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Oruko Amutorunwa (Pre-Destined Names) In Yorubaland

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In Yoruba land, one of the most important things done when a child is born is to give the child a name.

This comes after the child’s ritual birth, massage of specific body parts and other rites as well. Names are given to the child by the father, mother, grandparents (paternal and maternal) and some close relatives also. But sometimes, the circumstance of a child’s birth will automatically give the child a name. This name is known as ‘orúko àmútọ̀runwá’ (pre-destined or generic name) in Yorubaland.

The most common generic names (orúko àmútọ̀runwá) in Yoruba land are ‘Taiwo‘ and ‘Kehinde‘ (altogether known as Ìbejì) which are given to twins. The first born of the twins is called Táíwò, a shortened form of Tò-aiyé-wò (taste the world) while the last born of the twins is called Kéhìndé which literally means “the last to come”. Contrary to the popular belief that Taiwo, being the first born of the twins, is older than Kehinde, it is said by Yoruba elders that Kehinde is older than Taiwo because Taiwo was sent by Kehinde to have a taste of the world and announce his coming as well. The child, whether male or female, born after the twins is called Idowu. The Idowu is known to be stubborn and troublesome, and is therefore regarded as “Eshu lehin Ibeji” (the devil after twins).

The Yoruba people believe, though not strongly, that if the mother of a twins should fail to give birth to another child after the twins i.e. Idowu, she is likely to run mad because the spirit of the stubborn Idowu will fly into her head and make her go insane. The child born after Idowu is called Idogbe (if male) and Alaba (if female). In some cases where triplets are born, they are named Taiwo, Kehinde and Èta ọkọ̀ respectively.

Apart from the twins series, other children born in Yoruba land in peculiar circumstances or ways are given pre-destined names too. They are as follows:

* Ilori– This is a child born during the absence of menstruation;

* Ojo and Aina– This is a child born with the umbilical cord twisted round his/her neck. If this kind of child is male, he is named Ojo, and if female, Aina;

* Dada– This is a child born with long, thick and curly hair which is not to be cut at anytime. Dada is also called Dada awuru or olowo ori and are known to be strong and stubborn;

* Oke– This is a child born with unruptured membranes all over his/her body;

* Olugbodi– This is a child born with supernumerary digits (six fingers);

* Ige– This is a child born with breech or footing presentation i.e. the child came out of the womb with the legs first;

* Omope– This is a child born later than the normal period of utero-gestation;

* Ajayi– This is a child born with face downwards. This child is also called Ogidi olu;

* Salako (male) or Talabi (female) – This is a child born with his/her body covered in rupted membranes;

* Abiona– This is a child born on a pathway usually when the mother is away from home or on a journey;

* Abiodun– This is a child born in festive periods;

* Jo‘hojo– This is a child whose mother died during labour;

* Babatunde– This is a male child born shortly after the death of his grandfather. It is believed the grandfather reincarnated. Babatunde literally mean ‘father has come again’;

* Yetunde– This is a female child born shortly after the death of her grandmother. Yetunde means ‘mother has come again;

* Babarimisa– This is a child whose father fled at his/her birth.

* Oni– This is a neurotic child who at his/her birth cries all day and night

It is important to note that having a pre-destined name does not mean that a child cannot have other names. A child can be given as many names as possible, but in most Yoruba families, the pre-destined (oruko amutorunwa) stands as the first name of the child.

Reference-

* Samuel Johnson; The history of the Yorubas, Lagos, CSS Limited; 1921; pg. 80-81
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Meet Admiral Idi Abbas, Nigeria’s New Chief of Naval Staff

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October 25, 2025

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On October 24, 2025, the Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as the new Chief of Naval Staff, following the retirement of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.

A statement from the Nigerian Navy described Rear Admiral Abbas as a seasoned officer who “brings a distinguished record of service and leadership to the Nigerian Navy.”

Early Life and Education

Rear Admiral Idi Abbas was born on September 20, 1969, and hails from Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State in North-West Nigeria

He began his early education at Gwagwarwa Primary School, Kano, and proceeded to the Air Force Military School, Jos, from 1981 to 1986, before gaining admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in 1987.

Rear Admiral Abbas was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant on September 10, 1993, as a member of NDA 40 Regular Course, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry.

Military Courses and Qualifications

Rear Admiral Abbas is an Above Water Warfare (AWW) specialist who has attended several military courses both in Nigeria and abroad.

His training includes:

Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course at NNS QUORRA (1994)

Junior and Senior Staff Courses at Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji (2001 and 2005)

Officers’ Long Course (OLC XII) at NNS QUORRA, Apapa Lagos (2003)

United Nations Military Observer Course in Tanzania (2009)

National Defence College (NDC), Abuja, Course 23 (2014)

Appointments Held;

Over the years, Rear Admiral Abbas has served in various key positions across the Nigerian Navy.

He started his career onboard several naval ships as a Watch-Keeping Officer, including NNS ARADU, NNS DAMISA, and NNS AYAM.

He later held positions such as:

Naval Assistant to the Deputy Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji (1998)

Staff Officer III, Marine Services, Naval Headquarters (2004)

Gunnery Officer, NNS OHUE (2006)

Instructor, NNS QUORRA (2007)

Commanding Officer, Burma Battalion, NDA (2008)

Base Administrative Officer, NNS PATHFINDER

Naval Contingent Commander, Joint Task Force, Operation SAFE HAVEN (2010–2012)

Maritime Guard Commander, NIMASA (2015)

Commander Task Group, Operation TSARE-TEKU (2017)

Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command (2022)

In July 2023, Rear Admiral Abbas was appointed Chief of Naval Safety and Standards (CNASS) at Naval

Headquarters, and in February 2024, became Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations (CDCMR) at Defence Headquarters.

Before his elevation as the 25th Chief of Naval Staff, he served as Senior Research Fellow, Nigerian Army Heritage Centre, in January 2025.

Promotions

Rear Admiral Abbas rose through the ranks with dedication and excellence;

Midshipman – 1996

Lieutenant – 2001

Lieutenant Commander – 2006

Commander – 2006

Navy Captain – 2011

Commodore – 2016

Rear Admiral – September 10, 2020

Awards and Honours

His distinguished service has earned him several honours, including;

Passed Staff Course (PSC)

Fellow Defence College (FDC)

Forces Service Star (FSS)

Meritorious Service Star (MSS)

Distinguished Service Star (DSS)

Grand Service Star (GSS)

Defence General Staff Medal (DGSM)

He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and the International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS).

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All You Need to Know About Nigeria’s New Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede

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October 25, 2025

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Lieutenant General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede (N/9318) NAM CMH GSS psc mni FCM FCMH TSM COM CCA

1. Family background: General Oluyede was born on 21 June 1968 in Ikere-Ekiti in Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

2. Education: He attended Holy Trinity Primary School, Ikere-Ekiti, and proceeded to Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti, for his secondary education. Thereafter, he gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987 as a member of 39 Regular Course. On completion of his cadet training, he was granted Regular Combatant Commission on 19 December 1992 in the rank of second lieutenant with seniority in the same rank effective 12 September 1987. He is of the Infantry Corps.

3. He became the 29th indigenous Chief of Army Staff, Nigerian Army, first in acting capacity with effect from 30 October 2024 and substantively, in November 2024.

4. Military career: In the course of his meritorious military career, he has attended several courses both at home and abroad where he distinguished himself creditably. Some of these courses include the Young Officers’Course (Infantry) and Regimental Signal Officers’Course as well as Commanding Officers’ Course, all at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji.

He also attended the United Nations Logistics Officers’ Course at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Centre, Ghana and the United Nations Military Observers’ Course at the now renamed Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, among others.

Similarly, he attended the prestigious Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, for his Junior and Senior Staff Courses, and he is a member of the national institute and a proud alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), where he did his Senior Executive Course. He also attended the Strategic Leadership Course at the Nigerian Defence Academy.

5. Qualifications: He holds both Bachelor and Master of Arts Degrees in Economics from the Nigerian Defence Academy among others. He has also attended and participated in several workshops, seminars and conferences in the course of his career which contributed in preparing him for the highest appointment in the Nigerian Army.

6. Appointments: General Oluyede has served in several formations, units and training institutions where he held command, staff and instructional appointmentswithin his illustrious years of service. Some of these appointments include Platoon Commander and Company Second in Command in 65 Mechanised Battalion and 177 Guards Battalion respectively. He was Platoon Commander and later Officer Commanding in 2 Amphibious Battalion. For his initial instructional experience, he was Instructor and later Senior Instructor at the Nigerian Defence Academy.

He held the appointment of Staff Officer Grade 1 in Charge of Personnel and Welfare Services as well as Logistics and Operations at different times while serving at Headquarters Joint Task Force (Operation RESTORE HOPE) and Headquarters 82 Division respectively. He also served as Deputy Director Examinations at Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command.

He was Chief of Staff at Headquarters 13 Brigade before attending the Senior Executive Course at NIPSS. He was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff Civil-Military Cooperation at Headquarters 1 Division and later Director at Army Headquarters Department of Army Standard and Evaluation. He was Commandant of Amphibious Training School. He was appointed Commander 27 Task Force Brigade under Operation LAFIYA DOLE in the North East Theatre from where he was made the Acting Commander Sector 2 in the same theatre.

On his promotion to the rank of Major General, he was appointed substantive Commander Sector 2 Operation LAFIYA DOLE. Thereafter, he was posted to Nigerian Army Resource Centre and appointed Senior Research Fellow after which he was moved to Army Headquarters Department of Army Policy and Plans and appointed Director Plans.

After a brief stint at the Army Headquarters, he was appointed the General Officer Commanding 6 Division. He was later posted to the Office of the Chief of Army Staff, Directorate of Inspection and Compliance and appointed the Director.

7. International/local operations: The seasoned Infantry General has also participated in a number of operations both home and abroad. His posting profile traverses considerable deployments and participation in several Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency Operations as well as Internal Security Operations across the country.Indeed, his military exploits began as a young platooncommander in 65 Mechanised Battalion from where he moved with the unit to participate in the historic Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG).

During the ECOMOG operations, he was reported to be full of initiatives and was saddled with the onerous assignment of providing security for the Presidential Lodge, a task he discharged admirably.

He was GOC 6 Division, Officer Commanding in 2 Battalion during the initial militia crisis in Rivers State and also successfully led his company to curb the nefarious activities of the Niger Delta Volunteer Peoples Force,a formidable militant group that threatened the peace and security of Niger Delta region.

8. Awards: He is a recipient of the prestigious Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award in Year 2018,
the Nigerian Army Medal (NAM), Forces Service Star (FSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS), Distinguished Service Star (DSS) and Grand Service Star (GSS).Others include, Passed Staff Course (psc), Member of the National Institute (mni), Field Command Medal(FCM), Field Command Medal of Honour (FCMH), Training Support Medal (TSM) and General Operations Medal (GOM). He is also a holder of the coveted Corps Medal of Honour (CMH) and prestigious Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award (CCA).

9. Hobbies: Gen. Oluyede enjoys travelling, playing basketball and volleyball. He is married and blessed with children.

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Meet the new Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke — from Udi, Enugu State

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October 25, 2025

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Born on 20 February 1972 in Makurdi, Benue State, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke hails from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State. He is the son of Air Warrant Officer (Rtd) Sylvester and Mrs. Ngozi Aneke.

He began his early education at Army Children School, New Cantonment ‘A’, Kaduna (1976–1982), and later attended Government College, Kaduna (1982–1987). He proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 40th Regular Combatant Course and was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as a Pilot Officer on 10 September 1993.

Air Vice Marshal Aneke holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the University of Calabar. He also obtained two Master’s degrees—one in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and another in Political Economy and Development Studies from the University of Abuja. In addition, he earned a Professional Certificate in Aviation Safety Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida, USA, and is currently pursuing a PhD.

He attended several prestigious military institutions, including the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, where he completed both Junior and Senior Staff Courses, and the United States Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, where he obtained a Master’s in Strategic Studies.

Air Vice Marshal Aneke has held numerous command, instructional and policy roles that contributed to shaping his operational and strategic leadership. Some of these include serving as Director of Policy, Director of Safety, Deputy Director of Operations at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Command Operations Officer at Tactical Air Command, and Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Before his appointment as Chief of Air Staff (CAS), he served as Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command, Yenagoa. In that role, he improved air mobility, enhanced joint force coordination, and strengthened the Nigerian Air Force’s strategic response in multi-domain operations.

A highly accomplished pilot with over 4,359 flying hours, he is type-rated on various aircraft, including the Air Beetle 18, Dornier 228, Citation 500, Falcon 900, Gulfstream V, Gulfstream 550, and Hawker 4000. His operational experience spans both local and international missions, including Operation Restore Hope in the Niger Delta and United Nations peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he served as Chief of Air Operations, Kindu Region. His contributions to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations significantly enhanced the Nigerian Air Force’s counter-insurgency capabilities.

Air Vice Marshal Aneke has received numerous medals and honours, including GSS, DSS, GSM, FCM, Psc, MSc, MIAD, MPEDS, and USAFWC. He is widely regarded as a refined officer, visionary leader, and professional aviator known for integrity, strategic foresight, and a results-driven leadership style. His calm disposition and professional excellence have earned him great respect within and beyond the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

He is married to Mrs. Ngozi Enderline Aneke, and they are blessed with three sons: Chukwuebuka Kelvin, Ifeanyichukwu Brian, and Uchechukwu Jason.

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