Education
Barewa Old Boys Honour Murtala Muhammed, Call for Return to Discipline and Courageous Leadership
By Iyojo Ameh
The Barewa Old Boys Association (BOBA) has called for the revival of Nigeria’s founding values of discipline, integrity, and decisive leadership, drawing inspiration from the enduring legacy of the late Head of State, Murtala Ramat Muhammed.
Speaking at the launch of the book “Murtala Muhammed: Unveiling the Ancestral Roots of a Nigerian General”, the President of BOBA, represented by Sarkin Shanun Kano, described the occasion as “both an institutional privilege and a national obligation to celebrate a life of patriotic service.”
In a statement signed by Stephen Ogboli, the Association noted: “Fifty years after his passing, Murtala’s name still carries the electricity of urgency, courage, and patriotism. Before he commanded troops, he commanded respect among his peers. Before he led the nation, he learned to lead himself.”
The Association traced the late General’s leadership foundation to his formative years at Barewa College, where he was admitted in 1952. Known for its strict discipline and leadership culture, the College shaped his early sense of responsibility, courage, and excellence—qualities that would later define his national service.
The BOBA President highlighted three enduring lessons from Murtala’s life: leadership begins early, discipline is the architecture of greatness, and courage is first a moral choice before becoming a public act.
He emphasized that Murtala’s iconic statements, “Nigeria will not tolerate indiscipline” and “Africa has come of age”, reflected convictions developed long before he assumed national power.
“The story of Murtala Muhammed is not only a military story; it is an educational story.
It proves that institutions matter and that the character we build in youth determines the destiny we reach in adulthood,” the statement added.
BOBA reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening schools and mentoring young Nigerians in values-based leadership, describing such efforts as “the truest memorial to the Murtala Muhammed legacy.”
The Association also urged public officials and institutions to restore discipline and urgency in national service, noting that Murtala’s brief tenure remains a benchmark for courageous, people-centred governance.
The event drew scholars, government officials, military representatives, and members of the Barewa community.
The statement concluded with a prayer: “May Allah grant General Murtala Ramat Muhammed eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus.”
