₦airaland Forum

HisaacPlus:
The First Five Commissioned Nigerian Military Officers

Before Nigeria gained independence, a few Nigerians broke barriers within the British-controlled Nigerian Regiment. These men became the first indigenous commissioned officers, laying the foundation for today’s Nigerian Army.

1️⃣ 2nd Lt. Laud (Louis) Victor Ugboma

Commissioned: 1948
State of Origin: Present-day Anambra State

Laud Victor Ugboma holds the distinction of being the first Nigerian ever commissioned into the military. However, his career was short-lived. By 1953, he had left the army—reports suggest this was linked to his strong nationalist views, which did not sit well with colonial authorities.

Because he exited the service before 1956—when the Nigerian Regiment formally became the Nigerian Military Force—he was not assigned an official service number (N/).
Died: 2002.

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2️⃣ 2nd Lt. Wellington Duke Umoh Bassey (N/1)

Commissioned: April 1949
State of Origin: Present-day Akwa Ibom State

Wellington Bassey became the second Nigerian commissioned officer. When Ugboma left the army, Bassey automatically assumed seniority and was assigned Service Number N/1 in 1956.

He is widely honoured today, with Wellington Bassey Way in Uyo and WU Bassey Barracks in Abuja named after him.
Died: 1995.

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3️⃣ 2nd Lt. Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi (N/2)

Commissioned: June 1949
State of Origin: Present-day Abia State

Aguiyi-Ironsi was a trailblazer in every sense. He became:

The first Nigerian Major

The first Nigerian battalion commander

The first Nigerian Major General

The first indigenous General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army in 1965

Following the January 1966 military crisis, he assumed leadership of the country, becoming Nigeria’s first Military Head of State.
He was assassinated during the July 1966 counter-coup.

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4️⃣ 2nd Lt. Samuel Adesoji Ademulegun (N/3)

Commissioned: June 1949
State of Origin: Present-day Ondo State

Samuel Ademulegun rose through the ranks to become a Brigadier, one of the most senior officers of his time.
Sadly, he was among the officers killed during the January 1966 military mutiny.

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5️⃣ 2nd Lt. Ralph Adetunji Shodeinde (N/4)

Commissioned: 1950

Ralph Shodeinde became the fifth Nigerian commissioned military officer. He later rose to the rank of Colonel and served as Head of the Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna, where he helped shape future generations of officers.

He was also killed during the January 1966 military mutiny.

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ℹ️ Note

All five men were commissioned at the rank of Second Lieutenant, which is the standard entry rank for commissioned officers.

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These pioneers paved the way for Nigerian leadership in the armed forces—often at great personal cost. Their legacy remains a vital part of our national history.

Bekee Ebele



https://www.facebook.com/share/1FmU1krvMp/

Racoon:
This was obviously when the army regimen in Nigeria is under the control of imperial Britain that was using strict merit and not the defective quota system as means of selecting the officer corps.

PulaPower:
But your people are forming victims on another thread about how British marginalized the Igbos?

https://www.nairaland.com/8589289/how-british-colonial-policies-entrenched#137945713

😃

PulaPower:
But your people are forming victims on another thread about how British marginalized the Igbos?...

Racoon:
That the colonial master ensured merit to enlist the officer corps of the colonial Nigerian army is no brainer as that was the standard then. Even the Sarduna of Sokoto have the forced the British to lower the standard during the colonial era because of the morbid fear of the Igbo.

Post independence era, the British unjustly skewed the politico-military and administrative system to favoured the Hausa-fulanis because they feared the resilient spirit of the Igbo man.

Fast forward to the immediate post independence era, the fear of by force influx of unqualified fellas and the tensed political situation it has created led to the Igbo dominated coup of Jan 15 1966. Hence when the hausa-fulani wanted to exit Nigeria post Jan 15 1966, it was the British that advised against it. Thereafter it has been endless antagonism of the Igbo man. Meanwhile has Nigeria been better ever since? Let your conscience answer you if you have any.

HisaacPlus:
The First Five Commissioned Nigerian Military Officers

Before Nigeria gained independence, a few Nigerians broke barriers within the British-controlled Nigerian Regiment. These men became the first indigenous commissioned officers, laying the foundation for today’s Nigerian Army.

1️⃣ 2nd Lt. Laud (Louis) Victor Ugboma

Commissioned: 1948
State of Origin: Present-day Anambra State

Laud Victor Ugboma holds the distinction of being the first Nigerian ever commissioned into the military. However, his career was short-lived. By 1953, he had left the army—reports suggest this was linked to his strong nationalist views, which did not sit well with colonial authorities.

Because he exited the service before 1956—when the Nigerian Regiment formally became the Nigerian Military Force—he was not assigned an official service number (N/).
Died: 2002.

---

2️⃣ 2nd Lt. Wellington Duke Umoh Bassey (N/1)

Commissioned: April 1949
State of Origin: Present-day Akwa Ibom State

Wellington Bassey became the second Nigerian commissioned officer. When Ugboma left the army, Bassey automatically assumed seniority and was assigned Service Number N/1 in 1956.

He is widely honoured today, with Wellington Bassey Way in Uyo and WU Bassey Barracks in Abuja named after him.
Died: 1995.

---

3️⃣ 2nd Lt. Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi (N/2)

Commissioned: June 1949
State of Origin: Present-day Abia State

Aguiyi-Ironsi was a trailblazer in every sense. He became:

The first Nigerian Major

The first Nigerian battalion commander

The first Nigerian Major General

The first indigenous General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army in 1965

Following the January 1966 military crisis, he assumed leadership of the country, becoming Nigeria’s first Military Head of State.
He was assassinated during the July 1966 counter-coup.

---

4️⃣ 2nd Lt. Samuel Adesoji Ademulegun (N/3)

Commissioned: June 1949
State of Origin: Present-day Ondo State

Samuel Ademulegun rose through the ranks to become a Brigadier, one of the most senior officers of his time.
Sadly, he was among the officers killed during the January 1966 military mutiny.

---

5️⃣ 2nd Lt. Ralph Adetunji Shodeinde (N/4)

Commissioned: 1950

Ralph Shodeinde became the fifth Nigerian commissioned military officer. He later rose to the rank of Colonel and served as Head of the Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna, where he helped shape future generations of officers.

He was also killed during the January 1966 military mutiny.

---

ℹ️ Note

All five men were commissioned at the rank of Second Lieutenant, which is the standard entry rank for commissioned officers.

---
These pioneers paved the way for Nigerian leadership in the armed forces—often at great personal cost. Their legacy remains a vital part of our national history.

Bekee Ebele



https://www.facebook.com/share/1FmU1krvMp/

Alphanancy:
When meritocracy was the order of the day. Not now that quota system has destroyed the nation. Anything done on merit the Igbo can never be behind.