Major-General Erema Akerejola is an Ogori born retired Army General who had served his father land meritoriously for thirty-five years. General Akerejola before his retirement recently served as the Chief of Logistics, Nigerian Army.
He spoke with journalists on the sidelines of the 2026 Ovia Osese, life in the army and other sundry issues.
EXCEPT:
What are some of the major differences you observe between military life and civilian life?
It has been a mix bag of emotion having served in the military for thirty-five years and disengaged. I found out the way things are done outside the military is different from how thing are done within the military. It been totally different, but, of course, it is something that all military men look up to because disengaging after serving for thirty-five years, is inevitable. My prayer is that after going into the military profession and you are able to disengage having reached the peak of your career, you should retire well. So, for me, it is a new phase in life and I give gratitude to God Almighty for all He has enabled me to accomplish. Life as a civilian is starting with a lot of promise.
What do you miss the most after your retirement?
Waking up every morning and putting on the khaki is what I missed the most. I must say that the discipline of the military is also something I am beginning to miss because I found out that in the military when you give a well thought out instruction which go through the mill, is different from the civil society because your subordinates in the military trust the instruction you are giving to them, but in the case of your civilian subordinates, they will question the instruction; add or remove something. So, instruction and discipline are also some things I seriously miss.
What are your most memorable periods while serving in the military?
I had several periods that were exciting, but I look back with a lot of nostalgia. Of course, with gratitude to God, the Army gave me a lot of opportunities to experience a varied circle of things and I can’t really pick a particular one, but serving as a peacekeeper with the United Nations when I was a Major in the Army, was quiet instructive. Also, my period in the classroom. Of the thirty-five years, almost twelve years of these were spent as instructor in various military academy and training institutions. These were also memorable because I was able to impact on young officers, and was able to contribute in the moulding of young officers to become the future leaders of the military and to keep Nigeria safe.
During last year’s Ovia Osese festival, your father, the Ubuoro-Ajagajigi of Ogori, His Highness, Chief (Professor) Eminefo Olugbemiro Akerejola
was alive and celebrated the festival with his people. Now, he is no more, what roles are you going to be playing in the community just the way your late father did in the past?
Time will tell, but I can’t tell you in specific terms that this is what I will be doing, having just retired. It is not a terrain I have been into, but, of course, I have been interacting with my kinsmen and I have seen that there are several areas where help is needed, especially in the areas of education, encouraging the girl-child, even encouraging children as a whole to take education seriously. I can always find something to do, especially something that will add value to lives.
Generally areas that would better the society are areas that I will want to partake in. So I can’t tell specifically what I will be doing but I know whatever will aid the community and by extension the larger society to get better are some of the things I will like to do.
Some people think that you are too young to have left the Army. What is you take on this?
Like I have said earlier, I had served for thirty-five years and the better part of my life has been in the military having joined the military from age ten when I went to the Nigeria Military School. Of course, this is not counted as part of my service years, but I will say I have been in uniform since age ten. I have given my life to the military and I am sure that I can serve in other capacities such as community development and so on. As for retiring rather quite early, I don’t think so because retirement has come which, of course, is inevitable and this is the time to move on.
Any moment of regrets while serving in the military?
There are moments of regret. Like the regret of losing one’s colleagues, looking back at some actions you took and you wonder was I too harsh, was I to lenient, I won’t call these moments of regret, but when you look back, there are things you will say I wish I had done it differently. On the whole, no moment of regrets.
Will you like in your next world to join the Army?
All my life, it is the only profession that I know and if I have the opportunity to make choice, I will choose the military over and over again. Speaking directly to your question, my answer is an empathic yes and definitely, I can’t think of another profession.
As part of activities for this year’s Ovia Osese, you bagged the ODU presidential award in recognition of you effort in community development, what will you say about the award?
Well, we are all human beings and when you carry out some activities among your people or your friends, the desire is to be encouraged to do more. Being recognised for that award is an encouragement for me to do more for the society. On that note, I want to thank the President of Ogori Descendants’ Union (ODU), the traditional council and the entire people of Ogori for finding me worthy of the award. I am really overwhelmed by the recognition.
Your advise to the state government on the need to uplift the Ovia Osese festival?
The Ovia Osese festival is a cultural activity which has been in existence for many decades. It is a source of tourism as several people come to Ogori every year to witness the festival and as such, I want to encourage the Kogi State government to look more at the festival and see how the festival can be made a rallying point of attraction and a vehicle to showcase tradition and culture thereby, earning revenue for the community, the state and even Nigeria at large. With the involvement of Government, the festival can become a money-spinning venture, boosting the country’s forex earning.
The name Akerejola is known worldwide, what has the name done to you?
I will first of all thank Akerejola family members for preserving the name. In different ways and in various positions that we found ourselves, we try to leave behind good legacies. My forebears worked hard to keep the name. Many Akerejolas, have worked hard, served the Federal Republic of Nigeria and of course, in the various organisations that they found themselves, they left behind indelible marks and on this basis, they have given me a good name to ride on. It is a name I am proud of, and I will do any thing to defend it.
What is that one advise your father gave you that is so dear to your heart?
He gave me several, but the main thing is to always seek to help your fellow man, basically that is it. He taught us to always seek ways to help others. My late father taught us to live a life of contentment and be at best in whatever we do. He advised me to face life with courage and that was a vital advice that saw me through my military career.
Any new alliances?
None yet. For me, that’s too early.
