Boy Soldiers of Nigeria Military School, Zaria — September 1975

Boy Soldiers of Nigeria Military School, Zaria — September 1975

Here is a rare glimpse into the past: a 1975 photograph of young cadets at the Nigeria Military School (NMS), Zaria, taken long before they became the accomplished men they are today. Standing from left to right are Rotimi Aina, now a Lagos-based businessman; Arthur Jarvis Archibong, today the Chancellor of Arthur Jarvis University in Calabar; and Patrick Akosibo, who rose to become a Retired Group Captain. Seated on the floor is Henry Adedoyin Babalola, who would go on to serve the nation as a Rear Admiral before retirement.

The Nigeria Military School, founded in 1954 by the colonial government, was created to groom young boys into junior leaders for the Armed Forces of Nigeria. For decades, it has stood as one of the country’s most disciplined training grounds, shaping teenagers into men of service, character, and national responsibility.

This photograph captures not just four boys in uniform, but the beginning of lives that would later contribute to Nigeria’s military, education, and business sectors.