In 1967, the then Head of State, Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, inspected the first Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Passing Out Parade. Behind him stood the pioneer Commandant of the Academy, Brig. Varma (An Indian) in the second picture.
On his left was Cadet Salihu Ibrahim, who commanded the parade and was the best graduating cadet of Regular Course 1. Salihu Ibrahim later rose to the position of the Chief of Army Staff in the Nigerian Army before his retirement.
The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Course 1, which passed out in 1967, had an initial class of only 62 cadets. The NDA was established in 1964 to train officers for the Nigerian Armed Forces. The first regular course consisted of cadets who underwent a three-year training program.
A complete, definitive list of all 62 cadets is not publicly available in a single official online document, but several prominent members became high-ranking officers in the Nigerian military.
Among the other members of Regular Course 1 were Cadets Oladipo Diya, Mamman Kontagora, Joshua Dogonyaro, Muhammed Aliyu Gusau, Allison Madueke, Paul Osa Ogbebor(the first to be registered as a cadet),
BTS Kachim, Muhammed Bello Khaliel, PA Arokoyo, OI William, M. Dahiru,
Late Major Alfred Wahuniyi Shellmishili
Notable alumni of the NDA Course 1 include:
-Salihu Ibrahim: Who commanded the first Passing Out Parade( POP) and was the best graduating cadet of the pioneer cadet intake @ the NDA. He later became the Chief of Army Staff.
-Oladipo Diya: Later became a Lieutenant General and Chief of General Staff.
-Mamman Kontagora: Went on to have a notable military career.
-Joshua Dogonyaro: Became a prominent General in the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps.
-Muhammed Aliyu Gusau: Rose to the rank of Lieutenant General and served as National Security Adviser multiple times in Obasanjo and Jonathan's governments.
-Allison Madueke: Served as a Commodore in the Navy and was a former military governor of old Anambra State.
These individuals were among the pioneers who shaped Nigeria's military history after their training, which was initially overseen by Indian officers as the pioneer Commandant was Brigadier M.R. Varma.
-Picture 1: Head of State, Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, inspecting the first Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) regular course in 1967. The event took place at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna, Nigeria. The inspection was part of the first passing out parade for the pioneer cadets of the academy.
Then Lt Colonel Yakubu Chinwa Gowon as HOS taking the salute as the reviewing officer of the parade of the pioneer graduating NDA cadet class of 1967.
-Picture 2: Lt Colonel Yakubu Gowon with the best graduating and sword of honour recipient - Officer Cadet Salihu Ibrahim. With them is the then commandant of the Nigerian Defense Academy( NDA ) - Brigadier Varman( an Indian National).
-Picture 3: Lt Colonel Gowon conversing and interacting with some of the NDA course 1 graduating Cadets who will later shot into prominence in the politico-military landscape of Nigeria.
-Picture 4: The 1st Commandant of NDA Brig. Varma (right) and the Director of Studies Mallam Abu Egbunu (left) at the first Passing Out Parade in 1967.
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