By Augustine Ehikioya
The 35th Convocation Ceremony of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna State, on Thursday 25th September, 2025 conferred an Honourary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) on NDA 17th Commandant from July 1998 to June 1999 and the erstwhile Minister of Defence from 2019 to 2023, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi, (Rtd).
The event, which was held at the Academy Auditorium, is said to have set a milestone record in the choice of the annual list of the prestigious Honourary Doctorate Degrees since inception in 1964.
This was contained in a statement by Major General (Rtd) Magashi’s Media Team and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA).
“The colourful ceremony which was graced by the who-is-who in the Military, the academics, members of the Diplomatic Corps and declared open by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, catalogued the abridged profile of the distinguished Military and political career’s journey of the retired Magashi, who is honoured with the conferment of Doctor of Military Science.
“The award recipient who was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in 1968 as a member of the 5th Regular Course and commissioned as Second Lieutenant in 1971 also bagged a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and was called to the Bar in 1984.
“General Magashi’s brilliant career trajectory within and outside the Military include Platoon Commander, Commander 4 Guards Battalion, Commander 93 and 192 Mechanised Battalions, Deputy Military Secretary Army Headquarters and Commander 15 Brigade ECOMOG as well as member of the Provisional Ruling Council.(PRC).
The statement added that the honouree had served as Military Governor of Sokoto State from August 1990 to January 1992 and General Officer Commanding, GOC 2 Division Nigerian Army is “one of the most decorated Senior Officers as recipients of the Force Service Star FSS, Meritorious Service Star MSS, Distinguished Service Star DSS, ECOMOG and Silver Jubilee Medals.”
Delivering his acceptance speech, the retired Kano born General said the honour is a clarion call to continue to contribute to the trajectory of the development of the Nation’s Military, the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA and National Development at large.
“By this highly prestigious Honourary Doctorate Degree of Military Science conferred on an accomplished General, Politician and Elder Stateman, the retired General BS Magashi, has joined the esteemed League of the past honourees including some Nigerian former Heads of State, Presidents of Countries and Generals whose names have been written in Gold for posterity in the annals of the Nigerian Defence Academy Hall’s of Fame,” the statement stated.
