Otunba (Major General) Samson Adewunmi Odunsi was born in 1950 at Odokujegi, Ijebu Imusin in Ijebu-East Local Government of Ogun State, to the late Pa Thomas Omotayo Odunsi and the late Mrs. Beatrice Alaba Odunsi. He began his primary school education at St. Mary’s Anglican School, Ijebu Imusin. He then moved to the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, where he completed his secondary school education. Following graduation in 1971, he proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, for his cadet training preparatory to becoming an Army Officer. In September that same year, he received his commission into the Nigeria Army Corps of Artillery as a Second Lieutenant.
He attended many training institutions both within and outside the country, notably in the UK, USA, and India. He attended the National War College, Abuja (now National Defence College) from 1997 to 1998, during which period he received his highest professional military training. He went on to earn his Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the premier university, the University of Ibadan.
Indeed, the trajectory of his military career indicates that having been commissioned into the Nigeria Army as Second Lieutenant on March 29, 1971, three years later, he was promoted as Lieutenant on June 29, 1974. Subsequently, he rose to become a Captain (29th June, 1978), Major (29th June, 1983), Lieutenant Colonel (29th June, 1988), Colonel (29th June, 1993), Brigadier General (29th Sept. 1998), and Major General (30th Nov. 2002). He voluntarily retired from the Nigerian Army in 2003.
Prior to retirement, Major Gen. Odunsi (Rtd.) held several key positions in the Army, such as Troop Commander, Battery Commander, Deputy Assistant Adjutant/Quartermaster General (DAA/QMG), Instructor-in-Gunnery at the Nigerian Army School of Artillery (NASA), Commanding Officer of many Units/Regiments/Battalion(s), Directing Staff, Chief Instructor at the Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna; Brigade Commander and Commandant Depot, Nigerian Army.
He was a member of the Nigerian Army Training Assistance Team in the Gambia (NATAG), which was the time the Nigerian Army had assisted other countries in the areas of re-establishing and building their armies. He has served on the boards of several companies, among them Pera-Beam (Nig.) Limited, Palmview, Horivac, to mention a few.
Over the course of his military career, Major Gen. Odunsi (Rtd) has received many awards and honours recognising his services to the Army, the nation and humanity. His national honours include the Grand Service Star (GSS), Distinguished Service Star (DSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS), Forces Service Star (FSS), Passed Staff College (PSC+), and Foreign Training Assistance Medal (FTAM). He was a Fellow of the National War College (now National Defence College).
He was honoured as Otunba with the traditional title of Jagunmolu of Ijebu Imusin. On the 8th day of November 2008, Oba S.A. Onafowokan also conferred on him the prestigious Ijebu Imusin Community Merit Award. He belongs to a number of religious and community organisations namely: The Progressive Young Christian Association (PYCA); St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Ijebu Imusin Youth League (YL), Kaduna Branch; and Christian Men Fellowship (CMF) in St. Luke’s Military Church, Yaba, Lagos. He is a member of The Twelve Club of Ijebu Ode; Ijebu Progressive Society (IPS), Kaduna Branch; and Patron of Christian Salvation Society, St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Ijebu Imusin, among others.
The retired Major General is also credited with the provision of a number of welfare services in his community. He provided portable water through a functioning bore-hole to St. Mary’s Anglican Primary School, Ijebu Imusin, his Alma mater, to the Community Complex Centre and to the Ijebu Imusin Market Square.
In his spare time, Otunba (Maj. Gen.) Odunsi likes to stay fit and relax by playing hockey, golf and tennis, watching football and listening to gospel music. He takes a keen interest in nature and humans, and he delights in making unserviceable machines/equipment functional. He is also known to have a consuming passion for farming.
Otunba (Maj. Gen.) S. A. Odunsi is married to Chief (Mrs) Elizabeth Kikelomo Odunsi (JP), Yeye Jagunmolu of Ijebu Imusin and the marriage is blessed with children.
