Nowamagbe Omoigui, foremost military historian, dies at 62

Nowamagbe Austin Omoigui, a foremost Nigerian military historian, is dead.

His family announced in a statement that Omoigui died on Sunday at the age of 62.

He was a cardiologist in Columbia, South Carolina, United States.

“On behalf of the Omoigui family, we are heartbroken to announce that our son, husband, father, uncle, brother, in-law, friend and muse to many, Dr. Nowamagbe Austin Omoigui, MD, FACC, pre-eminent interventional cardiologist in Columbia, South Carolina and foremost Nigerian civil-military and Benin historian, shed his earthly bonds and was called to the Lord on April 18, 2021,” the statement said.

“Preceded in passing by his beloved mother, Mrs. Grace Onaiwu Omoigui, Nowa is survived by his wife Mrs. Moira Omoigui, their children (Ikponmwosa Omoigui, Ighiwiyisi Omoigui, Iyegbekosa (Egbe) Omoigui & Izevbokun (Izzy) Omoigui, Iyare Omoigui and Iriagbonse Omoigui), his father, Surveyor Daniel Aiyanyo Omoigui and his four siblings (Dr. Sota Omoigui, Ifueko M Omoigui Okauru, Eghosa Omoigui and Nosa Omoigui).

“We are immensely grateful to God for the life he lived, the service he gave to family and country, and most importantly, his love, care for, and devotion to, his wife, children, family and friends.”

Omoigui, a native of Edo state, gained insight into many key events associated with Nigeria’s military when he was posted for the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with the Nigerian Army’s Brigade of Guards in 1983.

He bagged his bachelor’s degree in medicine from the University of Ibadan in 1981.

“My amateur interest in History, Political Science and Strategic studies dates back to the sixties. My father was a federal civil servant. As a three-year-old, I lived in the same neighborhood (MacDonald Avenue) as Chief Anthony Enahoro and the late Senator Dalton Asemota (my mother’s uncle) in Ikoyi, Lagos. Events relating to the Treasonable Felony Trial [of Obafemi Awolowo and Anthony Enahoro, among others], creation of the Midwest Region and the funeral of Senator Asemota were closely followed by my parents and many discussions were held in my presence, major elements of which, strangely, I still recall! As a seven year old, my family and I were awakened in the early hours of January 15, 1966, by our neighbor on Milverton Road (a British police officer) to tell us about the first coup. During the civil war I was the victim of a number of Biafran air-raids,” a statement from the Urhobo Historical Society for Omoigui said.

“I should add to this little summary of my background and interests that I am a member of the South Carolina Military History Club. I am also an amateur Gun and Military Aircraft recognition enthusiast. I happen to be a sharpshooter as well.”

Also announcing his passing in a tweet, Eghosa Omoigui, his brother, described him as “the tip of our spear”.

My brother, Nowa Omoigui, MD, FACC was likely the most devoted, rigorous & neutral historian of #Nigeria’s civil-military relations. He was also an interventional cardiologist on the side.
Heartbroken to share he passed away last night.
He was the tip of our spear.
May he RIP.

— Eghosa Omoigui (@EghosaO) April 19, 2021

His sister, Ifueko Omoigui Okauru, was a former chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), while Daniel Aiyanyo Omoigui, his father, was a former surveyor-general of the federation.