Ferdinand Okoh Ogah was a true patriot in every sense of the word, holding dear the many worthy values he imbibed from the army, The Daily Times, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). He never ceased to believe in this country and in God, even in the twilight of his life. Unsurprisingly, he remained close to God until his peaceful passing into glory on August 20 this year.
“A First Class Soldier”
No biographical portrait of Ferdinand Ogah would be rounded without a sketch of his life of service to this country, first in the Nigerian army, then at The Daily Times, and finally at the NDLEA, where he retired as an Assistant Director in the Department of Technical Services.
Motivated by an unflinching desire to give his life for the motherland, he marched towards the Nigeria Army depot in Ikeja, Lagos State on the morning of December 13, 1967, while many were fleeing across the Niger to safety in their eastern homelands in the heat of the civil war that had engulfed the country. “Private Ferdinand Okoh Ogah is here for enlistment,” he must have told the recruitment officers, who surely must have been impressed by his admirable courage and genuine patriotism.
Standing at a notable 1 .73m and having been found worthy in character, ability, and intellect, he was enlisted into the Nigerian army as a non-commissioned officer with the enlistment number 63/ NA/78370. While in the army, he trained and earned a certificate as a Gun Fitter and Armourer from the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (NASEME) Yaba. Thereafter, he was dispatched on posted strength to head the Corps of Supply and Transport (S&T) Brigade Armoury at the Ojo Military Cantonment in Lagos.
As a technical officer and the Brigade Armourer, he distinguished himself with stars and was later deployed to the Abeokuta Garrison, which now houses the 35 Artillery Brigade in Ogun state. Ferdinand Ogah spent nine months in Abeokuta where the 2nd Field Artillery and 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron were also based, while the civil war raged.
A veteran of the war, he rose to the rank of a corporal and found himself in the theater of war. In the scorching flame of the civil war in 1968, he trained as a Marine Commando with the 3rd Marine Commando Division in Port Harcourt, spending three months in the treacherous creeks and swamps of Rivers state, gunfire nearby before returning to Lagos.
After a little over a decade in the army, Ferdinand Ogah had seen enough, and the urge to return to school for further studies had become irresistible for the young and courageous officer. He voluntarily left the army in accordance with section 24 of the Nigerian Army Act on 31 August 1978.
His army superiors had lost a gem through his decision to leave the service on his own request. But they had something to say about his unwavering service and unifying efforts for the country. His commanding officer paid glowing compliments to him and wrote without hesitation:
“This non-commissioned officer has been with this headquarters on posted strength as the Brigade Armourer since 1968. During this period, he has worked with his colleagues very well. He distinguished himself as a first class soldier and disciplinarian. He is hard working, loyal, and very honest. He is recommended to any employer who may need his service.”
His aggregate conduct of military service was encapsulated in one word: “exemplary.”
With the life of guns, salutes, and, marches behind him, the restless Ferdinand Ogah turned towards his passion for knowledge and books. After burning the midnight oil through many hours of private study, which enabled him to pass his GCE O’level examinations, he secured admission to the prestigious University of Calabar and graduated with honors, earning a bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 1984. Ogah also worked for the Cross River State government as a teacher with Ntol Comprehensive Secondary School Ogoja. Thereafter, he turned towards the Nigerian media.
The Media Man
Ferdinand Ogah’s incisive commentary had begun appearing in the media before he started working in the industry. The Daily Times published his letter, “Crime Wave in Ogoja,” on page 15 of its Tuesday December, 22, 1981 edition. On Saturday, August 29, 1987, the paper published his cultural commentary, “New Yam Festival in Ogoja, a Time to Renew Old Ties,” on page 5. Backed by a Diploma in Modern Salesmanship obtained through correspondence classes from the National School of Salesmanship London, he worked in the publications division of The Daily Times of Nigeria Limited from 1986 to 1990, rising to the rank of Senior Sales Assistant before resigning his appointment.
A Narcotics Officer
Ferdinand could not resist the urge to serve Nigeria. He returned to national service in 1992 after gaining employment with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, where he held key positions, including serving as the agency’s Armourer (Arms and Ammunition) for a considerable period.
While at the NDLEA, he reignited his love for writing and authored Safety Procedures, Care, and Custody for Conventional Small and Light Arms. This vital handbook became a go-to reference for the agency’s officers, further demonstrating Ogah’s in-depth knowledge of weapons and marksmanship. He left an indelible mark on the agency, bringing his military experience to bear on his duties and on those who encountered him. He played a vital role in training the agency’s officers in gun handling skills at its shooting range in Jos, Plateau state. While serving at the NDLEA, Ogah also attended several training programmes, including the Interdiction and Investigation course at the NDLEA Academy in Jos and a Federal Government seminar in Abuja on stockpile management, and control of Small and Light Arms in Africa.
An avid hunter and inveterate champion of the culture of his community, Ferdinand Okoh Ogah chose to serve Nigeria and had no regrets about the trajectory his life took for family and country. He passed on the enduring values of love, patriotism, hard work, and discipline to those in his inner circle and to his children, including this writer, who had the privilege of benefiting from his impressive private library and fatherly advice.
It will remain tough to erase his footprints from the sands of time. Indeed, he left a lasting legacy for his family, friends, and the country.
Sleep where the good, patriotic, and courageous ones do, Ferdinand Okoh Ogah- father, grandfather, uncle, brother, and friend.
