Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, the former Military President, revealed that his initial life plan was to pursue a career as a civil engineer.
However, a pivotal shift occurred when the government of Northern Nigeria mandated the enlistment of youths into the Nigerian army during his time, altering the trajectory of his destiny.
Babangida shared this insight during a live radio program hosted by ‘Search FM,’ the campus radio of the Federal University of Technology, FUT, Minna, on a Saturday morning.
Reflecting on his educational journey, Babangida recounted completing primary education and subsequently attending Bida Provincial Secondary School. Following six years at this institution, he swiftly transitioned to the Military Training College in Kaduna.
Responding to how joining the military shaped the rest of his life and what informed his decision to enlist as cadet officer, IBB said: “Well, maybe to understand the background, at about that period there was a deliberate government policy.
“At that time there were not a lot of people from the North who were in the military. So it took a deliberate policy to go around and invite the younger generation from secondary schools, (government colleges) to come and join the military. And that’s what started our career in the military.”
