Maj. Gen. T.B Ogundeko, OFR; A Tribute

In military circle, Ogundeko’s name had become synonymous with excellence in education  – Lt. Gen T Y Danjuma. This weekend the remains of the late Foundation Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Maj. Gen. (Otunba) T.B Ogundeko (rtd), OFR will be laid to rest. The late General TB […]

In military circle, Ogundeko’s name had become synonymous with excellence in education  – Lt. Gen T Y Danjuma.

This weekend the remains of the late Foundation Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Maj. Gen. (Otunba) T.B Ogundeko (rtd), OFR will be laid to rest. The late General TB Ogundeko died in his home town Ijebu-Mushin on 8th July, 2016 aged 84 years. The Alumni Association of the National Institute, AANI in a condolence message conveyed by the Association’s President, Major-General Lawrence Anebi Onoja CFR, Ph.D, mni to his family, people and government of Ogun state  singled out “the remarkable contribution of late Maj. Gen. T.B. Ogundeko to the growth and development of the country”.
According to the late African writer, Chinua Achebe “There Was A Country” called Nigeria that once celebrated culture of hard and smart work, integrity and selflessness in public service. The late Maj. Gen. Ogundeko was the face of Nigeria that once worked and delivered service for Nigerians and indeed Africans.
Today, names of some public holders are identified with self-enrichment and ruination of public institutions. Commendably T.B Ogundeko’s signature was synonymous with institution buildings long before Barack Obama’s belated admonition to African leaders about strong institutions in 2009. His imprints are indelible namely; past Commandant Nigerian Military School (1962-1972), past Director Nigeria Army Education Corps (1972-1978) and Founding Director General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru among others. In his popularized tribute to the late General, Lt. Gen T Y Danjuma described Major General Timothy Babatunde Ogundeko as “….the best Direct Commissioned Officer that ever served in the Nigerian Army”. He recalled that all…”the professional soldiers who served with Timothy remember him as a mature and seasoned teacher who transformed the Nigerian Army Education Corps through his foresight, dedication, determination and diligence. He also transformed the attitude of the officer corps towards continuous learning and the acquisition of knowledge.” The former Chief of Army Staff recalled how late General facilitated the establishment of the Command Secondary Schools “to meet the needs of the children of Army personnel, a feat soon copied by other Services of the Nigerian Armed Forces”.  The remarkable and historic role in the establishment of the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru however stood him out as a committed public administrator.
Established in 1979 by the Federal Government, NIPSS Kuru has continued to serve as a high level centre for reflection, research, and dialogue where academics of intellectual excellence, policy initiators and executors and other citizens of practical experience and wisdom drawn from different sectors of national life in
Nigeria, meet annually to reflect and exchange ideas on the great issues of society, particularly as they relate to Nigeria and Africa in the context of the dynamics of a constantly and rapidly changing world. Today, the National Institute has graduated over 1500 participants that include three former Heads of State, former governors, traditional rulers, serving and past top level executives from various walks of life such as the presidency, states and local governments, civil service, Armed Forces, academia, labour and para-military institutions among others who are adding value to the country. As the pioneer Director of the National Institute, Major-General
Timothy Babatunde Ogundeko presided over the Institute between 1979 and 1981. An educationalist to the core, General Ogundeko was the Director, Army Education Corps before his appointment late in 1978 by General Obasanjo, then Head of State, to bring into fruition his (Obasanjo) dream for the establishment of the National Institute. In an Interview with 2015 National Institute year Book General Ogundeko who creatively coined the motto of the National Institute, “Towards a Better Society” and also designed the logo of the Institute, narrated how he travelled to notable countries like the UK, the US, India, Pakistan, Malaysia and Germany to understudy their National institutes with the objective of setting up National institute at Kuru, Jos. The pioneer Director General also established the 38-week duration of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) inaugurated the Alumni Association of the National Institute during the graduation ceremony of SEC 1, March 1980.  He reportedly successfully graduated SEC “1 and SEC 2 before retiring voluntarily on health grounds at the age of 49 in 1981, just before the commencement of SEC 3”.
General Ogundeko told the NIPPS editors how on account of his commitment to NIPPS to the inauguration of SEC 1 in 1979 he had complications from an eye surgery. Witness him “ ….just before the first course started in 1979, I had to go for medical treatment in the UK, I had an eye surgery.  I needed about 14 days to recover from the surgery. However, I kept receiving telephone from Nigeria reminding me of the September target date for the official opening of the new Institute. So I requested for discharge, explaining to them that I was urgently needed back home.  When I came back, what I remembered was that I was still bleeding in the eye in which the surgery was conducted because I was seeing red.  It was certainly bleeding but I could not complain. We had a successful inauguration on September 3, 1979.” May his soul rest in perfect peace.