Major Bulama Biu was the First Nigerian Defense Academy( NDA ) Regimental Sergeant Major.
Major Bulama Biu was born on the 15 March 1934 at Biu, now Borno State. After his formal Elementary School education, he went through the middle school education. His military career began on the 5 February, 1952 when he was enlisted into the army. He was trained in Kaduna and served in the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF).
When Queen Elizabeth II visited Nigeria, she promoted him to the rank of Corporal because he was the best dressed young soldier at the parade.
Bulama was a corporal at 44 Battalion Kaduna during the battalion field exercise (range, infiltration and intuition). He became the overall best soldier of the exercise. This had earned him a promotion to the rank of Sergeant.
His successful mission to Congo to rescue a British officer earned him a promotion to the rank of Staff Sergeant. His hard work and dedication to duties were so obvious that he was appointed, in 1964 as the first Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
He trained Regular Courses 1 to 21 Cadet Officers of distinguished character. For his hard work and dedication to duty at the Academy, he was commissioned to the rank of Captain and posted to Depot Nigeria Army Training School Zaria in 1977. He became the Officer-in-Charge of the Nigerian Drill School.
In recognition of his loyalty and dedicated service to the nation, Captain Bulama Biu was honoured with the national award of Member of the Order of Niger (MON) in 1982 by then Nigerian president Alhaji Shehu Shagari. He was promoted to the rank of Major and posted to current Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI) Jaji as Commanding Officer-in-charge of Drill.
He earned many Military Decorations/Awards amongst which are Nigerian Independence Medal, Congo Medal, Civil War Medal, Long Service and Good Conduct by Queen Elizabeth II and Member of the Order of Niger (MON).
Major Bulama died in 1998.
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The Northern soldier who fascinated Queen Elizabeth, got promoted for it
This is a beautiful story of Major Bulama Biu, who was born on March 15, 1934, in Biu, Borno State, Nigeria and who enlisted in the Nigerian Army on February 5, 1952.
As Queen Elizabeth II of England visited Nigeria, Biu was one of those pencilled to welcome her with a military parade. He never expected what happened. While standing at parade, the Queen was fascinated. Biu was the best-dressed soldier. The Queen immediately promoted him to the position of Corporal.
A while later, Biu again got promoted to Sergeant for excelling in a battalion field exercise at 44 Battalion Kaduna. While still enjoying the new promotion, he was detailed to lead a mission in Congo to rescue a British officer. The mission was a success and he got promoted to Staff Sergeant.
Biu then got appointed as the first-ever Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in 1964, training Regular Courses 1 to 21. In 1977, he was commissioned as a Captain and posted to Depot Nigeria Army Training School Zaria. There, he became the Officer-in-Charge of the Nigerian Drill School.
He was again promoted Major and served as Commanding Officer-in-Charge of Drill at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI), Jaji. For his service to Nigeria, he was honoured with Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) in 1982 by President Shehu Shagari.
After 38 successful years in the military, Biu retired in 1987. He passed away 11 years later on March 16, 1998, at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital after a prolonged illness.
Among the medals he received were the Nigerian Independence Medal; Congo Medal; Civil War Medal; Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (awarded by Queen Elizabeth II).
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