By Isiaka Mustapha, Editor-in-Chief, People’s Security Monitor

The appointment of Commandant of Corps Olariche Jonathan Ogueri as the new State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Akwa Ibom State Command, brings to the state a security administrator whose professional journey reflects discipline, academic excellence, operational experience and a deep commitment to public service.

His career, built through years of service across several state commands and specialised departments, represents the steady rise of an officer who has combined professional development with practical experience in security management.

As he assumes responsibility for the Corps in Akwa Ibom, his background offers an inspiring picture of a leader whose experience cuts across administration, operations, training, counter terrorism and crisis management.Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, in southwestern Nigeria, Ogueri traces his ancestral roots to Nekede in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.

His educational journey began at St Thomas’ RCM Primary School, Agbowo, Ibadan, where he studied between 1974 and 1980, before proceeding to Methodist Grammar School, Bodija, Ibadan, from 1980 to 1985.

His academic performance at the secondary school level was outstanding, earning him five distinctions and four credits in the West African School Certificate examination at one sitting. This early achievement reflected a foundation of diligence and determination that would continue to shape his subsequent academic and professional pursuits.

Ogueri proceeded to the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, where he studied Project Management Technology from 1986 to 1991, graduating with a Bachelor of Technology degree in Second Class Upper Division. His performance earned him the annual Chief Samuel Eke Prize as the best student in his department, alongside the Vice Chancellor’s Award for the best student in the School of Management Technology.

Determined to strengthen his knowledge of governance, administration and conflict resolution, he later obtained a Master of Public Administration from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, in 2010, and a Master of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Ibadan in 2012.

These qualifications provide a valuable intellectual foundation for a career that requires sound judgment, strategic planning and the ability to manage complex security challenges.Before joining the NSCDC, Ogueri spent 11 years in the private sector, gaining professional experience before entering the Corps in Oyo State in 2002 as a volunteer. He was regularised in 2005 as an Inspector of Corps, beginning a sustained journey through the organisation’s hierarchy.

His subsequent promotions took him from Chief Superintendent of Corps in 2007 to Assistant Commandant of Corps in 2011, Deputy Commandant of Corps in 2019 and Commandant of Corps in 2025. This progression reflects more than two decades of involvement in the NSCDC, during which he accumulated experience in different operational and administrative responsibilities.

His journey demonstrates the importance of institutional knowledge, patience, professional discipline and continuous development in building effective leadership within a security organisation.His postings across the country have exposed him to the varied demands of civil defence operations. In Oyo State, he served in the Civil Defence Police, now known as the Provost Unit, and held responsibilities in operations, training, cooperative administration and divisional command in Ibarapa East.

In Kano State, between 2012 and 2013, he headed the Technical Services Department. His longest documented period of service in a single state posting was in Ondo State, where he served from 2013 to 2022 in several capacities, including Public Relations and Statistics, administration, training, area command in Ondo Central and Ondo North, counter terrorism and operations. These assignments gave him exposure to personnel management, public communication, operational coordination and the challenges of maintaining security across different communities.Ogueri’s subsequent assignments in Enugu State further broadened his administrative experience.

He served as Head of Training and Manpower Development before becoming the second-in-command to the State Commandant in December 2023, a position he held until 2025. He later served at the NSCDC Zone 13 Zonal Command in Awka as Head of Training and Manpower Development before his appointment as Akwa Ibom State Commandant. His professional preparation also includes weapons handling courses at the Prisons Staff College, Kaduna, and the 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure; a United Nations Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration course at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre in Jaji; and an information security course organised by the United Nations Department of Safety and Security. He has also undertaken mediation and negotiation training at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, crisis and disaster response training, and the Policy, Strategy and Leadership Course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos.The combination of operational exposure, academic preparation and leadership training offers Ogueri a useful platform for addressing the responsibilities of his new office. As the head of the NSCDC in Akwa Ibom, his duties include providing strategic direction to personnel, strengthening operational effectiveness, protecting critical national assets and infrastructure within the Corps’ statutory mandate, supporting emergency response and improving cooperation with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders. His background in peace and conflict studies is particularly relevant to community engagement, mediation and the prevention of avoidable conflicts, while his experience in training and manpower development can support efforts to improve personnel discipline, professionalism and operational readiness. His appointment therefore presents an opportunity to draw on years of institutional experience in pursuit of a more responsive and effective state command.Beyond the uniform and official responsibilities, Ogueri’s interests in gardening, research, teaching, family counselling, motivational speaking and peacemaking offer another dimension to his personal profile.

Happily married with children, he maintains interests that reflect an appreciation for learning, personal development and peaceful relationships. As he begins his assignment in Akwa Ibom, the measure of his leadership will ultimately rest on his ability to translate experience and professional knowledge into practical results, strengthen public confidence and contribute meaningfully to the safety of residents and the protection of legitimate economic activities. His journey from the private sector to the highest command responsibility at state level within the NSCDC is a reminder that effective leadership is built through preparation, service and responsibility. For Akwa Ibom, the expectation is that his experience will serve the Corps well as it continues its statutory mission of protecting lives, safeguarding critical assets and supporting a safer society.