Meet the first person to register in the Nigerian Army.

His name is Wellington Umoh Bassey and he is on record as having the service number NA 1.

Bassey joined the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) in 1933, despite his community opposition and he rose through the ranks, becoming a warrant officer, company sergeant major, and weapons instructor.

After completing an officers’ training course in Warwick, England, Bassey was promoted to Second Lieutenant by King George VI in April 1949. He held several command positions, including:
1. Boys Company (now Nigerian Military School), Zaria, as the first Commanding Officer there
2. Federal Guards (later Brigade of Guards), Lagos as the first Commanding Officer there
3. Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria as their first Commanding Officer
4. Lagos Garrison, Apapa as their first Nigerian Commandant
5. First Brigade (now First Division), Kaduna as a Brigade Commander

He also served as Aide-de-Camp to the Governor General Sir Stuart Macpherson

Army Barracks Camp WU Bassey in Abuja and the Wellington Bassey Way in Uyo are named in his honor.

Although there are some accounts suggesting that Lieutenant Laud (Louis) Victor Ugboma was actually the first Nigerian to be commissioned as an officer in the West African Frontier Force in 1948, preceding Bassey. Ugboma’s departure from the army in 1953 led to Bassey becoming the most senior officer and subsequently recognized as NA 1.