Vice Admiral SO Afolayan DSS psc+ fwc
Chief of the Naval Staff
(April 2001 – Till Date)

Vice Admiral Samuel Olajide AFOLAYAN DSS psc+ fwc Chief of the Naval Staff (April 24 2001 - To Date)
 
Vice Admiral Samuel Olajide Afolayan was born on the 15 of January 1948 in Osi, Ekiti Local Government area of Kwara state. After his primary school education, he attended Titcombe College, Egbe in Kogi state for both his O’Level and Higher School Certificate from 1962 – 1968. He taught briefly at Government Secondary Kechia from February – September 1969.
   
Admiral Afolayan enlisted in the Nigerian Defence Academy on the 4th of October 1969 as a member of the Regular Course 7. He successfully completed his cadet training in April 1971 and came out with flying colours as the best Science and Naval cadet respectively. He was commissioned as a Sub-lieutenant in July 1972 and since then has attended several courses both in Nigeria and abroad.

 
   
 
He did his Sub-technical course at the Britania Royal Naval College. Dartmouth, England in 1973, Long Course in Navigation and Direction at Cocin, India, And Principal Warfare Officers’ course from May – September 1978 at HMS Dry Yard in Portsmouth. He also attended the Command and Staff college, Jaji from 1981 – 1982 as a member of CSC Course 4. He was at the Naval Post Graduate School, Montery, California in the United States from October – December 1983. He was a pioneer participant at the National War College, Lagos, Course 1 from 1991 – 1992.

Admiral Afolayan has held a number of appointments both ashore and afloat. He served at various times as Navigating Officer of NNS OTOBO, NNS ENYIMIRI and NNS NIGERIA. He was commanding officer of NNS HADEJIA, NNS EKUN, and NNS OLOKUN. He served as Directing Staff at CSC Jaji from April 1984 – August 1985 and Chief Instructor, Joint Warfare Division, CSC Jaji 1993 – 1994. He was Director of Manpower and Planning and later Director of Manning at the Naval Headquarters.

He also served as Chief Staff Officer, Eastern Naval Command from 21 September 1994 to 5 May 1996, 15 January 1997. He was one time Director of Plans DHQ, Director of Administration at the Armed Forces and Police PTF and later headed it as its Commander. He assumed Command as the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command on 26 July 1999, an appointment he held till 24 April 2001 when he was named the Chief of the Naval Staff.

Vice Admiral Afolayan’s decorations include Forces Service Star (FSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS) Distinguished Service Star (DSS) and Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR). He is married with children and he enjoys reading, sports and indoor games such as Chess and Scrabble.

   
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