Academic Directors – National Defence College, Nigeria

Commodore Olusegun Olukunle Soyemi was born on 1 July 1971 and hails from Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State. He enlisted into the Nigerian Navy
on 17 August 1990 and was granted Presidential Commission on 16 September 1995 as a member of 42 Regular Course Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). He is of the Executive Branch (Navigation and Direction) and was promoted to the rank of Commodore on 17 August 2018.

The senior officer has attended several courses, which include the Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course and Officers Long Course Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) QUORRA Apapa, Junior and Senior Staff Courses Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) Jaji, Joint Military Attache Course Defence Intelligence College Abuja as well as the National Security and War Course at National Defence University (NDU) Pakistan. He also holds a BSc (Hons) Degree in Mathematics from NDA and MSc in National Security and War Studies from the NDU Pakistan. Commodore Soyemi has held several appointments both ashore and afloat. He was Watch Keeping Duties NNS EKPE Liberia (98-01), Duties With Commanding Officer NNS OKEMINI (01-02), Navigating Officer NNS LANA (03-04), Staff Officer (Grade II) Ratings Naval Headquarters (NHQ) (04-05) and Staff Officer (Grade II) Academics/Training NDA (05-06). Other appointments the senior officer held were Military Observer United Nations Mission in Sudan (06-07), Instructor NNS QUORRA (07-09), Navigating Officer NNS NWAMBA (09), Directing Staff AFCSC (09-11) and Executive Officer Forward Operating Base Formoso (12-13). He also served as Staff Officer (Grade I)/Assistant Director Personnel Release NHQ (13-14), Chief Instructor Charlie Division AFCSC (14-15) and Executive Officer NNS PATHFINDER (15-16). He was a member of the pioneer Directing Staff at the Naval War College Nigeria (17-19) and Deputy Director Policy NHQ (19 – 20). Cdre Soyemi was appointed as Directing Staff at the National Defence College on 31 Aug 20 and became the Director Curriculum and Programme Development at the College on 18 Mar 21. The senior officer is decorated with the prestigious passed staff course (dagger), forces service star, meritorious service star and distinguished service star in recognition of his unblemished service to the Nigerian Navy and the Country. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the Naval War College and also a Member of the National Institute of Management as well as Member of the United States Naval Institute.

Commodore OO Soyemi is happily married to Mrs Adeola Soyemi and the marriage is blessed with 3 children. In his leisure time, he enjoys reading, listening to music, driving and keeping up to date with technology.

Air Commodore Abdulrasheed Oluwaseyi Kotun was born in Lagos to the family of Chief MA Kotun on 17 Jul 72. He hails from Isale Eko in the Lagos Island Local Government of Lagos State. Kotun acquired his nursery, and primary education in Lagos between 1974 and 1982.   He then attended the Federal Government College Lagos between 1983 and 1989 where he obtained his Secondary School Leaving Certificate.

Oluwaseyi enlisted into the NDA as a member of 42 Regular Course and   graduated 5 years later with a first degree in Mathematics and was commissioned into the NAF as a pilot officer. In his Service career, Kotun has attended several courses including the Initial Personnel Management Course (IPAMOC) in Kaduna, and the advanced Human Resources Course at the Royal Institute for Public Administration in London. He also attended the Junior and Senior Command and Staff Courses at AFCSC Jaji.

The senior officer has served the NAF in several units and capacities; these include the 435 Base Services Group Ikeja, 330 NAF Station Jos and 303 FTS Kano as flight or squadron commander. Others are the Air Task Group (Op HARMONY) Calabar as the Group Administrative Officer, 325 Ground Training Group Kaduna as Commanding Officer, School of Administration and 235 Base Services Wing, Yenagoa as Commanding Officer.  Seyi also served at the AFCSC as a DS from 2010 to 2012 and at the Ministry of Defence as Military Assistant to Permanent Secretary from 2014 until his nomination to attend NDC Course 26 in July 2017. He earned the Chief of the Air Staff’s prize on completion of the course and was promoted Air Commodore in September 2018. He was thereafter posted to HQ NAF as the Deputy Director of Administration where he served until his posting to NDC as a DS in Jan 2020. He was appointed DNMS on 16 Mar 21.

Air Commodore Kotun holds a PostGraduate Diploma in Computer Science which he earned from ATBU Bauchi in 2001 and a Masters Degree in Security and Strategic Studies from the NDA amongst other academic accolades.  He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development of the UK, the Nigerian Institute of Management as well as the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria. His honours and awards include; the Forces Services Star, the Meritorious Services Star, the Distinguishes Service Star and the passed staff college daggar. He is a recipient of the Silver Jubilee, Golden Jubilee, General Service, General Operations and Operation Harmony Medals amongst others. His hobbies include traveling, meeting people, listening to music, driving and reading. He is happily married to Mrs Monilola Rasheeda Kotun and they are blessed with 3 sons.

Ambassador Audu-Rafiu Olusola ENIKANOLAIYE was bom on 14th September 1959 in Igbagun, Yagba East Local Government, Kogi State, Nigeria. He obtained a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Political Science from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with First Class Honours in June 1981. Ambassador Enikanolaiye completed his National Youth Service in Lagos State in July 1982 before joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an External Affairs Officer, Grade 08 on 4th August 1982.

He attended the Ministry’s one-year Foreign Service Academy in Lagos in 1984 and came top of his class. Thereafter, he obtained a Masters’ degree in International Law and Diplomacy (MILD) from the University of Lagos with Distinction in November 1992. Prior to this, he attended the University of Oxford, England for a postgraduate course in Diplomatic Studies from October 1990 -June 1991 and passed with Distinction.

In his diplomatic career, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye served in various capacities at home and abroad, including as a Special Assistant to the Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on International Relations at the State House from November 1999 to April 200 I. While at Headquarters, he served as an active member of various top management and policy making Committees and bodies, especially in his capacity as Assistant Director, Deputy Director and Director in the Office of the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs where he served four Honourable Ministers.

Abroad, Ambassador Enikanolaiye served in many of Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad notably Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Belgrade, (Serbia), Ottawa, (Canada), London (UK) and lastly as Nigeria’s Head of Mission in New Delhi (India). He was also member of the Nigerian delegations to several Summits and International Conferences of the ECOWAS, the OAU/AU, Commonwealth and the United Nations, among others.

He has contributed significantly to the development and articulation of Nigeria’s foreign policy and diplomatic practice with emphasis on institutional development, security, development and peacekeeping matters, including the transformation of the Organisation of African Unity to the African Union, the evolution of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRNI) as well as on regional integration, among others.

He was appointed Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs effective 5^th August 2016 from where retired on 4^th August 2017 after 35 years of active, meritorious and unblemished service. In the course of his career, Ambassador Enikanolaiye visited over fifty (50) countries in different parts of the world.

He has published several articles in leading Nigerian newspapers and lectured extensively on Nigeria’s foreign policy at several fora within the Ministry, the Foreign Service Academy, the National Defence College, Abuja, Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State, the Nigerian Army War College, Abuja, and the Defence  Intelligence College, including the National Defence College of India, New Delhi, India.

He is a member of several professional bodies including the Nigeria Socicty of International Law, the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and the Institute of Directors (IoD).

He is the recipient of the twin 2017 Public Service Awards, namely, the Presidential Civil Service Merit Award and the Presidential Distinguished Public Service Career Award in recognition of his valuable contributions to the Service, making him the only Public Servant to have bagged both Awards in 2017.

He is currently on contract appointment as the Director, National Geopolitical Affairs at the National Defence College, Abuja, Nigeria.

He is married to Mrs Adunni ENlKANOLAlYE (Nee Olorunnishola) and blessed with three girls, a boy and three grandchildren.

Commodore Ayodeji Olumide Olugbode was born on 28^th February 1971 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. He attended Corona Primary School, Apapa, Lagos (1976-1982) and Nigerian Military School, Zaria (1982-1987). He gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy on 10^th September 1988 as a member of 40th RC and graduated with a BSc in Physics in 1992. He was commissioned into the Nigerian Navy in 20^th September 1993. On commission, he was appointed onboard NNS SIRI which was on deployment for ECOMOG Operations in Liberia and subsequently served onboard several ships and shore bases which include NNS AYAM as a Watch Keeping Office (WKO), NNS ARADU for Watch Keeping Duties (WKD), NNS OBULA as Executive Officer (XO), Duties with Commanding Officer (CO) NNS ONURA and NNS OKEMINI, Staff Officer (SO) III (Operations) – NHQ, Instructor and Chief Instructor at the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic School, Port-Harcourt, SO II and I at the NN Hydrographic Office (NNHO) and Assistant Director (Policy) – NHQ respectively. He was promoted to the present rank of Navy Captain on 10 September 2011.

Commodore Olugbode has also held some extra regimental and tri-service appointments which include Aide de Camp (ADC) to Military Administrator Bayelsa State, Head of Hydrographic Survey Services at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Technical Secretary East Atlantic Hydrographic Commission (2009-2010) and was Defence Adviser, Nigeria High Commission, New Delhi with concurrent accreditation to Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore and South Korea. The military courses he has attended include Sub Technical Course (STC) at NNS QUORRA, Junior, Senior Staff Courses at AFCSC, Jaji and Joint Military Attaché Course at the Defence Intelligence College, Karu and higher defence management course at the National Defence College, Nigeria. In fulfillment of his NN specialization requirement, he obtained a BSc and Msc in Hydrography from the University of Plymouth, United Kingdom. Commodore Olugbode has also worked on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee and e-Navigation working groups. He is a member of the Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN) and the International Federation of Hydrographic Societies (IFHS).

He has been awarded some military service medals which are the ECOMOG (Liberia) Medal, FSS, MSS, Silver and Golden Jubilee medal respectively. Commodore Olugbode is happily married to Dr (Mrs) Mojisola Olugbode and they are blessed with two daughters. His hobbies are swimming, reading, photography and gardening.

Air Commodore Michael Chinegwu Ekwueme hails from Ebe, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State. He attended College of Immaculate Conception Enugu for his secondary education and gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1990 as a member of the 42^nd Regular Course. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and was commissioned Pilot Officer in 1995.

The senior officer has attended several civil and military courses. These include Basic Officers’ Armament Maintenance Course at Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna and Mi-35 Helicopter Armament Course in Russia. He did the Junior Staff and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji. He also attended the United Nations Junior Officers’ Course in Sweden and Negotiation Course at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, Badagry. Air Commodore Ekwueme participated in the Basic Instructional Techniques Course and International Humanitarian Law Instructors’ Course. He attended Air Force War College, Course 1, War College Directing Staff Orientation Course, Joint Operational Planning Course and Higher Management of Defence Course at the National Defence College, Nigeria.

He has master’s degrees in Telecommunications Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Conflict, Security and Development from University of Bradford, United Kingdom and Strategic Studies from University of Ibadan. He is rounding up his doctorate degree programme in Defence and Strategic Studies.

His flying trainings were at 401 Flying Training School, Kaduna, International Aviation College, Ilorin and   Flight Safety International, Atlanta USA. He has flown the Air Beetle, Diamond-40, Diamond-42 and Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft types. Air Commodore Ekwueme has flown in several Operations such as AWATSE, SHARAN DAJI, HADARIN JAJI and LAFIYA DOLE

He has held several appointments which include Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji and Commanding Officer, 1 Armament Maintenance Centre, Makurdi. He was also Commanding Officer, Academic Wing and Group Operations Officer, both at 401 Flying Training School, Kaduna. He was Director, Test and Quality Assurance, Air Force Research and Development Centre, Kaduna. He was a Directing Staff at National Defence College, Nigeria before his appointment as Director, Department of Information and Communications Technology.

He was the Best All-Round Student (Air Force), Junior Staff Course 51/2001, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji. He also won the Chief of the Air Staff Award for Best in Airpower at Air Force War College, Course 1. His decorations and awards include Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Star, passed staff course dagger (psc+), air fellow of the war college, fellow of the defence college, MTech, MA, MSc. He is a Fellow of Chemical Society of Nigeria and member of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Management and Society for Peace Studies and Practice.

Air Commodore Ekwueme is married to Mrs Ijeoma Ekwueme and the union is blessed with children. His hobbies include walking, browsing, reading and writing. He has written several articles for publication.

 

 

Brigadier General Cyrinus Chukwuemeka OGBU was born on 7 May 1970 at Obollo-Eke in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.  He attended Union Primary School, Ohom Orba and Central School, Ibenda Obollo-Eke during his primary education. He had his secondary education in Obollo High School, Obollo-Eke and Nsukka High School, Nsukka. He gained admission into the University of Nigeria Nsukka in 1986 and graduated in 1991 with a Second Class Honours Upper Division in Agricultural Economics. During his National Service in Plateau state, he served in Air Force Military School, Jos  from August 1991 to August 1992, and thereafter, proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy for his cadet training (January – September 1993) as a member of the NG/DRC. He emerged the Best Overall Passing out Officer Cadet in his course and was commissioned on 25 September 1993.

In the course of his career, Brig Gen CC Ogbu attended several courses, seminars and workshops including YOC Education (1994), YOC Infantry (1996), Junior Staff Course (2002), Basic NAEC Officers’ Development Course 2004), Basic Systems Approach to Training (2005), Officers and NCO Education course by USA National Guard Wyoming (2005). Others are Military Observers Course at Land Warfare Centre, United Kingdom (2007), Advanced Systems Approach to Training (2008). Functional French Course (2009), and NAEC Executive Management Course (2014) among others.  Ogbu has served in the following capacities: Instructor at NMS Zaria (1994 – 2002), AO at CDSS Ojo (2002 – 2003), SO2 Admin at HQ NAEC (2003 – 2005), SO2 Edn at AHQ DATOPS (2005 – 2007), UNMO at DR Congo (2007 – 2008), SO1 G3/G7 at HQ NAEC, Comdt CDSS Kaduna and Ede (2010 – 2011), AD Examinations at DCSS HQ NAEC (2012 – 2014), Dy Comdt NMS (2014 – 2016), DCOS G3/G7 HQ NAEC (2017 – 2018), Director Edn/DCOS G1, 8 TF Div Monguno (2018 – 2019), DDES 8 Div Edn Svcs/2 Div Edn Svcs (2019 – 2020) and Director DCSS Ikeja (2020 – 2021).  Currently, he is the Director of History, Research and Archives at National Defence College, Nigeria, in charge of Military History component of the Module, Military History and Conflict Studies.

Brig Gen Ogbu has the following qualifications/certificates: B Agric in Agric Economics at University of Nigeria, Nsukka, PGD Education at NTI/UDU Sokoto, PGD Management (with Distinction) at NDA Kaduna, MSc Information Management at Leeds Beckett University, UK. He has the following honours and awards: Forces Service Star (FSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS), Distinguished Service Star (DSS), UN Medal from “Mission de l’Organisation des Nations Unies en République démocratique du Congo” (MONUC), Passed Junior Staff Course (pjsc), Member Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (MTRCN), Member Nigerian Army Resource Centre (MNARC), Member Nigerian Institute of Management (MNIM), Fellow Institute of Public Management (FIPM), Fellow Association of Business Specialists and Entrepreneurs (FBSE) and Fellow Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria (FCE).  Ogbu also won the COAS award as the Best Graduating Colonel in the NAEC Executive Management Course in 2014. He also studied and earned the Certified Security Supervisor (CSS) certificate from International Security Organization (ISO-SEC), Switzerland in 2020.

Brig Gen CC Ogbu is happily married and blessed with children. His hobbies include Jogging, Martial arts, Bush/Outdoor adventures and military parades.