists increased, the Colonial Office saw that it was pointless delaying the formation of a proper Army. The colonialists put things in place to prepare the Army for the inevitable and eventual takeover of command and leadership by a Nigerian Officer Corps. The most brilliant and few outstanding non-commissioned officers (NCOs) with shiny educational backgrounds who were already serving in the technical departments of the Nigeria Regiment as Ordnance, Engineers and Signals, were sent to Eaton Hall Officer Cadet School for Officer Training. When they successfully completed the course, they were granted Short Service Commission. These were the first five:

1. LIEUTENANT LAUD (LOUIS) VICTOR UGBOMA: In 1948, Ugboma made history as the first Nigerian to be granted Short Service Commission thus becoming the very first commissioned officer of the Nigerian Army. Four more NCOs were to follow him. By 1953, Ugboma had left the Regiment with some reports indicating he was actually booted out for his nationalist passions. That explains why even though Ugboma was the first Nigerian to be commissioned; the N/1 tag went to Bassey. Ugboma was not in the service of the military when Nigeria became independent in 1960 so the honour went to Bassey automatically. Born in Ogbaru, Anambra State, he initially trained as teacher. On the 28th of August, 1948, he received emergency commission into the army becoming the first Nigerian-born infantry officer. He was said to be quite instrumental to the commissioning of other Nigerians. In April 1953, Ugboma relinquished his commission and returned to his former job as a teacher at the Zixton Grammar School at Ozubulu. In 2002, he breathed his last, but not before he was able to prove at the Army Headquarters, with documented evidence, his primacy in the officer corps.

2.LIEUTENANT WELLINGTON DUKE BASSEY (N/1): An Efik from Cross River State (now Akwa Ibom) who joined the army in 1936, he was commissioned lieutenant on the 30th of April, 1949 thus becoming Nigeria’s first indigenous officer. When Ugboma resigned, it meant that Bassey became the most senior Army number in the Nigeria Regiment. Now late, he would later be known as Brigadier WU Bassey. Camp WU Bassey and the Wellington Bassey Way in Uyo are named after him.

3. LIEUTENANT JOHNSON THOMAS UMUNNAKWE AGUIYI-IRONSI (N/2): He was commissioned lieutenant on 12th of June 1949 and would later become the first military head of state in Nigeria. He was assassinated in a coup in July 1966.

4. LIEUTENANT SAMUEL ADESOJI ADEMULEGUN (N/3):[/b] Like Aguiyi-Ironsi, Ademulegun was commissioned a lieutenant on 12th of June 1949. He was killed alongside his pregnant wife by Kaduna Nzeogwu in the country’s first military coup in January 1966.

MetaPhysical:


Where did you read that Ugboma was first commissioned officer? Please share the source.

MetaPhysical:


Where did you read that Ugboma was first commissioned officer? Please share the source.

gidgiddy:
LOUIS Ugboma blazed the trail for others to follow. After Ugboma, these were the next five officers to be commissned

N1- Wellington Bassey
N2- JTU Aguiyi Ironsi
N3- Adesoji Ademulegun
N4- Ralph Shodeinde
N5- Zakari Maimalari

gidgiddy:


Louis Ugboma, a native of Ozubulu in Anambra state was commissioned into what was then called West African Frontieer Force(WAFF). This was the the general name the British gave to all its Army in all its colonial territories in West Africa. Louis Ugboma was the first person from the British colony of Nigeria to become an officer. However, Ugboma did not stay long in (WAFF) and left before the Nigerian wing of WAFF became known as the "Nigerian Army". That's the second Nigerian to be commissioned an officer in WAFF, Wellington Bassey, was given the Army number (N1).

Ugboma went to his village of Ozubulu and became a teacher.

But he deserves a footnote in Nigerian Military History because it was him that recommended that the next 3 guys after him, Bassey, Ironsi and Ademulegun, be sent abroad for Officer course.

MetaPhysical:


Where did you read that Ugboma was first commissioned officer? Please share the source.

MetaPhysical:
Three years ago I wouldnt bother about source.
I've been burnt by too many fabricated &phantom stories put forward by Ibos, and lesson has taught me to begin validating before accepting the subject as truthful.

Its nothing against Ugboma.His people have not done right in treating archived records with virtues.

Racoon:

I guess that is not true.Why not ask or dig deep first into the army's official histroy or archive on documentations about his commission?

"..In 2002, he breathed his last, but not before he was able to prove at the Army Headquarters, with documented evidence, his primacy in the officer corps..."

This is even totally needless as the Nigerian Army ought to have official records about his stinct while he served.The same army have documented records of northerner who didn't merit commissioning but were nevertheless granted same because of ethical/regional consideration e.g.Martin Adamu, Sanni Abacha, Bukar Sukar Dimka etc

faceURfront:


That's how tribal wars starts... beautiful thread and you have to invade it with this crap

MetaPhysical:


Three years ago I wouldnt bother about source.

Ive been burnt by too many fabricated and phantom stories put forward by Ibos, and lesson has taught me to begin validating before accepting the subject as truthful.

Its nothing against Ugboma....his people have not done right in treating archived records with virtues.