On Friday, April 12, 2024, history was made as Officer Cadet Owowoh Princess Oluchukwu, became the first-ever Nigerian female officer to graduate from the UK’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS), making her the 190th Nigerian graduate from the prestigious military institution in Europe.
24-year-old Officer Cadet Princess joins the likes of gallant military men such as Brigadier General Zakariya Maimalari, Umar Lawan, Colonel Kur Mohammed and Lieutenant Colonel Abogo Largema, who were the first set of Nigerian soldiers to be trained at the British Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, United Kingdom.
Here is the full list of Nigerian military men who underwent intensive military training at RMA Sandhurst:
1) Brigadier Zakariya Abubakar Hassan Maimalari (Burma Company, course intake 10)
2) Umar Lawan
3) Lieutenant Colonel Abogo Largema: Later became Commanding Officer of the 4th Battalion Nigeria Army, Ibadan, Oyo State
4) Lieutenant Colonel James Yakubu Pam (1955): One of the victims of the early hours of January 15, 1966, Nigeria’s first military coup.
5) Captain David Akpode Ejoor: He held several military posts, including Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy and Chief of Army Staff
6) Colonel Kur Mohammed: Victim of January 15, 1966 coup
7) Lt Alexander Madiebo: He joined forces with Ojukwu at the Biafra Republic and became the General Officer Commanding of the secessionist group during the Nigerian Civil War
8) Major Christian Anuforo: A member of the first coup plotters of January 1966.
9) Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu – leader of the first military coup in Nigeria
10) Major General Iliya D. Bisalla: Former Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy and General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army
11) Hassan Katsina: Former military governor of the Northern Region of Nigeria
12) Victor Adebukunola Banjo: He fought in the Biafran Army
13) Lt. Col. Patrick Anwunah: He became the General Staff Officer for Intelligence at Army HQ Lagos
14) General Yakubu Gowon: Former military Head of State
15) Lt Author Unegbe: He was among the first 30 Nigerian officers in Nigeria’s military
16) Lt Macauley Nzefili: He was one of the pioneers Nigerian officers in Nigeria’s military
17) Ipoola Alani Akinrinade: Graduated from the RMA training in August 1960. He later became the Chief of Defence Staff
18) Murtala Ramat Muhammed: Former military Head of State, July 29, 1975-February 13, 1976
19) Capt. Benedict Gbulie: He played a key role in Nigeria’s first military coup
20) Gordon Ezegbuna
21) Mohammed Abdullahi
22) Alphonso Keshi
23) Lt Louis Ogbonnia
24) YB Abubakar
25) George Kurobo
26) Michael Okwechime
27) Sylvanus Nwajei
28) Joseph Akahan
29) Simeon Adegoke
30) Benjamin Adesanya Maja Adekunle aka “Black Scorpion”: GOC 3 Marine Commando (3MCDO) during the Nigerian Civil. He captured several Biafra territory
31) Iwuchukwu Chikuka
32) Emmanuel Udeaja
33) Ibrahim Haruna
34) Eman Ikwue
35) Mashohor
36) Jacob Esuene
37) Robert Mbu
38) Timothy Onwuatuegwu
39) John Obienu
40) Musa Usman
41) Francis Adisa
42) Christopher Emelifonwu
43) Shittu Alao
44) Godwin Ally
45) Isong Ukpong
46) Lt. Col. Pius Eromobor
47) Joseph Ihedigbo
48) Simon Uwakwe
49) Patrick Anekwe
50) Mohammed Shuwa: Former Federal Commissioner of Trade and General Officer Commanding of the 1st Division, Nigerian Army
51) John Obada
52) Col. Emmanuel Nwobosi: A partaker in the first military coup and commander in the Biafra Army
53) Mohammed Remawa
54) Jonathan Isichei
55) Domkat Bali: Former Minister of Defence and Chief of Defence Staff
56) Joseph Okeke
57) Sylvester Onyekwe
58) Abdulaziz Wya
59) Jonathan Egere
60) Haruna Auna
61) Oye Alimi
62) Ibrahim Bako
63) Shehu Yar’adua
64) Samuel Idi-Fada
65) Abraham Maidodo
66) Martin Osahor
67) Louis Sokei
68) Chris Ude
69) George Innih
70) Pius Obi
71) Durosinmi Ajayi
72) Attah Esuk
73) Mohammed Bello Sydney Ezedinma
74) Mohammed Ndayako
75) Mohammed Dahiru
76) Simeon Uchendu
77) Mufutau Balogun
78) Samuel Ango
79) Bassey Inyang
80) Josephat Eneh
81) Datonye Iketubosin
82) David Ndefo
83) Andrew Sawa
84) Anthony Sedenu
85) Abdullahi Mamman
86) Samson Ojo
87) Ernest Attah
88) John Okafor
89) Muhammed Salami
90) Gregory Adebiyi
91) Sule Ajibade
92) Michael Otiwa
93) Emmanuel Igbinosa
94) Samuel Teidi
95) Francis Atambi
96) Emmanuel Taiwo
97) Temisa Oweh
98) Godwin Nwadike
99) Fidelis Uwa
100) Hafeez Adewuyi
101) Gibson Nwaogbo
102) Augustine Walbe
103) Michael Ajayi
104) Chidi Izuorgu
105) Myiza Sheri
106) Akinloye Akinyemi
107) Richard Aboki
108) Bala Garsama
109) Zion Ogbonnia
110) Samuel Osahor
111) James Ayo-Ariyo
112) Felix Obende
113) Benjamin Akinlade
114) Felix Umoffia
115) Dauda Komo
116) Ishaya Hassan
117) David Ike
118) Mamuda Yerima
119) Justin Abenekaa
120) Joseph Akaagerger
121) Rueben Olufe
122) Ezechukwu Ukagha
123) Joseph Agbola
124) Christopher Eze
125) Kola Olu
126) Idris Sule
127) Augustine Ezeodun
128) Frank Osokogu
129) Joseph Braimah
130) Joseph Okunbor
131) John Samuel
132) Adide Aprezi
133) Momoh Omeiza
134) Olakunle Akinyemi
135) Olatunji Olayinka
136) Mannix Nyiam
137) Ismail Abdullahi
138) Aliyu Danjuma
139) Solomon Kumakpayi
140) Abiodun Ayo
141) Bartholomew Ogbonna
142) Michael Buhari Madaki Ismail Yadudu
143) Chibuzor Enemchukwu
144) Abubakar Saleh
145) Ibrahim Ali
146) Tajudeen Lamidi
147) Oluwaseun Olayiwola
148) David Nwogu
149) David Otenigbagbe
150) Ibrahim Labbo
151) John Dada
152) Imadiyi Omo-Erhabor
153) Adu Bako
154) Ovie-Oba Oielumoh
155) Amah Ogbuogu
156) Noel Moses
157) Bashir Bala
158) Bala Musa
159) Abdullahi Kolo
160) Nurudeen Yusuf
161) Mark Simeni
162) Emmanuel Undiandeye: The incumbent Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI)
163) Princess Oluchukwu
Note: This list is not in ascending order
Significance
A notable thing about the ‘first set’ of alumni of RMAS, who are Nigerian soldiers is that they either participated in the first or second military coup, held key military formations or took controversial or heroic actions during their military career.
Some of the benefits of being RMAS Alumni include joining alumni networking, the privilege to attend Sandhurst events, joining the online alumni groups, and joining the Online Library & Wish Stream Journal among others.
