28/07/2025
A Birthday Tribute to a Quintessential Officer and Gentleman , Maj Gen HT Wesley
Today, we celebrate an extraordinary officer, a proud Exboy, and an embodiment of regimentation and excellence , Maj Gen HT Wesley, the current Corps Commander Ordnance, Nigerian Army.
It is impossible to forget the profound influence he had on many of us who passed through the hallowed grounds of the Nigerian Military School.
When I resumed as a Boy Soldier some 25 years ago, my set was privileged to be the last to encounter then Captain HT Wesley as the Adjutant of NMS , a position he held with distinction, authority, and unmatched class.
Capt Wesley’s presence alone commanded instant respect. Towering in stature, with a powerful physique and a posture as firm as a parade-ground flagpole, he was the living image of military precision. His uniforms were always immaculate, his boots forever gleaming, and his steps measured with flawless coordination. Even the way he walked spoke of regimentation.
But beyond appearances, what truly set him apart was his unshakable commitment to discipline and his refined intelligence. He spoke the Queen’s English with an accent and cadence that captivated and commanded attention , fluent, articulate, and graceful.
Every word he uttered was deliberate, every command precise, and every action deeply rooted in military ethos.
As an Exboy himself, he understood the system like no other. He was once a B/Provost and later as B/RSM of the NMS 1981 Set , roles that instilled in him a radar for discipline and an instinct to uphold standards without compromise.
For us Boys then, “The fear of Capt Wesley” was the beginning of wisdom. His parked Prelude car alone sent ripples of alertness through the School.
The sight of his iron swagger stick was enough to send shivers down the spine.
There was a day I witnessed what I can only describe as a “Wesley masterclass.” He arrived on the parade ground and, after we had been called to attention, began pointing out absconders and offenders with pinpoint accuracy , simply by observing the ranks. “Alpha Coy, Centre rank, second from the right — run outside!” And they all dashed out like madmen. It wasn’t surprising; there were already popular rumours in NMS that “Capt Wesley could identify Boys from their shadows!”
On another occasion, I watched him personally conduct a putee , he was somersaulting some B/Provosts from the School Gate to Buns Villa Gate and back under the blistering Zaria sun. I was peeping quietly from the classrooms opposite Alpha Company and wondered if I could ever survive that punishment. Among those B/Provosts, I remember Oga Stranger, now a respected Lt Col in the Signal Corps.
When his tour at NMS ended, alongside Capt NMS Nagidada , the first AO of the newly created Boys Battalion , the School honoured them in grand style. A send-forth was organized under the directive of the then Commandant, Col D Bitrus, another combatant and highly regimented officer. Representatives from every class marched forward to present gifts in appreciation of their service. My own classmate, Benson Gbenga, presented on behalf of our set.
Today, Maj Gen Wesley stands not just as a very senior officer of the Nigerian Army, but as a shining example of the transformative power of discipline, character, and professionalism. His legacy at NMS is etched in gold, and history will forever remember his contributions to the School.
On the occasion of his birthday, I join countless Exboys to wish him long life, good health, and continued impactful service.
Sir, may your days ahead be filled with fulfilment, and may the values you instilled in us echo through generations of Boys to come.
Happy Birthday, Sir!
You remain a towering example of all that is best in the military tradition.
To those who encountered Capt Wesley as Adjutant of NMS , what memory comes to your mind?
