Samuel Ilesanmi Alade

Sanmi obtained primary education at St John's Primary School, Oyin Akoko, Ondo State and attended Secondary School at Ajuwa Grammar School,[4] Okeagbe in Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State. He attended to the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, where he was trained to be an officer in the Nigerian Navy.[1]

From 1980 – 1981 Sanmi attended the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna as a member of the 27 Regular Course and between 1984 and 1985 he attended the Indian Navy Ship VENDRUTHY, Cochin, India for Sub Lieutenant Technical Course.[1] In 1990 he attended the Nigerian Navy Ship QUORRA, Apapa, Lagos for Long Navigation and Direction Course.[1] In 1997 he attended the Nigerian Naval College, Onne, Port Harcourt for Principal Warfare Officers Course.[1] In 1991 and 1996 Sanmi attended the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji for the Junior and Senior Staff Courses respectively (where he graduated as the Best All Round Naval Student in Senior Course 19 in 1996).[1] He also attended the Maritime Warfare Centre, United Kingdom in 2002 for the International Joint Operations Planning Course and the National Defence College in 2008, New Delhi, India.[1]

In 1992 Sanmi attended University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and in 1998 the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, where he obtained a Masters of International Law and Diplomacy.[1] In 2008 he attended University of Madras, India where he bagged a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) and in 2012 he studied at Chattam House, London, where he enroled in Strategic Management and Leadership.[1]

Rear Admiral Samuel Ilesanmi Alade, then the Commandant National Defence College Nigeria, presenting a token trophy to The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, HE Mohammadu Buhari at the College Graduation Ceremony in 2016.

Samuel Alade served as a Watchkeeping Officer on various Nigerian Navy Ships (NNS) and patrol boats such as NNS BRASS, NNS ENYIMIRI and NNS ARADU between 1982 and 1985.[1] When he was transferred to Lagos he functioned as Commander of Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation covering Apapa zone which comprised present day Apapa, Lagos Island, Ajeromi, Orile, Amuwo-Odofin and Badagary areas of Lagos State between 1985 – 1986.[1] In 1986 he served as Naval Assistant to the Minister of Employment; in 1986 -1987 as Flag Lieutenant to the Chief of the Naval Staff of the Nigerian Navy; in 1987 – 1988 as Naval Assistant to the Chief of Naval Staff; in 1988 – 1989 as Naval Assistant to the Chief of Defence Intelligence Service; in 1990 in Navigating Officer on board NNS AMBE.

In 1994 Samuel Alade served as Military Observer in the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone; and between 1994 and 1995 as Military Observer in the United Nations Mission in Rwanda. In 1995 and 1996 he was the Executive Officer of NNS EKUN and from 1997 and 1999 he served as Staff Officer (SOII) Grade II Training, SO1 Training and later Director of Plans at the Naval Headquarters Abuja. From 2000 and 2002, Alade became the Commanding Officer of Mogadishu, Abyssinia and Burma Battalions of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna and in 2005 to 2006 he became the Commanding Officer of NNS EKPE. In 2009, he became the Chief Staff Officer at the Eastern Naval Command, Calabar. Between 2009 and 2010, he became Director of Coordination at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna; between 2002 and 2003 he became a Member of the Directing Staff, of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Nigeria; between 2003 and 2005 he became Chief Instructor, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Nigeria. He became Deputy Commandant at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Nigeria in 2012 and also Member of the Directing Staff of the National Defence College, Abuja, in 2010 – 2011. In 2014, Sanmi became the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command,[5] Apapa, Lagos and in 2015 the Chief of Naval Transformation at the Naval Headquarters,[6] Abuja. In October, 2015 he became the Commandant of the National Defence College,[2] Abuja, Nigeria, the highest strategic military training institution in Nigeria for 22 months before his retirement from the Nigerian Navy on 31 August 2017.

Sanmi co-authored and contributed an article in the book titled ‘Armed Forces and Elections: A Case Study of the 2015 General Elections.’

Authored of the book ‘The Making of a Million Smiles: Reflections on Rwanda's Rise from the Ashes’ published in January 2018. In this book, Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade, who served as a United Nations Military Observer to the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) from 1994–1995, narrates his personal account of how the 1994 Rewandan genocide against the Tutsi tribe has left a testimony of history in African politics. He was in Rwanda before the Genocide to basically help monitor and ensure the implementation of the Arusha Agreement which was to culminate into the institutionalizing of a transitional government that was to include all parties in the agitation which was mainly the then government of Rwanda that was led by President Juvénal Habyarimana and the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) led by Presidennt Paul Kagame.[7] He gives insights on how colonial authorities gave rise to ethnic politics and consequently conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes, which caused them to view and misunderstood each other in a manner that led to the genocide. This unfortunate event has shaped the entire political landscape of the East African country and has taught Africa in the past decades how to conduct her affairs. The historical perspective of the book bears compelling shades of notion concerning man's relationship with man viz: the cruelty of mankind - marked by activities of conspiracy, propaganda, blood-thirsty, group orgy, falsehood, mayhem and a sense of wonton destruction against ones neighbour, on one hand and finest attributes of mankind - characterised by a sense of forgiveness, fortitude, endurance, Faith and Hope - on the other hand. The book also discuses the merits of African Integration in maintaining the peace in difficult situations and criticises the controversial stance of the United Nations Peacekeepers during the period.[8]

As a security consultant, Rear Admiral Alade has contributed in many ways to the training and development of the public and private security sectors. He has been a consultant and resource person to the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON). In 2014 he was consultant speaker on “Security in Nigeria during the Centennial Years”. In 2016, he was the Special Guest of Honour at the AISSON Conference with the theme: ”The Changing Face of Terrorism in Africa”. in 2018, he was the Distinguished Chairman at AISSON Security Conference where he spoke on “Mitigating Critical Security Risks looking at Policy to Action Framework for Nigeria and Africa”.[1]

Other engagements in the area of security and safety training include the following: In 2018, he helped the Ondo State Government under the leadership of Rotimi Akeredolu, to draw up the Ondo State Internal Security Policy.[1] In 2016, he delivered distinguished lectures to students groups on the following areas: “Insurgency and State Use of Force: The Nigerian Experience” delivered to Students of Bowen University Iwo, Nigeria and “Terrorism and Insurgency in Nigeria: Strategic Leadership Training in Perspective “ delivered to students of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. In April 2017, he wrote a paper on Maritime Law and National Security: The Nigerian Case.[1]

In 2019, he participated at the Regional Conference on Rwanda Journey Towards Sustainable Peace in Kigali Rwanda.[1]

In 2016, he participated at the CCCPA Conference in Cairo, Egypt, where he delivered a paper on “Training and Capacity Building for an Evolving African Peace and Security Architecture: Staying ahead of the Curve”.[1]

In 2019, he was a panel discussant at the Global Maritime Security Conference in Abuja.[1]

In 2016, he participated in “The Challenges Forum Workshop in Bali Indonesia where he delivered a lecture on Regional Dimension of Peace Support Operation.[1]

Samuel Ilesanmi Alade crowned as the Balogun of Akure Land in December, 2017

• Military Forces Service Star
• Meritorious Service Star
• Distinguished Service Star
• General Service Star
• Staff Course Dagger
• Distinguished Fellow of the National Defence College Nigeria
• Distinguished Alumnus of National Defence College, New Delhi India
• Distinguished Service Award presented by the Chief of the Naval Staff Nigeria (in appreciation of his distinguished service to the Nigerian Navy and loyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria)
• African Patriotic Personality of the Year 2016 (Award by The League of African Development Students - LEADS AFRICA)[1]

• Fellow Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered)
• Fellow Chartered Institute of Shipping, Nigeria

Rear Admiral Alade has completed the renovation of St John's Primary School, Oyin Akoko, partially renovated Baptist Primary School, Oyin Akoko and Ansarodeen Primary School, Oyin Akoko, Ondo State. He has also contributed a modern Primary Health Centre, Oyin Akoko, Ondo State.

He is a Community Leader, a politician, a member of All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Chairman of Akoko North West Local Government Area Advisory Council, responsible for advising on community development, safety and security. In November 2016, he conferred with the traditional title of Balogun of Akure Land by The Deji of Akure Kingdom.[9]

Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade is married to Deborah Alade and he has four children.