The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged senior commanders to demonstrate strategic foresight and professional leadership in tackling Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
Declaring open the Second Senior Command and Leadership Seminar 2026 on Wednesday, August 26, at Headquarters 1 Division, Kaduna, the COAS said modern military success now depends not only on battlefield superiority but also on credibility, public confidence and effective communication.
With the theme “Strategic Leadership for Effective Command in an Evolving Security Environment,” the seminar brought together senior commanders to strengthen leadership capacity and exchange operational experiences.
Gen. Shaibu noted that terrorism, insurgency, banditry, cyber threats and information warfare have reshaped the operating environment. He urged commanders to remain intellectually agile, operationally innovative and morally courageous.
He warned that adversaries increasingly use misinformation to undermine military credibility and erode public trust. Commanders, he said, must integrate the information environment into planning and ensure operations are backed by timely and credible communication.
The COAS stressed that professional conduct is fundamental to the Army’s reputation. “No strategic communication effort can compensate for indiscipline or unprofessional conduct in the field,” he said, directing strict adherence to Rules of Engagement, respect for human rights and protection of civilians.
Speaking on the recent expansion of the Army from eight to 12 divisions, Gen. Shaibu described it as both an opportunity and a major leadership responsibility.
He said commanders must transform new formations into cohesive, combat-ready units through the values they promote and leaders they develop.
He also appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting personnel welfare, capability development and the force structure expansion, which he said demonstrates commitment to strengthening national defence.
Earlier, Chief of Training, Major General Valentine Okoro, described the seminar as critical for building commanders’ capacity, while GOC 1 Division, Major General Abubakar Wase, said the forum was timely given the changing character of warfare.
