He hailed from Gidan Mana in Kachia Local Government Area of present day Kaduna state.

He started out his primary education at the Native Authority School in Jaban Kogo where he was living with his maternal grandmother.

General Agwai led one of the biggest peacekeeping operations in the world with approximately 20,000 troops and 6,000 police under his command.

"[4] Much of his rich military life and career was captured in a biography project commissioned by the National Defence College Abuja.

The Minister of Defence, Retired Maj-Gen Abbe said "the magnificent parade accorded Agwai is an indication that the nation is happy... the country is proud to produce a fine officer and a gentleman who gave a good account of himself.

[6] In his honour, The Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership & Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC) was instituted after his retirement, by General TY Buratai.

[7] The National Defence College Abuja also commissioned a research project aimed to promote values of leadership garnered from the lives and careers of strategic leaders.