Timothy Shelpidi
Honorific prefixMajor General
OfficeAmbassador of Nigeria to the Russian Federation
PresidentUmaru Musa Yar'Adua
Goodluck Jonathan
Term start18 September 2008
Term end14 October 2011
PredecessorDan Suleiman
Office 1Commander, ECOMOG Peacekeeping Force, Liberia
Term start 1January 1998
Term end 1March 1999
Predecessor 1Maj-Gen. V.S.L. Malu
Successor 1Maj-Gen. Felix Mujakperuo
Birth nameTimothy Mai Shelpidi
Birth date4 September 1948
Birth placeKaltungo, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in Gombe State, Nigeria)
Death date2 March 2018 (aged 69)
Death placeAbuja, Nigeria
Resting placeBoh, Gombe State, Nigeria
SpouseRuth Shelpidi
OccupationMilitary officer · politician · diplomat
Alma materNigerian Defence Academy
AllegianceNigeria
Service years1967–1999
Rank Major General

Timothy Mai Shelpidi (4 September 1948 – 2 March 2018) was a Nigerian general and diplomat, who served as the ambassador of Nigeria to the Russian Federation from 2008 to 2011.[1] A retired major general, he served as commander of the ECOMOG Peacekeeping Force in Liberia from 1998 to 1999, and was commander of the ECOMOG Peacekeeping Force in Guinea Bissau in 1997.[2]

Born on 4 September 1948, He enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1967, he started his training at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna and was commissioned a Regular Combatant Officer on 4 March 1970. Between 1990 and 1992, he was principal staff officer to Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

After retirement, he went briefly into politics, contesting for the governorship of his home state of Gombe in 2003.[3] He died on 2 March 2018, at the Federal Medical Center, Abuja, after a protracted illness, and was buried on 13 March 2018, in his home town of Boh, in Shongom Local Government Area of Gombe State.[4]

Qualifications and decorations

Shelpidi has attended various military courses in Nigeria and overseas.

  • 1971: All Arms Tactics Course
  • 1977 - 1978: Army Command and Staff Course.
  • 1988: National Defence College, India
  • He speaks English, Hausa language and Tangale language.
  • He is married and has children.
  • Pass Staff College (psc)
  • MSC Defensce Studies
  • Forces Service Star (fss)
  • Meritorious Service Star (mss),

1973 he was Commanding Officer of the 124 Infantry Battalion. In 1996 he was MAJOR GENERAL (mss, psc, ndc), Chief of Research and Development In 1997, he was Commander of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group in Guinea Bissau. From 18 September 2008 to 14 October 2011 he administrated the Embassy of Nigeria in Moscow.[5]

References

  1. ^ "ru:Список руководителей дипломатических и консульских представительств зарубежных государств в России" (in Russian). Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia). Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  2. ^ Umar, Auwal (13 March 2018). "Former ECOMOG Commander, Timothy Shelpidi, buried". Premium Times. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  3. ^ "PANAPRESS - PANAFRICAN News Agency - Official Web Site"
  4. ^ "Former ECOMOG commander Major Gen Shelpidi buried today". The Sun. 13 March 2018.
  5. ^ "MFA of Russia | 10/14/2011 | Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov Meets with Nigerian Ambassador to Moscow Timothy Mai Shelpidi"