John Atom Kpera

Brigadier General John Atom Kpera was a Nigerian Army officer who served as the first Military Governor of Anambra State from March 1976 to July 1978, following the state's creation from the old East Central State under the military government of General Olusegun Obasanjo, and later as Military Governor of Benue State from January 1984 to August 1985 during the military regime of Major General Muhammadu Buhari.

Kpera was born on 3 January 1941 in Mbatierev, Gboko Local Government Area, Benue State.

He attended Katsina-Ala College, now Government College, Katsina-Ala, for his secondary education (1956-1961). He later attended the Haile Selassie Military Academy, Ethiopia, in 1962 for his military cadet training, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers in 1965.

Kpera played a role in Nigeria's first military coup on 15 January 1966.

Kpera served as the first Military Governor of Anambra State from March 1976 to July 1978, overseeing the newly created state's early administration. He later served as Military Governor of his home state of Benue from January 1984 to August 1985.

First Military Governor of Anambra State. Later served as Military Governor of Benue State.

As the pioneering Military Governor of Anambra State and later Governor of his own home state of Benue, Kpera held significant administrative responsibility during two distinct phases of Nigerian military governance.

• 3 January 1941 — Born in Mbatierev, Gboko Local Government Area, Benue State
• 1956-1961 — Attended Katsina-Ala College
• 1962 — Military cadet training, Haile Selassie Military Academy, Ethiopia
• 1965 — Commissioned Second Lieutenant, Corps of Engineers
• 15 January 1966 — Played a role in Nigeria's first military coup
• March 1976-July 1978 — Military Governor of Anambra State
• January 1984-August 1985 — Military Governor of Benue State

• Wikipedia contributors. "John Kpera." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kpera
• "Reminiscences with General John Atom Kpera." Daily Trust.
• "My Role in Nigeria's First Coup - Brig Gen Atom Kpera (rtd)." Daily Trust.