Abuja, Nigeria – Rear Admiral James Ohimai Okosun has officially taken command as the 21st Commandant of the National Defence College (NDC) of Nigeria. He succeeds Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Morakinyo Olotu, who has completed his tenure.
The announcement was made in a press statement released by Captain Muhammad Muhammad, Public Relations Officer for the National Defence College. Rear Admiral Okosun began his military career at Air Force Military School, Jos, before joining the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, as a member of the 40th Regular Course, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
A seasoned naval officer and marine engineer, Rear Admiral Okosun has completed numerous military courses, including the Officers’ Application Course at the Nigerian Navy Engineering College, Sapele; Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji; and the National Defence Course at the prestigious Nasser Higher Military Academy, Cairo, Egypt.
His extensive career includes a wide range of operational, instructional, technical, and command roles. He served as Marine Engineering Officer onboard NNS ERINOMI and NNS OLOGBO, Directing Staff and Chief Instructor at AFCSC Jaji, and Directing Staff at the NDC. His experience also covers Assistant Director for Air Engineering at Naval Headquarters (NHQ), Assistant Director Platforms at 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 positions, such as General Manager (Yard Services) and General Manager (Production) at the Naval Dockyard Limited. He 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. Prior to his current appointment, he was the Director of Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation at NHQ.
He 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). His military decorations include the Grand Service Star (GSS), Pass Staff Course Dagger (psc⁺), and Distinguished Fellow Defence College (fdc⁺). He is also a Distinguished Eminent Fellow of the Naval War College.
With his broad expertise, leadership acumen, and strategic insight, Rear Admiral Okosun is expected to lead the NDC into a new era of excellence, reinforcing its role as Nigeria’s apex institution for strategic military education and policy development.
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