Kenneth Minimah

Lieutenant general
Kenneth Minimah
CFR GSS, psc(+), fwc
Chief of Army Staff
In office
January 2014 – July 2015
Preceded byLt-Gen. A. Ihejirika
Succeeded byLt-Gen. T.Y. Buratai
General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Lagos Garrison Command
In office
2010–2013
Preceded byMaj-Gen E. Nwanjuma
Succeeded byMaj-Gen O.A Umahi
Personal details
Born (1959-07-27) 27 July 1959 (age 65)
Opobo, Eastern Region, British Nigeria (now in Rivers State, Nigeria)
RelationsFelly Elimabha Minimah (Spouse)
Alma materNigerian Defence Academy
University of Ibadan
AwardsCommander of the Federal Republic, CFR
Military service
Allegiance Nigeria
Branch/service Nigerian Army
Years of service1977–2015
Rank Lieutenant general
Unit81 Division
Commands149 Infantry Battalion
Battles/warsBoko Haram Insurgency War

Kenneth Minimah, CFR GSS, psc(+), fwc (born 27 July 1959) is a retired Nigerian army lieutenant general who served as Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff (COAS).[1][2][3]

Early life

Kenneth T. J. Minimah was born on 27 July 1959 in Opobo Kingdom, Rivers State, Nigeria.[4] He attended Township Primary School in Opobo between 1965 and 1971 and Baptist High School for his secondary education from 1972 to 1977. He later attended the College of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.[5] He was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy on 3 January 1979 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Corps of Nigerian infantry on 18 December 1981.[6] He obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in international studies and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in strategic studies from the University of Ibadan.[7]

Military life

He served at different levels in the Nigerian Army before he was appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS).[8][9] He served as the General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Commanding Officer of the 149 Infantry Battalion, Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Battalion 2, Commandant Officer of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry and as the Director of Standards and Combat Readiness.[10][11]

Medals and awards

He has been the recipient of several medals. He has received the Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR,[12] as well as several designations from the Nigerian Army, including the Meritorious Service Star (MSS), Forces Service Star (FSS), Passed Staff College Dagger (psc(+)), and the Distinguished Service Star (DSS).

References

  1. ^ "More retirement looms in the Army: Gen. Minimah tipped to succeed Gen. Ihejirika". DailyPost Nigeria.
  2. ^ "'Why Minimah became army chief'". The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper. Archived from the original on 2014-12-14.
  3. ^ "Service Chiefs, Emefiele, Babalakin, Others Bag National Honours, Articles - THISDAY LIVE". thisdaylive.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-14.
  4. ^ "Rivers Gets First Chief Of Army Staff …As Jonathan Names Minimah, Three Other Service Chiefs - :::…The Tide News Online:::…". thetidenewsonline.com.
  5. ^ "General Minimah, his Opobo ancestry and the burden of history, By Eric Teniola - Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times Nigeria.
  6. ^ "Jonathan sacks service chiefs, appoints new ones". The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper. Archived from the original on 2014-12-14.
  7. ^ "The task ahead of new Army chief, Minimah". peoplesdailyng.com.
  8. ^ "Jonathan sacks Ihejirika, other service chiefs". Vanguard News.
  9. ^ "Minimah, Jibrin, Amosu Appointed Service Chiefs, Articles - THISDAY LIVE". thisdaylive.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-14.
  10. ^ "Why Jonathan fired service chiefs". Vanguard News.
  11. ^ daniel. "Adopt New Strategies Against Boko Haram, COAS Urges Soldiers". INFORMATION NIGERIA.
  12. ^ "List of National Award recipients". The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper. Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-12-14.