Commander Duro Jerry Omodara (Retired), Kogi State Security Adviser, is a true and thoroughly breed leader who is a pride to his family, Oke Offin, Bunu land, Kogi State, entire Navy family and Nigeria at large.
He is one of the finest, humble and dedicated appointee of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State. Very calculative, strategist, cool headed, easy going, grassroots politician, a progressive lover of Okun nation and goal getter.
Born on the 8th of August 1963 at Oke – Offin, Kabba/Bunu LGA, Kogi State in the present Kogi State, Commander Omodara attended LGEA Primary School Oke – Offin for his basic education, Haliru Abdul Teacher’s College Birnin Kebbi, Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and Lagos State University, Ojo Lagos.
Throughout his academic career, the State Security Adviser has the following certificates, Grade II Teacher’s Certificate (1981), Certificate in Journalism (1984), Diploma in Law (1986) BSc Political Science/Education (1999). Diploma in Basic Protocols from the International School of Protocol and Diplomacy, Brussels, Belgium (2013).
The tall and handsome Commander Jerry Omodara enlisted into the Nigerian Navy as a Journalist in 1988 where he received Basic Military Training at the Nigerian Navy Basic and Divisional Training School, Port-Harcourt Nigeria.
Also, he was under Training Officer at the Nigerian Naval College Onura Onne (1997) and was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant in 1998.
In 2003, he proceeded to the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji for his Junior Staff Course and has held several appointments in the Nigerian Navy as a Public Relations and Protocol Officer. He was one time Staff Officer III, Naval Training Command (1998 – 99) Staff Officer II Information, Naval Headquarters (1999 – 2001), Public Relations Officer to the Chief of Defence Staff, Nigeria (2002 – 2003), Base Information Officer, Nigerian Naval Ship, DELTA (2004 – 2006), Staff Officer II (Press)Naval Headquarters (2006), Public Relations Officer, National Defence College (2006 – 2007), Staff Officer Information and Media Relations, Naval Headquarters (2008 – 2011), Command Information Officer, Western Naval Command, Lagos (2011 – 2013).
Similarly, Commander Jerry Omodara served as the College Public Relations Officer, National Defence College, Nigeria (2013 – 2014) from where he retired from the service of the Nigerian Navy.
While in the service, he coordinated protocol and media related seminars, workshops, exercises and conferences for the Nigerian Navy. He was Public Affairs Officer for the Nigerian Navy at Exercise Obangame Express, a multi-national maritime exercise in Douala, Cameroon from 25 – 28 Feb 2013. He served as head of media relations at the regional maritime awareness capability conference involving 23 countries from the globe from 27 – 30 July 2013 in Calabar, Nigeria. He coordinated the protocol for the Nigerian Navy at the First Offshore Patrol Vessels Africa Conference from 27 – 30 August 2013 in Lagos.
Commander Jerry Omodara has travelled widely to countries including; the US, United Kingdom, Belgium, India, Japan, Dubai and China. Others are Trinidad & Tobago, Ethiopia, Republic of Benin, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Niger, and so on and has visited almost all the states in Nigeria. He speaks English, Yoruba, Hausa and Okun languages.
His love for community development with special interest in youth and women empowerment endeared his people to him, hence his appointment as the National President of Oke-Offin, a position he held for a long time.
In the early life of the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Commander Omodara was appointed Kogi State Security Adviser, a position he is still holding meritoriously due to his hard work and dedication to duty.
The contributions of the State Security Adviser to fight against insecurity in Kogi cannot be underestimated.
He played many roles in the reduction of crime rate in Kogi which has earned the Governor and the State so many accolades and awards.
As Commander Jerry Omodara adds another year today, it is a celebration of an Icon, distinguished gallant retired but not tired Naval Officer who has written his name in gold in the hearts of those that come his way.
Many hearty cheers to retired Commander Jerry Omodara with more blessings and prosperity from God.
– Emmanuel Oluwakorede writes from Lokoja.
