AVM Terry Omatshola Okorodudu (Rtd), a quintessence of professionalism Air Vice Marshal Terry Omatsola Okorodudu (Rtd.) DSS (Distinguished Services Staff), fwc, psc dagger†, M.Sc. hails from Warri in Delta State. The retired two-star General who prides himself of his diverse ancestral heritage (Itsekiri, Okpe and Ijaw) was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State of Nigeria, on the 27th of August 1955.
Okorodudu had his secondary education at the Federal Government College, Sokoto where he successfully sat and passed O & A Levels Certificate Examinations, as well as the exerting entrance examination into the Nigerian Defense Academy as an Air Force Potential Pilot in 1975. One of the military intellectuals in the Nigerian Armed Forces, Okoroduduhas been on several courses within and outside Nigeria, where he bagged so many laurels. He holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the prestigious University of Ibadan. With an insatiable appetite for knowledge, he attended the Junior Staff College, Jaji and the Military and Peacekeeping Operations IAW the Rule of Law (Naval War College, Rhode Island, USA).
AVM Okorodudu’s astuteness, leadership qualities and effective communication skills were recognized and commended by Roy Kevin an International Military Student Officer at the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies, Newport, the United States (in his remarks on Academic Performance, Awards and other Information). In Kevin’s words, “tremendously articulate and skilled officer and a leader, Group Captain Okorodudu assumed the role of class leader for the students of this class, which came from 19 countries around the world. While it is hoped that he benefited from the six-week course, he clearly gave more than he got. He assumed the key role of Chief of Staff for the three-day operational exercise and provided an outstanding presentation to the class on Nigeria peacekeeping policy. No student or faculty member was more responsible for the progress of this course. Group Captain Okorodudu is a consummate professional who leaves Newport having earned the respect and admiration of his classmates and the faculty”.
As a child, AVM Okorodudu (rtd) developed this blunt inclination to discipline, honesty, hard work and dedication to duty. He had this dogged determination to serve Nigeria. He had the conviction that the best place to give was through the military where he would brave the worst to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity and by so doing, keep fellow compatriots safe and secure. The military anywhere in the world, is the foremost institution with the aptitude for management of men and materials. This establishment provided a decent platform to expend these zest and energies.
Okorodudu is a product of one of the most formidable federal government institutions of Nigeria – the military. He is one of the most engineered Nigerians today, molded through a rigorous process put in place by the Nigerian Armed Forces. He is well groomed in the art of representation, policy making, leadership, diplomacy, strategic thinking, quality service delivery, defense and security matters. His training together with his natural abilities puts him in a good stead to lead Delta South Senatorial District to a new era of peace building, security, economic prosperity, infrastructural development and mindset liberation, riding on the platform of G.I.F.T (Grassroot Initiatives For Transformation). His brainchild – G.I.F.T is a developmental platform for mobilizing the youth, women and men of all age brackets towards attitudinal liberation and mindset emancipation, which are precursory to peace, security, economic prosperity and development.
Professional Career
An officer and a gentleman, AVM Terry Omatsola Okorodudu (rtd) joined the Primary Flying Wing of the Nigerian Air Force, Kaduna in July 1976. He was an Operational Pilot of the Dornier 28-D-2 between 1979 and 1983. Okorodudu flew the G-222 as an Operational Officer between May 1984 and May 1988. He had a stint as a Staff Officer 2 Training at the Military Airlift HQ, Ibadan between August 1988 and May 1989.
A model officer, his military excellence was as unparalleled as his brilliance was legendary, Okorodudu was drafted as the Military Assistant to the Air Officer Commanding Military Airlift Command in May 1989. His virtuosity paid off in 1991 when he was drafted into the elite Presidential Air Fleet and also as an Operations Officer, a position he occupied till 1998.
It has been rise and rise for Okorodudu. He was a Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji between July 1998 and July 2000. Terry was posted as the Group Operations Officer at the 97′ Special Operations Group of Nigerian Air Force from July 2000 to December 2000. He was the Acting Commander Special Operations Group, Nigerian Air Force December 2000 to June 2001.
Terry’s military career steadily grew from height to height. In 2001 he was made the Deputy Director Plans at NAF headquarters and Deputy Director at Defense Intelligence Agency, September 2004 to March 2005; Deputy Director at Defense Headquarters between March 2005 and September 2005.
In February 2006, the trailblazing AVM Terry Omatsola Okorodudu (rtd) was posted on a foreign mission as Defense Attaché to the Nigerian Embassy Moscow, with concurrent accreditation to Ukraine, Belarus and the Georgian Republic. A lucid attestation to his perspicacity and the relevance and acclaim he had won in the military because of his commitment to duty. He occupied this position until July 2009.
Okorodudu has exhibited versatility and resourcefulness in the discharge of his duties. Apart from being a soldier, a gentleman and a pilot, he also has strong affinity to business management. He conceived a plan to have the military procure its aircraft parts and hardware directly, thereby cutting the typically pricey middlemen out of the chain, thereby saving huge costs for Nigeria. He also had military aircrafts and hardware serviced locally and saved foreign exchange. This initiative was approved by the then Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Pentinrin and gave rise to the establishment of the Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited (a wholly owned Federal government entity operated by the Ministry of Defense and the Air Force, now a multi-billion Naira Company). He held the position of the Chief Executive of this outfit between August 2009 and October 2010 when he retired voluntarily from the service.
He presently runs an outfit called Centurion Security Company Ltd, an Integrated Technology & Defense Security company.
On a lighter side, he enjoys music, sports, astronomy, writing and reading poetry.
He is happily married with a son and two lovely grand daughters.
