Major Bulama Biu was born on March 15, 1934 at Biu, now Borno State. After his formal Elementary School education, he went through the Middle School education.
His military career began on February 5, 1952 when he was enlisted into the army. He was trained in Kaduna and served in the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF).
When Queen Elizabeth II visited Nigeria, she promoted him to the rank of Corporal because he was the best dressed young soldier at the parade.
Bulama was a corporal at 44 Battalion, Kaduna, during the battalion field exercise (range, infiltration and intuition). He became the overall best soldier of the exercise. This had earned him a promotion to the rank of Sergeant.
His successful mission to Congo to rescue a British officer earned him a promotion to the rank of Staff Sergeant.
His hard work and dedication to duties were so obvious that he was appointed, in 1964, as the first Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
He trained Regular Courses 1 to 21 Cadet Officers of distinguished character.
For his hard work and dedication to duty at the Academy, he was commissioned to the rank of Captain and posted to Depot Nigeria Army Training School, Zaria, in 1977. He became the Officer-in-Charge of the Nigerian Drill School.
In recognition of his loyalty and dedicated service to the nation, Captain Bulama Biu was honoured with the national award of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) in 1982 by President Shehu Shagari.
He was promoted to the rank of Major and posted to the current Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI), Jaji, as Commanding Officer-in-charge of drill.
He earned many military decorations/awards, amongst which are Nigerian Independence Medal, Congo Medal, Civil War Medal, Long Service and Good Conduct by Queen Elizabeth II and Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).
Maj Biu retired from the army in 1987 at the rank of Major, after serving for 38 years.
His last deployment was Nigeria Army School of Infantry, Jaji, were he was the Commanding Officer (Chief Instructor) Drill Wing.
He passed away at the Unoversity of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital on March 16, 1998 after a protracted illness.
(Source: Defence Times Africa)
