Background and Academic Profile
Wednesday the 16th of September, 1959 was an auspicious day for the people of Okura Olafia, a sleepy little village on the banks of Okura River, flowing majestically down its chosen course to the southern part of Igala Kingdom. Reason was that a precocious child was born to the family of Pa. Usman Oyibe and his lovely wife. The elated parents would christen this child Jibrin.
Weaned only 4 years in Okura Olafia his place of birth, his father would send him to Enjema, a suburb of Ankpa in the present Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State for learning and acculturation according to Igala custom and tradition.
Vice Admiral Jibrin Oyibe Usman attended Primary School at Enjema and obtained his WASC division one from the evergreen St. Charles Secondary School, Ankpa in flying colours. With a burning desire for western education, he proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna as a member of the 24th Regular Combatants course. Following a stellar performance in all courses on offer, young Jibrin graduated as Best Naval Cadet officer in 1982. He was commissioned as Second Lieutenant of the Nigerian Navy on 1st January, 1982.
Military Career
He began his naval career as a Watch Keeping Officer on board NNS Damisa and NNS Aradu immediately after he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant. He served in this capacity for 2 years (January 1982 – January 1984). He later served as Base Intelligence Officer, NNS Umalokun for approximately 3 years (July 1984 – 1987).
He also served as a flag lieutenant to the Chief of Defence Intelligence Agency and to the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Intelligence School, Apapa, Lagos, before he became an instructor at Navigation and Direction School, Nigerian Navy Ship Quorra. He served in that capacity for 2 years (1989–1991). In 1994, he was appointed as a Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, a tenure that elapsed in 1996 and after his tenure in 1996, he was appointed as the Executive Officer, NNS Enyimiri.
In 1997, the profoundly bright and ever gallant Jibrin became the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship Ofiom, and in 1998, he commanded the ship, NNS Ambe in Operation Liberty (ECOMOG), where he obtained the Command at Sea Badge. In 2001, he became the Deputy Director, Attaché Management, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the Naval Provost Marshal, Naval Headquarters.
In 2002, he was appointed as the defence adviser to the Nigerian Embassy in Cameroon. He served in this capacity for 4 years until the end of his tenure in 2006. In December 2006, he was appointed as Chief Staff Officer at the Sea Training Command, and later became the Commanding Officer of the Defence Intelligence School (DIS) Abuja on June 2007. Thereafter, he was appointed as Nigerian Navy Secretary and while serving in this capacity, he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral.
In 2010, he became the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, coordinating a joint operation involving the 3 services around the Gulf of Guinea, Navy Exercise for Maritime Operations (NEMO). He also coordinated a combined Exercise called OBANGAME EXPRESS 2012, involving 11 countries including Germany and the United Kingdom.
In January 2014, he rose to the pinnacle of his military career as he was appointed the Chief of Naval Staff and took over from Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba. On 5th February of same year, he was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral by Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Awards and Decorations
He is a recipient of several awards and decorations. Among them are:
• Best Naval Cadet (1982), awarded by the Nigerian Navy.
• Passed Staff College Dagger (psc+), awarded by the Nigerian Navy.
• Forces Service Star (FSS), awarded by the Nigerian Navy.
• Distinguish Service Star (DSS), awarded by the Nigerian Navy.
• Meritorious Service Star (MSS), awarded by the Nigerian Navy.
• General Service Star (GSS) awarded by the Nigerian Navy.
• Command at Sea Badge awarded by the Nigerian Navy.
• Admiralty Medal, awarded by the Nigerian Navy.
Vice Admiral Jibrin Usman is quintessential of the finest specimen of a naval officer Nigeria has ever produced. He served his country with utmost commitment, sacrifice and patriotism. He is a beacon, a shining light in the annals of the Nigerian Ministry of Defence. In point of fact, Vice Admiral Usman is a man with a track record of service delivery as can be seen in his entire military career which remain unblemished.
On service to his people, he successfully lobbied the Navy Authorities and today, the Nigerian Navy Secondary School is in Kogi State, precisely, at Okura Olafia in Dekina Local Government Area. The net value of this singular act is unquantifiable given the fact that Kogi indigenes are the beneficiaries educationally and economically and this is perpetual.
In the area of security, he was instrumental to the setting up of a Naval Post at Idah, headquarters of Igala Kingdom. Similarly, the establishment of the Nigerian Naval Base, NNS Lugard, Lokoja is a testament to his security consciousness.
The Vice Admiral in his plethora of services to the people also contributed academically to the security of Nigeria. In November 2014, he delivered a strategic public lecture tagged: “Curbing Insecurity in Nigeria’s Maritime Domain for National Development” at the University of Ibadan as part of the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan. The paper was originally authored by Admiral Usman Oyibe Jibrin and published in same year: 2014.
Indeed, Kogi State is proud to have produced such a character of unrivalled capacity and commitment to duty. His passion for excellence and knack for delivering on the job against the odds and propensity for progress, accountability, responsibility and commitment to the mandate of service to the people stands him out like a colossus among his peers.
From a glittering and unblemished military career, Vice Admiral Jibrin Oyibe Usman, a famous chieftain of the APC and stellar aspirant in the gubernatorial race is best suited as the man to lead Kogi State, a State in dire need of the right direction and focus in this 21st century.
– Odaudu Joel Minister
