Nigerian Defence Academy’s first cadet dies

The first cadet to enroll in the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Col. Paul Ogbebor (Retd) is dead at age 80.

Col. Paul Ogbebor (Retd) died after pursuing an illustrious military career, during which he emerged a hero of the Nigerian Civil War.

In a statement released by the President’s media aide Femi Adesina, stated that Buhari mourned Ogbebor death. The president said Ogbebor footprints are indelibly printed in the sands of time.

The statement reads;

It’s the end of a life well spent, with footprints indelibly printed in the sands of time, says President Muhammadu Buhari of Col. Paul Ogbebor (Retd), who passed on at 80.

The President recalls that Col Ogbebor was the first cadet to enroll at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), and pursued an illustrious military career, during which he emerged a hero of the Nigerian Civil War.

President Buhari salutes the community spirit of the departed, who was in the vanguard of the socio-cultural group, Edo Leaders of Thought, and chieftain of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF). The late Col Ogbebor had documented his professional life through a book, Nigerian Defence Academy: A Pioneer Cadet’s Memoir, which the President says is one of the vital resource materials on the pioneer military training institution in the country.

He commiserates with the family, friends and professional colleagues of the departed, urging them to take solace in the fact that Col Ogbebor lived a distinguished life, signposted by many achievements.