ODOGBOLU GOES AGOG AS DIYA CELEBRATES 70TH BIRTHDAY

The usually sleepy town of Odogbolu, Ogun State will come alive tomorrow, Saturday, May 3, as Nigeria's former Chief of General Staff, Lt. General Donaldson Oladipo Diya celebrate his 70th birthday anniversary. The event will start with a thanksgiving service at St. Paul's Anglican Church, Odogbolu. This will then be followed by a grand reception at Diya' private residence, Tanimowo Villa. A lot of prominent dignitaries are expected to grace the event. 

Donaldson Oladipo Diya was born on 3 April 1944 at Odogbolu, Ogun State, then Western Region, Nigeria. He was educated at the Methodist Primary School, Lagos, the Odogbolu Grammar School, and then at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna. He later attended the US Army School of Infantry, the Command and Staff College, Jaji (1980–1981) and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru. While serving in the military, Diya studied Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained an LLB degree, and then at the Nigerian Law School, where he was called to bar as Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Oladipo Diya became Commander 31, Airborne Brigade. He was appointed Military Governor of Ogun State from January 1984 to August 1985. He became General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Nigeria Army in 1985. General Oladipo Diya was Commandant, National War college (1991–1993) and then was appointed as Chief of Defence Staff. He was appointed Chief of General Staff in 1993 and Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council in 1994.