Those who think that Nigerian higher institutions are far below global standards were recently woken up by the sterling performance of Princess Oluchukwu Owowoh, at the elite Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst (RMAS) in the United Kingdom. On April 12, 2024, Owowoh made history as the first Nigerian woman to graduate from Sandhurst. She crowned that with a First Class in Biological Sciences, after excelling as the first female Company Senior Under Officer (CSUO), in her fifth year.

The newly commissioned officer did not just move straight to the UK. Her military career began at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), in 2018. Those skills that were honed in Kaduna where she rose to Cadet Lance Corporal, did not fail abroad as she was promoted Cadet Sergeant in her fourth year. At the RMAS Sovereign’s Parade for Course 232, she justified her 44 weeks of intensive training, marching out with 134 other cadet officers from different parts of the world.

A Nigerian woman can stand among the best anywhere. Credit goes to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who in a love message to women on Valentine Day, February 14, 2011, offered an opportunity for the NDA to admit more than just men as Regular Combatants. Seven months later, the first set of ladies joined the Regular Course (RC) 63. Among the first female Cadet Officers were Nneamaka Adirika, Fatimah Saleh, Rejoice Igom, C. Lord – Mallam, K.O. Dayo – Karim and O.S. Ijele.

They emerged from various parts of the country and although there were many Christians, at least, Muslims had a representative. One of the trainees came from the far away Central African Republic. Owowoh has further projected the image of the Nigerian woman. When the NDA was established in 1964, the Commandant was Asm Varma, an Indian, who spent five years until David Ejoor succeeded him in 1969.

In India, there is the National Defence Academy (NDA), in Khadakwasla. While NDA in India waited till August 2022, to admit women, 19 of them, its Nigerian counterpart has been welcoming the opposite sex, since 2011. The similarities between both institutions are striking. Kaduna is also referred to as Kada.

We praise the high standards of NDA, Kaduna. Cadets from there had distinguished themselves at Sandhurst before Owowoh. In 2013, Noel Shekonduza Moses, a Civil Engineer, won the Queen’s Medal.

We praise the high standards of NDA, Kaduna. Cadets from there had distinguished themselves at Sandhurst before Owowoh. In 2013, Noel Shekonduza Moses, a Civil Engineer, won the Queen’s Medal. In 2019, Sunday Ogbole bagged the King Hussein Award. We have also had Paul Akoh being decorated with the Hodson’s Horse Merit Award, all representing the country abroad after taking off from home.

And because of the high standards, the NDA also trains cadets from other African nations. In the early days of the First Republic, Nigerian cadets also performed well at Sandhurst. Timothy Onwuatuegwu, of Intake 27, was a Cadet Under Officer. He was admitted in September 1959, alongside Murtala Mohammed, Iliya Bisalla, Muhammadu Shuwa, Ibrahim Haruna, Emmanuel Ikwue and Christopher Anuforo. John Obienu, of the January 1960 Intake, was the Best Overall Overseas Officer Cadet.

His course mates included Mobolaji Johnson, Christopher Emelifonwu and Musa Usman. The first Nigerian to graduate from Sandhurst was Zakariya Maimalari. When Maimalari returned to Nigeria, he was given the Army number, N/5, as a Junior to Wellington Bassey, Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi, Samuel Ademulegun and Raphael Shodeinde. In the past, Nigerian troops were sent to foreign lands to fight wars or maintain peace.

Today, some parts of the country have been overrun by foreign elements believed to have been imported by politicians. There are Nigerian soldiers who can eliminate the intruders. Unfortunately, they have been exposed to bandits and mercenaries whose drummers are not very far from power. We have an Army, full of world class officers. They are handicapped because the Federal Government lacks the political will to end insurgency.

It was not possible to ambush Nigerian troops in any part of the country – however, that was in the past. The painful truth is that in recent years, fine officers, produced at home and further trained overseas, have been felled by the cowardly bullets of the rag tag army of bandits and Boko Haram. Under such circumstances, we salute Second Lieutenant Princess Oluchikwu Owowoh and other officers who have defied gender to delve into the dangerous terrain of soldiering, in our embattled nation.

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