LIFE AND TIME OF GENERAL CLEMENT ADEDAYO APERE

Brig Gen Clement Adedayo Apere was born on 12 March 1967 in Tarkwa, Ghana. He hails from Share in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. He attended Bishop Phillips’ Academy Ibadan for his secondary education and started his military career in September 1986 at the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna as a member of the 38 Regular Combatant Course and was commissioned in September 1991 into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps. 

Gen Apere attended all relevant career courses commensurate with his rank in the Nigerian Army.  

A few of them are: 

Young Officers’ Course Infantry, Airborne Course, Company Amphibious Operations Course and Special Warfare Course. Others are; Junior Staff Course, Senior Staff Course at Armed Forces Command and Staff College,  Jaji- Kaduna and Quetta Pakistan, he also had his Strategic Course at the National Defence College Abuja.

The senior officer’s career spanned across command, operational and instructional appointments.  Notably, he was Platoon Commander 29 Infantry Battalion Nguru Yobe State, Company Commander and Commanding Officer 149 Battalion Ojo Lagos State, Instructor Nigerian Army Amphibious School Calabar, Senior Instructor Special Warfare Wing Nigerian Army School of Infantry jaji Kaduna State, Directing Staff Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji Kaduna State, Chief of Staff Nigerian Army Directorate of Automated Data Processing Bonny Camp Lagos, Deputy Director Combined Services Doctrine, Training and Doctrine Command Minna Niger State, Chief of Staff 82 Division Nigerian Army Enugu State and Commander 27 Task Force Brigade Buni Yadi. Gen Apere was the Pioneer Commander 707 Special Forces Brigade in Makurdi Benue State, Commandant Nigerian Army Special Forces School Buni-Yadi Yobe State and he was a Deputy Director at Defence Space Administration Abuja before his last appointment as Force Commander Operation Whirl Stroke.

The Senior Officer served in several units and formations; notable among them are: 29 Motorised Battalion, 149 Battalion, Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Nigerian Army Amphibious School, Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command, Headquarters 82 Division Nigerian Army and Defence Space Administration.

During the course of his career, Gen Apere bagged several honours and awards.  These include the Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Star, Passed Staff Course Dagger, Fellow Defence College, Command Medal and Field Command Medal. 

The senior officer was a veteran in operations having participated in several operations both within and outside the country.  These include United Nations Protective Force in the Old Yugaslavia, ECOWAS Monitoring Group in Sierra Leone, United Nations Assistance Mission in Sierra Leone, Operation Harmony in  Bakassi Peninsula, United Nations Mission in Liberia, Department of Peacekeeping Operations at United Nations Headquarters in New York and Operation Lafiya Dole.  It is worthy to state that while he was at the UN Headquarters in New York, he was responsible for all United Nations peacekeeping missions in Asia, Middle East and Western Sahara.

The erudite General Apere had a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics, Masters of Science Degree in Art and Science of Warfare from the University of Baluchistan Pakistan, Masters in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan, Masters of Science Degree in Mathematics and Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

The senior officer had several academic publications to his credit.  He has published Series of Peer-Reviewed Papers in Several International Journals Focusing on the Flow of Electrically Conducting Fluid in the Presence of Magnetic Field.

The senior officer was happily married to Mrs Sarah Iquo Apere and the union was blessed with four children-Chesna Ademi Apere, Chemdiya Ayomi Apere, Chevonn Aanumi Apere and Clement Adedayo Apere II.

He is also survived by his brothers, sisters, aunties, uncles, nephews and nieces.

The General, popularly known among his peers as APĘRĘ IGBAGBO, ADEDAYO OMO BABA PASTOR enjoyed Photographing Nature, Listening to Classical Music and Computer Troubleshooting.

General Clement Adedayo Apere will be fondly remembered for his hard work, uncommon Intelligence, valour, erudition and being forthright. A great Warrior who was never afraid of taking calculated risks for the love of the Nation. 

"Great men never die, for the good works and good names they make will remain till eternity"

Adieu, GREAT GENERAL. Forever in our hearts, till we meet to part no more.