The history of the Nigerian Military School Zaria dates back to 1954 when the Boys-Company of Nigeria was established under the auspices of Nigerian Regiment Training centre of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF). The school was established along with three others in the British Colonial West Africa in Gambia, Gold Coast (now Ghana), and Sierra-Leone. It was modeled after the Boys Wing of the British Army. However, the present day Military School came into being on May 20, 1954.
The Boys Company as it used to be called was established as a full fledged training institution under the regimentation and administration of the defunct Nigerian Regimental Training Centre (NRTC) now Depot NA.
The aim of the school was the production of "middle and skilled manpower" to replace the departing British Colonial NCOs. Thus, a lot of emphasis was laid on military and academic training. In 1958, ten Boys from the School sat for the overseas Armed Forces General Certificate Examination and the school changed to school certificate status.
In 1960, the name "Boys Company" was changed to Nigerian Military School. In 1965 the first set of Boys wrote the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in which they performed creditably well. Since then, the school's performance in such examination has always been excellent.
With the introduction of the new National Policy on Education, the School now runs six-year training programme broken into junior and senior classes of three years duration respectively. A Board of Governors was established to oversee the running of the school.
To facilitate effective administration, Military and Academic training, the school is segmented into 5 main Wings: The Headquarters, Military wing, Education Wing, Boys Battalion and the Administrative Company.
The first Commandant of the School s Boys Company was Captain WU Bassey. . Since the establishment of this great Military institution, it has at various times been commanded by distinguished Military Officers.
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Ex-Students of the school (commonly known as Ex-boys have risen to top ranks and positions in the Armed Forces in Nigeria. Notable among these are Major General Joseph Nanven Garba (July 17, 1943 – June 1, 2002), Tunde Idiagbon (b. 14 September 1942 - d. 24 March 1999), Buba Marwa, John Nanzip Shagaya and Salihu Ibrahim ,Justice Kutigi,Senator David Mark, Gregory Ukezi, Babatunde Chika Adesogan, Hon Abayomi Olowu, Hon Adole Raphael and Hon Ponmah Durfa to mention a few. The establishment of the Nigerian Military School dates back to the colonial periods. It was part of the general process of Nigerianising the Army as independence became imminent. The origin of the School could be traced to 1951 when it was suggested by the West African Command that a “Boys Company” should be established in each of the four British colonies namely; Nigeria, Gold Coast (now Ghana), Sierra Leone and the Gambia along with the pattern of the “Boys Wing” in the British Army. The idea remained in gestation until 20 May 1954 when the School eventually came into being with an initial intake of thirty (30) Boys, known then as the first platoon. The primary aim of setting up the institution was “to inculcate the family tradition into the force.” Perhaps this explains why the 30 initial recruits of the platoon were mostly children of soldiers (see MARCHING ON – The Nigerian Military School. By Ahmadu and Famola. 1995).
Almost immediately after its establishment, the School became a full-fledged training institution under the regimentation and administration of the defunct Nigerian Regimental Training Centre (NRTC) now Depot Nigerian Army. This however did not make the institution a subsidiary of NRTC.
The Nigerian Military School gives its students both academic and military training. Every boy soldier as the students are called has one day a week dedicated strictly to military training while the other four days of the week are dedicated to academic training. The students use to be optionally enrolled into the Nigerian Army as private soldiers on the successful completion of their training, in 1999 it became compulsory for graduatng students to join the Nigerian Army.
To encourage sporting activities and healthy competition as the school population of students increased, four houses were created namely; Exham, Inglis, FairBanks and Swynnerton houses. These names were later changed to Giffard, Tranchard, Whistler and Lugard.
As the School changed to School certificate status shortly after independence, the colonial names were also changed to reflect the regional capitals of the country viz Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu and Kaduna houses.bimpe
In 1976, the four-houses structure was expanded to six and their names changed to reflect military company designations – Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot. Gulf, the 7th company is a recent creation. In late last year (2003), the School changed to the old names of Kaduna, Lagos, Ibadan and Enugu, with Abuja, Calabar and Zaria given to the additional new companies of Echo, Foxtrot and Gulf.
Since the establishment of the Nigerian Military School, the institution has contributed in all walks of life and remains the center of excellence in its distinct role of training and moulding Nigeria children just coming out of primary schools into intelligent, disciplined, Industrious, patriotic and hard working young boys.
The Nigeria Military School came into being on 20 May 1954 with an initial intake of thirty boys known as the “First Platoon” who were sons and ward of serving military personnel. However it’s military history can be traced to 1951 when the idea of establishing “Boys Company” along the same pattern of the Boys Wing of British Army was conceived for each of the West African Colonies Namely: the Gambia, Gold Cost (Ghana), Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
In 1960, the name “Boys Company” was changed to “Nigerian Military School” with four houses namely; Enugu, Ibadan, Kaduna, and Lagos House. To boost academic Excellency, major Wakeman, a graduate, was appointed from the British Army Education Corps as Commanding Officer in 1962. The School therefore commenced five set years training programmed as a secondary school. In 1965 the first set of boys wrote the Waec Examination in which they performed creditably well. Since then, the school’s performance in such examination has been good.
With the introduction of the New National policy on education, the school now runs six years training programme broken into Junior and Senior Secondary school of three years duration each. All the subjects required by this policy are being taught in the school by able and qualified Officers, Soldiers, Civilian Staff and Youth Corp members. To enhance its status, the Board of Governors was established to oversee the running of the school.
The school from its establishment to date has produced numerous Senior Military officers and Senior Staff in both Government and Private sectors. In contributions to economic and socio – political development in Nigeria can be seen by its products in all fields of our lives. Its alumni include Generals Tunde Idiagbon, Joseph Garba, John Shagaya, Jeremiah Useni, John Inienger, Salihu Ibrahim, Buba Marwa, Yakubu Mu'azu, Alexander Ogomudia, AK Adisa.
Since the establishment of the Military Institution, it has at various times been commanded by numerous Officers. They are as follows:
| Commandant | Took Office | Left Office |
|---|---|---|
| Capt. WU Bassy | 20 May 1954 | 31 Dec 1956 |
| Maj CJ Grindley | 01 Jan 1956 | 31 Dec 1959 |
| Maj RK Gardiner | 01 Jan 1960 | 31 July 1961 |
| Maj JM McCarter | 01 Aug 1961 | 28 Feb 1962 |
| Maj PJ Wakeman | 01 Mar 1962 | 09 Nov 1964 |
| Lt Col TB Ogundeko | 10 Nov 1964 | 09 Nov 1972 |
| Lt Col TO Oduniyi | 10 Nov 1972 | 02 Aug 1977 |
| Col-BrigGen CB Ndiomu | 03 Nov 1977 | 02 Aug 1982 |
| Col O Daramola FSS AMNIN | 03 Aug 1982 | 23 Sep 1985 |
| Col. A Fakulujo FSS psc | 24 Sep 1985 | 13 Oct 1990 |
| Col-BrigGen FA Ogunribido FSS MSS | 14 Oct 1990 | 31 July 1993 |
| Col EBA Okodaso FSS MSS psc | 01 Aug 1993 | 30 Jan 1995 |
| Brig Gen HB Momoh FSS MSS psc mni | 26 Jan 1995 | 30 Jan 1997 |
| Brig Gen SA Sofoluwe FSS MSSS psc | 31 Jan 1997 | 31 Mar 1999 |
| Brig Gen SK Oni FSS MSS Ph.D | 01 Apr 1999 | 25 Apr 2000 |
| Col D Bitrus MSS psc | 26 Apr 2000 | 13 Aug 2003 |
| Col IG Bauka MSS psc LLB BL | 13 Aug 2003 | 05 Sep 2005 |
| Col CO Esekhaigbe MSS psc B.Sc(Hons) MILD PGD MIMC | 05 Sep 2005 | 30 August 2006 |
| Col Abubakar MSS psc MSc | 01 Sep 2006 | - |