21/06/2023
MAJ GENERAL LAGBAJA: MILITARY CAREER AND LEADERSHIP JOURNEY
Major General Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, Osun State, replaced Lt-Gen Faruk Yahaya, appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021. Here are the details of Major General Lagbaja's background, education, military courses, appointments, promotions, h/awards, academic qualifications, operations participated in, marital status, and hobbies:
Major General Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, Osun State, replaced Lt-Gen Faruk Yahaya, appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021. Here are the details of Major General Lagbaja's background, education, military courses, appointments, promotions, honours/awards, academic qualifications, operations participated in, marital status, and hobbies:
Background:
- Born in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, Osun State on February 28, 1968.
- Married to Mrs. Mariya Abiodun-Lagbaja, with two children.
Education:
- Attended Local Authority Teachers College Demonstration School, Osogbo from 1973 to 1979.
- Attended St Charles Grammar School, Osogbo from 1979 to 1984.
- Attended The Polytechnic, Ibadan from 1984 to 1986 and obtained the West African School Certificate (Advanced Level).
- Admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy on September 12, 1987, as a member of the 39th Regular Course.
- Commissioned as 2Lt on September 19, 1992, into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps.
Military Courses:
- Company Amphibious Operations Course - Amphibious Training School (May-June 1993).
- Young Officers' Course (Infantry) - Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (September-December 1993).
- Basic Airborne Course - Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (March-April 1995).
- Advanced Airborne Course - Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (November-December 1995).
- Amphibious Staff Operations Course - Amphibious Training School (September-December 1997).
- Company Commanders' Course - Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (February-May 2003).
- Battalion Commanders' Course - Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (September-December 2009).
- Junior Staff Course - Armed Forces Command and Staff (May-December 2000).
- Senior Staff Course - Armed Forces Command and Staff (August 2005-July 2006).
- Military Observers Course - Peacekeeping Wing Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji (February-May 2008).
- ECOWAS Standby Force Battalion Command Post Course - Peacekeeping Centre, Bamako, Mali (June-August 2010).
- Strategy and Leadership Course - US Army War College (April 2003-June 2014).
Command/Staff/Instructional Appointments:
- 93 Battalion - 1992-1995 as a Platoon commander.
- 72 Special Forces Battalion - 1995-2001 as a Platoon commander.
- Nigerian Defence Academy - 2001-2004 as an Instructor.
- Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations - 2004, Grade 2 Staff Officer in charge of peacekeeping.
- Armed Forces Command and Staff College - July 2005-February 2006, Grade 2 Staff Officer in charge of training.
- Armed Forces Command and Staff College - 2006-2009, Directing Staff.
- Headquarters 81 Division - 2009-2012, Deputy Chief of Staff G1 (Administration).
- 72 Special Forces Battalion Makurdi - 2012-2013 and 2014-2015, Commanding Officer.
- Headquarters 8 Task Force Division Monguno - 2016-2017, Chief of Staff.
- Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations - January-December 2018, Acting Director of Operations.
- Headquarters 9
Brigade, Ikeja, Lagos State - December 2018-April 2019, Commander.
- Headquarters 2 Brigade, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State - April 2019-January 2020, Commander.
- Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations - January 2020-March 2021, Director Force Generation.
- Headquarters 82 Division - March 2021-August 2022, General Officer Commanding.
- Headquarters 1 Division - August 2022-Date, General Officer Commanding.
Promotion History:
- Second Lieutenant - September 12, 1987.
- Lieutenant - September 12, 1991.
- Captain - September 12, 1995.
- Major - September 12, 2000.
- Lieutenant Colonel - September 12, 2005.
- Colonel - September 12, 2010.
- Brigadier General - September 12, 2015.
- Major General - September 12, 2019.
Honors/Awards:
- Forces Service Star.
- Meritorious Service Star.
- Distinguished Service Star.
- Passed Staff Course (+).
- Fellows United States Army War College.
- Command Medal.
- Field Command Medal.
- Field Command Medal of Honour.
- General Operations Medal.
- Operation Harmony Medal.
- United Nations Peacekeeping Operation Medal.
- Operation LAFIYA DOLE Medal.
Academic Qualification:
- BSc Geography - Nigerian Defence Academy (2001).
- MSc Strategic Studies - US Army War College (2014).
Operations Participated:
- Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi Peninsula - January 1996-June 2000.
- United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) - 2004-2005.
- Operation ZAKI - September 2012-April 2013/July 2014-December 2015 - Internal Security Operation in Benue State.
- Operation LAFIYA DOLE - December 2015-January 2018.
- Operation MESA/Operation UDO KA - March 2021-August 2022 - Internal Security Operation in South East Zone Nigeria (Anambra/Abia/Ebonyi/Enugu and Imo States).
- Operation FOREST SANITY - August 2022-Date - Internal Security Operation in Kaduna/Niger States.
Marital Status:
- Happily married to Mrs Mariya Abiodun-Lagbaja, and the marriage is blessed with two children.
Hobbies:
- Watching documentaries and reading biographies.