Okosun Takes Over As 21st Commandant NDC

The Newly appointed National Defence College Commandant, Rear Admiral James Okosun, has assumed command.

Rear Admiral Okosun takes over from Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu as the 21st Commandant of the college.

His appointment comes after the erstwhile Commandant Rear Olotu was posted out recently.

A statement by the College’s Public Relations Officer, Captain Muhammad Tukur Muhammad, said Rear Admiral Okosun began his military journey at Air Force Military School, Jos, and was later admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, as a member of the 40th Regular Course.

He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Rear Admiral Okosun, a seasoned naval officer and marine engineer, has attended several military courses vital to his professional development.

These include the Officers’ Application Course at the Nigerian Navy Engineering College, Sapele; the Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji; as well as the National Defence Course at the prestigious Nasser Higher Military Academy, Cairo, Egypt.

He has held various operational, instructional, technical, and command appointments throughout his career.

These include Marine Engineering Officer onboard NNS ERINOMI and NNS OLOGBO; Directing Staff and Chief Instructor at AFCSC Jaji; and Directing Staff at the NDC.

He also served as Assistant Director for Air Engineering at Naval Headquarters (NHQ) and Assistant Director Platforms at the Defence Headquarters, Command Technical Officer at Western Naval Command, and Officer-in-Charge of Fleet Support Unit NNS PATHFINDER.

Rear Admiral Okosun has also held senior management and strategic roles, including appointments as General Manager (Yard Services) and General Manager (Production) at the Naval Dockyard Limited.

He also served as Commander of Fleet Support Group (East), Director of Marine Engineering at NHQ, Deputy Commandant/Director of Studies at the Naval War College Nigeria, and Commandant of the Nigerian Navy Institute of Technology, Sapele.

Before his appointment, he was Director of Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation at NHQ.

Rear Admiral Okosun holds a Master’s Degree in Project Management and is a Member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (MNSE) and the Nigerian Institute of Management (MNIM).

He is also a Distinguished Eminent Fellow of the Naval War College.

With his broad spectrum of expertise, leadership acumen, and strategic insight, Rear Admiral Okosun is set to steer the NDC into a new era of excellence, reinforcing the College’s role as Nigeria’s apex institution for strategic military education and policy development.

His decorations include the Grand Service Star (GSS), Pass Staff Course Dagger (psc⁺), and Distinguished Fellow Defence College (fdc⁺).