Col. Adegboyega Adeniran (retd), a celebrated Nigerian civil war hero, seasoned military tactician and renowned educationist, has passed away at the age of 87.
Family sources confirmed that the retired army officer died in the early hours of Friday, January 16, at about 1:00 a.m. at the Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State. He died in his hometown of Ogbomoso, where he spent much of his post-military life serving the community.
Born into a distinguished Ogbomoso family, Col. Adeniran etched his name into Nigeria’s military history during the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), where he was widely regarded as a fearless frontline commander and an astute strategist. His courage, discipline and leadership on the battlefield earned him respect among his peers and fear from opposing forces.
Adeniran received his early military training at the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria and the Nigerian Military Training School, Kaduna, before proceeding overseas for Officer Cadet training. His exceptional performance during training led to his immediate retention as an instructor, a rare privilege reserved for officers with outstanding tactical ability and leadership potential.
Between 1961 and 1965, he served in the United Nations peacekeeping mission during the Congo Crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he further distinguished himself and rose steadily through the ranks.
At the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War in May 1967, Col. Adeniran was deployed with the 2 Mechanised Division in Ibadan under then Lt. Col. Olusegun Obasanjo. He later served in the 2nd Infantry Division on the federal side and was appointed a sector commander under Col. Alani Akinrinade. Following Akinrinade’s redeployment, Adeniran was named Brigade Commander.
As brigade commander, he reorganised his troops, restoring discipline, morale and operational efficiency. A known frontline officer, he led from the battlefield, personally participating in several major war operations across different theatres. Accounts from the war period describe him as a bold commander whose presence on the front lines inspired his men and unsettled enemy forces.
His contemporaries included prominent military officers such as then Major Abdulsalami Abubakar, who later became Nigeria’s Head of State, and General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, former Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters.
Following the surrender of Biafran forces in January 1970, Col. Adeniran was appointed Garrison Commander with headquarters in Uromi, where he was tasked with mopping up arms and flushing out remaining combatants—an assignment reserved for officers of proven integrity and tactical excellence. He retired from the Nigerian Army in February 1971.
After his retirement, Adeniran returned to Ogbomoso and turned his attention to agriculture and education. He established Adegolu Farms, a large-scale mechanised farm located behind the former Ogbomoso Girls’ High School, on land now occupied by Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH). At the time, it was the largest private farm in the town, providing employment and contributing significantly to local food production.
A firm believer in the transformative power of education, Col. Adeniran founded the first private nursery, primary and secondary schools in Ogbomoso—Ayoka Nursery and Primary School and Adeniran Memorial Grammar School (AMGS). AMGS was later taken over by the Oyo State Government. He also donated classroom blocks to Ogbomoso Grammar School and Ogbomoso High School, facilities that remain in use decades later.
He was recently honoured by staff and students of AMGS during the school’s anniversary celebration on October 16, in recognition of his lasting contributions to education in Ogbomosoland.
Col. Adegboyega Adeniran is remembered as a brave soldier, devoted patriot, education pioneer, farmer and community builder whose life of service left an indelible mark on Ogbomoso and Nigeria. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family.
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