Eric Laidley Mort, OBE (1935), was educated at Tonbridge School, and University College, Oxford. His career in Nigeria began in August 1914 when he was appointed to the post of junior superintendent in the education department in the Northern Provinces. After military service (Nigeria Regiment), 1916-1918, Mort returned to his work in education. He became superintendent of education in January 1920, and in 1935 was also acting chief inspector in the Northern Provinces. In 1936 he was appointed as principal of Higher College in Katsina and, later in the same year, became principal of Kaduna College. During the late 1930's, Mort also acted as: assistant director of education in the Northern Provinces (1937, January-March 1939), assistant director of education (April-September 1938), and director of education (September-October 1938). Compiled with reference to A Biographical Dictionary of the British Colonial Service 1939-1966 by A.H.M. Kirk-Greene (1991).