The Headquarters of 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, today witnessed a formal change of command as Brigadier General Olawale Matthew Oyekola handed over leadership to Brigadier General Ayokunle Owolabi.
Brig Gen Oyekola, who has been redeployed to the Army Headquarters as Chief of Staff to the Chief of Army Staff, officially transferred command to Brig Gen Owolabi, the former Chief of Staff, Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre, Jaji.
Read Also: Mrs. Safiyyah Hassan Shaibu Assumes Office as 25th NAOWA President
In his farewell address, Brig Gen Oyekola expressed appreciation to officers, soldiers, and members of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) and Nigerian Army Soldiers’ Wives Association (NASWA) for their support during his tenure.
He praised the troops for their professionalism and discipline, urging them to extend the same level of commitment to the new commander.
He also lauded his successor, describing him as a “thoroughbred and highly regimented infantry officer,” confident that the Brigade would achieve greater success under his leadership.
Brig Gen Owolabi, in his maiden remarks, thanked the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General W. Shuaibu, for the confidence reposed in him.
He pledged to build on the achievements of his predecessor and called for continued cooperation from officers and soldiers of the Brigade.
The ceremony featured the signing of the handing and taking over notes, the investiture of the new Commander with the 9 Brigade insignia, the symbolic handover of the command flag, and the lowering and hoisting of the old and new command flags at the Quarter Guard.
