The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, delivered a rousing address to Staff and Students of the Department of Land Warfare, Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, reaffirming his commitment to professional excellence, leadership development and institutional advancement. The engagement, held at the General Faruk Yahaya Auditorium, followed his lecture to participants of Senior Course 48 and provided a platform to inspire the next generation of operational and strategic leaders of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Addressing the students, the COAS charged them to approach their training with utmost seriousness, discipline and dedication, describing them as the future custodians of national defence and security. He emphasized that upon course completion, they would assume critical command and operational responsibilities across various theatres, where their professionalism, competence and leadership would be rigorously tested. He therefore urged them to remain focused, resilient and committed to excellence in order to meet the evolving security challenges confronting the nation.

Lieutenant General Shaibu also tasked the Directing Staff to sustain the highest standards of mentorship and instruction, stressing that the quality of leadership imparted at the College directly shapes the operational effectiveness and strategic outlook of future commanders. He commended their dedication and encouraged them to continue moulding officers capable of delivering decisive results in complex and dynamic environments.

In his remarks, the Director, Department of Land Warfare, Brigadier General BO Omopariola, expressed profound appreciation to the COAS for the visit and for his unwavering support to the Department. He particularly thanked the Army Chief for approving critical infrastructure and capacity-enhancement projects, including the provision of solar-powered inverters for syndicate rooms and presentation halls, procurement of 50 laptops and 10 printers, renovation of Abacha Hall and reconstruction of Directing Staff offices, describing the interventions as timely and transformative.

The Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Air Vice Marshal AO Shogbanmu, was in attendance at the event.

EMMANUEL ONOJA
Major
Public Relations Officer, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Nigeria.
25 February 2026