Brigadier Femi Lasisi David Bamigboye, the first Military Governor of the former Kwara State and Asiwaju of Igbomina/Ekiti in Kwara, remains a significant figure in Nigeria’s military and political history. Born on December 7, 1940, in Omu-Aran in the old Ilorin Province, he was raised by Muslim parents and began his education at the Christian Mission School (SIM), Igbaja, before attending Ilorin Middle School. He later proceeded to the prestigious Government College, Zaria (Barewa College) from 1954 to 1959, an institution renowned for producing many of Nigeria’s notable military leaders.
Bamigboye’s interest in military service began early; he joined the School Cadet Corps at Barewa College, rising to the rank of Lance Corporal. In 1960, he formally embarked on his military career at the newly established Nigerian Military Training College, Kaduna. He furthered his officer training at Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England, graduating in 1961. He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army that same year and posted to the 3rd Battalion in Kaduna.
Throughout his distinguished career, Bamigboye held several key positions in the Nigerian Army. He served as a Training Officer and Arms Instructor at the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria and, upon his promotion to Captain in 1963, was assigned to the 2nd Brigade in Apapa, Lagos, and later to Staff II at the Area Command in Ibadan. A highly skilled infantry officer, he also served with United Nations peacekeeping forces in the Congo, earning a UN medal for his service.
In 1967, at a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s history, Bamigboye was appointed Military Governor of the then Central West State—later renamed Kwara State. Faced with leading one of the least economically developed states in the country, he embarked on the formidable task of building essential administrative structures and addressing urgent needs in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and public services. His leadership during this foundational period set the stage for the state’s future development. His tenure ended in 1975 following a change in government precipitated by a military coup.
Brigadier Femi Lasisi David Bamigboye, remembered for his dedication, humility, and pioneering role in Kwara State’s history, passed away on September 21, 2018. His legacy endures in the annals of Nigeria’s military and governance history.
Author: Dr Funmi Beckley
fumbeck@gmail.com
Abeokuta, Nigeria
