Born to Lubokun Royal family, at Igbotako Osooro in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, on 27th December 1940. Prince (Rtd) Major General (Dr) Sir Joseph Oluyemi Bajowa attended Anglican Elementary School, Igbotako, Manuwa Memorial Grammar School Iju-Odo, Okitipupa, Gboluji Anglican Grammar School, Ile-Oluji, Ondo. He finished his Secondary Education at Gboluji in 1959, and later attended Federal School of Science, Lagos 1960, for his “A” Levels. He worked as a civil Servant in the then Federal Ministry of Lands and Survey in Lagos and later as a 3rd Class Clerk in the Houses of Parliament, Lagos.
Professionally, General Olu Bajowa joined the Nigerian Army as a Cadet in training at the then Military College now Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna in September 1960 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant at Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot, England in 1961. He was later attached to the British Army in the Rhine, Western Germany during the “Cold War”, after which he was posted to 4th Infantry Battalion of the Nigerian Army Ibadan in 1962 to start his Military Career.
He took part in the United Nations Peace keeping Operations in the Congo and the Nigerian Civil War. He climbed through the rungs of the Officer Corps to the rank of Major General and retired from the Nigerian Army in 1980 at the age of 40 years.
During his 20 years of Military Service, he attended many courses in Nigeria and abroad including Platoon/Company Commander’s Course in Warminster, England, Signal Officer’s Course in Hythe, England, British Army Staff College, Camberley, England (1970), where he graduated and was awarded Psc. and also, National Defence College New Delhi, India (1980), where he did a Senior Officer’s Course in Strategy, Geopolitics and General Administration and he was awarded Ndc.
Amongst the appointments held while in Military Service were Platoon Commander, Military Transport Officer, General Staff Officer Grade 111 and General Officer Grade 11 both at Army Headquarters, Ministry of Defence, Lagos, Company Commander, Brigade Major, Battalion Commander, General Staff Officer Grade 1 at 3rd Infantry Division Headquarters, Brigade Commander, Acting General Officer Commanding 3 Infantry Division of the Nigerian Army, Adjutant General of the Nigerian army, and Quarter-Master-General of the Nigerian Army both at Ministry of Defence, Lagos. He was also Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College. Jaji-Kaduna, (1978-1979).
Significantly, He was on active service in Western Germany with the British Army in 1961, during the “Cold War”. He served two tours in the United Nations Operation in Congo with 4 BN NA in 1962, at Kinshsha, and in 1963 at Leopoville (now Zaire) with 1st BN NA. He took active part in the Nigerian civil War. Infact he was the one as the Commanding Officer 11 BN NA at Iwo road Ibadan, Olusegun Obasanjo ordered to move his Battalion on 9th August 1976 from Ibadan to defend the Western Region Boarder at Ofusu/Owena River bridge, to prevent the incursion of the 101st Division Biafran Army during its advance to capture Ibadan and Lagos and occupy Western Region, after the fall of Benin City and Mid-Western Region, in a Biafran Army lighting operation of 101st Division of the Biafran Army. He held the Ofusu/Owena Bridge and fought in the legendry Ore Battle (“Ija Ore, Oleku”). He miraculously survived four coups while in military service and three coups after his recall from retirement, to serve the nation in different capacities, during the Military Interregnum.
On the Military-Political Front, he was a Military Member of the Executive Council of the then Western State of Nigeria, Military Member of the Executive Council and Acting Military Governor of the South Eastern State (now Cross River and Akwa Ibom States); and Acting Military Governor of Rivers State (now Rivers and Bayelsa States).
After retirement from the Nigerian Army, he went into business, politics and later into academics. He enrolled into the University of Lagos in 1983, where he obtained Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with Second Class Honours, Upper Division, (2.1) in 1988, He was awarded Doctor of Theology by the Theological Seminary, Durban, South Africa, in London, 2005, in affiliation with Trinity University and College, Delaware, USA and he has currently enrolled for Bachelor of Law Degree, University of London, England.
He was a Member of the Governing Council of Ondo State University (1981/1982) and in 1983 he was appointed Chairman Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria. He was also appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive of Nigeria Airways Limited in January 1988. Sole Administrator of Nigeria Airways Limited in October same year and Managing Director and Member of the Presidential Task Force of Nigeria Airways Limited (1988-1989). He was later appointed as Special Assistant in the Presidency and Co-ordinator Movement of Seat of Government and Federal Ministries from Lagos to Abuja. He was appointed the Director-General/Permanent Secretary, Deputy Minister Ministry of Defence in 1990-1993 and Permanent Secretary, Federal ministry of Industry in 1993-1997, Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Science and Technology from 1997-1999, and Chairman of all related Companies and Parastatals of the Ministries.
General Olu Bajowa has now retired to private life. His decorations include Medals of the United Nations Peace Keeping Operations in the Congo, The Nigerian civil war. Forces Meritorious Service Star (FSS) and Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR), in recognition of his Military Service (1960 -1980) and gazetted for the honour of Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFR), in recognition of his Federal Civil Service (1988 – 1999). He is a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Security Nigeria (dfisn).
In recognition of General Olu Bajowa’s contribution to the security and development of Ikale-Land, his people honoured him with the Chieftaincy titles of Jagunmolu of Ikale-Land and Ojagbulegun from The Source (Ayeka Kingdom), Ondo State of Nigeria. He was a Member of the Board of Governors of International Foundation for Science (IFS) in Stockholm, Sweden, and Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) in Trieste, Italy, (1997-1999). He creditably concluded his tenure as the Chairman of Programmes and Budget Committee (PBC) of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in Vienna, Austria, a post he held for one year (1997/1998).
He is a sports enthusiast, philanthropist and happily married with children. He is now 80 years of age and as an author had to his credits four (4) books, namely: Spring of a Life, Ikale, Soldier by Choice and Egbaiyelo (Legacy of a legend).