By Augustine Ehikioya
Headquarters 9 Brigade Nigerian Army, on Tuesday 4 November, 2025 witnessed the handing and taking over ceremony between the outgone Commander, Brigadier General Olawale Matthew Oyekola and Brigadier General Ayokunle Owolabi.
Oyekola has been redeployed to Army Headquarters as Chief of Staff to the Chief of Army Staff, while Owolabi was the erstwhile Chief of Staff, Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre, Jaji.
In his separate farewell addresses to officers, soldiers, and members of Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) and members of Nigerian Army Soldiers’ Wives Association (NASWA). Brigadier General Oyekola first appreciated the various unit commanding officers, staff officers, and the soldiers for their unwavering support, which he said the recorded success wouldn’t have been possible without them.
He described his successor as a thorough bred and highly regimented Infantry Officer and said he has no doubt he will move the Brigade to an enviable height with necessary support from the officers.
Also, in his address to members of NAOWA and NASWA, Brigadier General Oyekola thanked them for their cooperation and abiding by some measures emplaced for a cleaner, orderly, and secured TA Lagbaja Cantonment before presenting some food items donated to members of NASWA by the erstwhile Coordinator, NAOWA 9 Brigade Zone, Mrs Olubukola Oyekola in appreciation of their diligent followership during her tenure.
Similarly, the outgone Commander, according to a statement by Major Cornelius Alexander Gutus, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 9 Brigade Nigerian Army, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA), appreciated the soldiers for discharging their duties diligently and professionally.
He charged them to remain disciplined, committed, and dedicated to duty as done during his tenure for the new Commander to succeed.
In his maiden remarks, the new Commander 9 Brigade, Brigadier General Ayokunle Owolabi, thanked the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General OO Oluyede, and in particular, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General W Shuaibu, for finding him worthy for the appointment.
He beaconed on the outgone Commander to avail himself for advice and direction whenever sought.
He charged the officers of the Brigade to render the same level of support and services given to his predecessor for seamless command and administration of the Brigade during his tenure.
Significant activities marking the handing and taking over ceremony include; signing of the handing and taking over note, investiture of the new Commander with 9 Brigade insignias, symbolic handing over of the command flag to Brigadier General Owolabi, lowering and hoisting of old and new command flags at the quarter guard.
