The nature of the military orientation of the African rank and file of the British colonial army in Nigeria especially before 1948 has been a subject of stupendous ignorance or an issue conjured in disparaging speculation among scholars. Such ignorance has informed the lingering cynical opinion, that African soldiers in the colonial army were a body of mercenaries. It is also the basis for the objectionable view, that the colonial army was not professional by any stretch of imagination. However, our most recent research reveals, that right from the pristine of the colonial army in Nigeria, the British gave professional training to their African soldiers, despite problems of literacy and oral communication. The training programme took the African soldiers through parade exercises, musketry, combat tactics, gunnery, and field piece. The soldiers were also taught how to speak and understand English. They were drilled in the British colony of Lagos as well as sent to England for further training. Throughout their drills the soldiers demonstrated great interest, loyalty, corporate bond, and professionalism that transcended pecuniary considerations, thereby disputing the view that they were mercenaries. Given these findings, we are neither any longer in ignorance concerning the nature of the military training received by African soldiers in the early stage of the colonial army in Nigeria, nor apt to think that the African soldiers in the colonial army were mere mercenaries without any sense of professionalism.