(Chief) Theophilius Bamigboye was born in 1951 in Oke-Ajah Compound, Omu-Aran, Kwara State to the Muslim family of Alfa Suberu Bamigboye and Alhaja Asunmowu Olarinke Bamigboye of blessed memory. Retired Colonel (Chief) Theophilus Oladapo Bamigboye was the last of the six children in the family. His other middle names are Ayinla Wonsebolatan Aduragbemi in that order.
He started his elementary education from Muslim Community Primary School, Omu-Aran and in 1965, young Oladapo Bamigboye gained admission to St. Paul’s College, Kufana, Zaria for his post-primary education. He passed out in 1969 in flying colour. In his quest for higher education, Theophilus Oladapo Bamigboye gained admission to government Secondary School, Okene, in the present Kogi State for his Higher School Certificate (HSC) between 1970-1971.
Satisfied that he had acquired all the pre-requisite to achieve his dream of serving humanity by becoming a Medical Doctor, Theophilus Bamigboye gained admission to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria to pursue a five-year degree course in medicine. Man proposes, but God disposes as Theophilus Bamigboye’s interest in medicine suddenly changed when he read in January 1973, a publication in the national dailies calling for admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA); he applied and was offered admission. “My passion was thorn military because I saw my call to the Army as a greater challenge to defend my country. Though, it was a tough decision, when I took it, my older brother, Brigadier (now retired) David Bamigboye vehemently opposed my joining the Army at that particular period,” Colonel (Chief) Theophilus Bamigboye reminised while speaking with Igbomina Today.
He went down memory lane further: “My brother’s objection was based on the grounds that as a young man (then) that I had been pursuing a career in medicine and he had implicit confidence in me that I would turn out a distinguished medical doctor and a pride to the family. He (David) did not want the limelight that I would bring to the family through my career in medicine slip off”. According to Col. (Chief) Theophilus Oladapo Bamigboye: “My mind has been made up, I saw the call to serve my motherland as a higher responsibility. My rebellious nature and the aggressiveness in me made me to head for the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and defied my brother”.
Col. T.O. Bamigboye’s love for doing things right and his leadership qualities started in his elementary school when as a pupil, he was named ‘Labour Perfect’ in the Muslim Community Primary School with the responsibility of ensuring that other pupils always kept the school compound clean. At that tender age, he was known to be intelligent, sociable, outgoing and jovial, the same qualities that had served and still serving him well in achieving great success in his military career and presently a notable and astute politician in Kwara State.
While in the NDA, as a Cadet Officer, Theophilus Oladapo Bamigboye finished with flying colours and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant Army Corps of Artillery in the Nigerian Army in June 1973. “This feat was a consolation to me and my family as my brother (David) sent congratulatory message on behalf of himself and family to me for the outstanding performance and commissioning”. He said. In the course, of his military career, Theophilus Oladapo Bamigboye attended the Young Officers Course in Artillery at Deolali, India from September 1975 to February 1976, Regimental Survey Officers course, Nowshera in Pakistan (December 1976 to February 1977), Young Officers Course (Infantry) at School of Infantry, Jaji (April 1979 June 1979). He returned to Jaji again in 1979 for Company Commanders Course and in 1980 on the Junior Division of Command and Staff College. Between 1986 and 1987, he attended Advanced Gunnery Staff Course in Nowshera, Pakistan, Senior Division Course at Command and Staff College, Jaji 1987 to 1988, Commanding Officers Course, Infantry Centre and School, Kaduna, 1993.
Colonel Bamigboye has held various military appointments, viz: Instructor in Gunnery, School of Artillery, Division Headquarters, 3 Division Artillery and 21/C33 Medium Regiment. Other posts he held are: Deputy Assistant and Quarter Master General, 3 Division Artillery, Instructor in Gunnery (NASA) and 21/C342, Field Artillery Regiment, Brigade Major, 34 Fieled Artillery Brigade, Directing Staff, Command Staff College, Jaji, Commanding Officer, 343 Artillery Regiment, Colonel Location Headquarters, Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery, Member of the United Nation Verification Team in Angola and Military Administrator, Bauchi State in August 1996.
He was redeployed to Osun State in August 1998 as the State’s Military Administrator till May 29, 1999 when he handed over power to the elected civilian governor. For his hardwork, honesty, patriotism and commitment to service the military authorities rewarded him with a Meritorious Service Star (MSS) award, Forces Service Star (FSS) and on his personal merit. Passed the Command and Staff College Course (PSC) with a dagger – a symbol of excellence for which he was retained to teach at the College. He joined partisan politics and actively involved and became the governorship candidate of the DPA (Accord Party) in the 2007 governorship election in Kwara State.
The civil societies have respectively honoured Col. (Chief) Theophilus Bamigboye. Among the awards are: Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (Pragmatic Leadership Award), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Gold Merit Award, FRCN, Ibadan (Excellence in Governance Award), Patron, Nigerian Football Supporters Club, Bauchi State, Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (FNIPR). He crowned it all with the Jagunmolu of The Source, Ile Oodua
A Christian of Muslim parentage, Col. (Chief) T.O. Bamigboye’s philosophy in life is honesty, loyalty and dedication to duty. He is blessed with six children. The Artillery Officer’s hobbies are swimming, photography and playing while his favourite dishes are pounded yam and tuwo with egusi and gbegiri soup.!
