BACKGROUND

1. Born on Tuesday, 27 April 1971, in the rustic city of Ibadan, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Olorunmola Daramola is fourth of the 5 Children of Group Captain (retired)Stephen O Daramola and Mrs Grace Daramola. The Daramolas hail from Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State. Between 1976 and 1982, young Ibikunle attended Command Children’s School, Kaduna, Edgware Primary School London, England and Millbrook Middle School Montgomery, Alabama USA, before concluding his primary education at Air Force Primary School, Kano. Thereafter, he proceeded to the Air Force Military School for his secondary education from August 1982 to August 1987, before entering the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in September 1987 as a Member of the 39th Regular Course. On 19 September 1992, he was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) as a Pilot Officer of the Electronic Engineering (EE) Specialty.

 

2. Further to earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from NDA, Daramola attended and excelled on several academic and professional courses to develop his capacities and enhance his work output over the course of his career. On the academic side, in 2003 he attended the Post-Graduate Diploma Course in Telecommunications and Electronics Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife, emerging as the Overall Best Graduate on the Course. He subsequently obtained a Master of Science Degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark New Jersey, USA, which he attended from September 2007 to May 2009. 

 

3. For his Professional Military Education, Daramola attended the EE Officers’ Basic Course at the Electronics Engineering Maintenance School (EEMS) at 320 Technical Training Group (320 TTG) Kaduna (now AFIT) from September 1991 to September 1993, graduating as the Best in Academics. He attended the Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the prestigious Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) Jaji, from July to December 2000 and August 2004 to July 2005, respectively. It is noteworthy that the Senior Officer was Best Overall Air Force Student on both Courses. Daramola is also an Alumnus of the National Defence University Islamabad, Pakistan, where he attended the National Security and War Course in 2015. He was promoted to the rank of Air Commodore in 2016 and subsequently Air Vice Marshal in 2020.

 

4. In an outstanding career spanning over 3 decades, the Senior Officer has been privileged to serve in diverse capacities which afforded him opportunities to garner rich experiences in staff, instructional, research, command, operational as well as strategic advisory roles. Some of his staff appointments include; Depot Administrative Officer at 403 Electronics Maintenance Depot Shasha, Lagos and Aide-de-Camp to the Military Administrator of Benue State. He also subsequently was Deputy Director Communications Headquarters (HQ) NAF. Thus, through staff appointments cutting across various strata within and outside the NAF organization, the Senior Officer gained adept appreciation of organizational dynamics and process management. This undoubtedly prepared him for effective contributions to the development of the Service in his subsequent strategic roles. 

 

5. In terms of instructional/research roles, Daramola brought his natural teaching flair to bear as a Mathematics Instructor and School Administrative Officer at the Air Force Military School Jos. He did this again as Deputy Research Officer at the Nigerian Air Force R&D Centre Kaduna and later Chief Instructor Electronics Engineering Maintenance School at 320 TTG (now AFIT) Kaduna. He subsequently reprised the instructional role as a Directing Staff at AFCSC Jaji. Thus, the Senior Officer has made significant contributions to human capacity development in the NAF and indeed for the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

 

6. For command experience, Daramola served as the Officer Commanding Electronics Engineering Squadrons at 330 Nigerian Air Force Station Jos and at Nigerian Air Force Camp Lagos. He subsequently held command of the 041 Communications Depot NAF Shasha from 2016 - 2018. In the area of frontline NAF operations, it is noteworthy that the Senior Officer was the pioneer Head of the Data Collection and Analysis Team (DCAT) for the Mission Planning Cell of the Air Component of Operation LAFIYA DOLE (now Operation HADIN KAI) from November 2015 to September 2016. Under his watch, DCAT made outstanding contributions to mission accomplishment for the Air Component. Evidently, the command and operational roles developed his leadership skills and enabled him to contribute to the attainment of the NAF’s overall objectives, thus equipping him for his future strategic roles.  

 

7. In the area of strategic advisory responsibility, Air Vice Marshal Daramola was privileged to serve as the Director Legal Intercept in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and subsequently as Deputy Director Plans at HQ NAF. Significantly, Daramola was Director of Public Relations and Information from August 2018 - March 2021 and subsequently Director of Plans, HQ NAF before being appointed as the Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command on 31 December 2021. On 6 January 2023, he was appointed as the Chief of Communication Information System Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, a post he held until his appointment as the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force on 9 September 2024. The Senior Officer is decorated with the Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star and Distinguished Service Star, amongst others, in addition to the General Service Medal and other medals awarded for his service as the Head of DCAT for the Mission Planning Cell of the Air Component, Operation LAFIYA DOLE. 

 

8. Air Vice Marshal Daramola is happily married to Mrs Adenike Daramola and their union is blessed with 3 children. He is fluent in French and his hobbies include reading, watching movies and listening to gospel music.