Profile Of The New Chief Of Army Staff, Nigerian Army, Major General Waidi Shaibu

Profile Of The New Chief Of Army Staff, Nigerian Army, Major General Waidi Shaibu

Major General Waidi Shaibu (N/9895) DSS DSO(LR) FTAM psc fdc(+) CM FCM FCMH MSS MA MNIM, the new Chief of Army Staff, Nigerian Army, was born on 18 December 1971 in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State. He gained admission into the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, as a member of the 41 Regular Course in 1989 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army Armour Corps on 17 September 1994.

A highly accomplished scholar-soldier, Major General Shaibu holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the NDA (1993), a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Calabar, and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Security and Strategic Studies from the National Defence University, Washington, D.C., United States of America. An alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Programme in Leadership for the 21st Century: Chaos, Conflict and Courage, he further obtained an Advanced Executive Certificate in Applied Leadership and Strategy from the National Productivity Senior Executive Programme. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Strategic Studies at the University of Ibadan.

Throughout his illustrious military career, Major General Shaibu has attended several professional and military courses both locally and internationally. These include the Young Officers Course (Armour) at the Nigerian Army Armour School, Bauchi (1995); Young Officers Course (Infantry) at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji (1996); Company Amphibious Operation Course at the Amphibious Training School, Calabar (1997); Platoon Commanders Course (Armour), Communication Instructors Course (Armour), Junior and Senior Staff Courses, Company Commanders and Battalion Commanders Courses, and several advanced programmes in defence management and counter-terrorism in Kenya and the United States. His participation in the Counter Terrorism Fellows Programme at the College of International Security Affairs, Washington, DC, USA, (2017) further deepened his expertise in strategic leadership and operational planning.

Operationally, Major General Shaibu has played critical roles in numerous national and international military engagements. He has participated in Operations HARMONY, BOYONA, ZAMAN LAFIYA, LAFIYA DOLE, TURA TAKAIBANGO, HADIN KAI, DESERT and LAKE SANITY. His international assignments include the African Mission in Sudan, the United Nations Mission in Liberia and Nigeria’s Foreign Training Assistance Mission to Liberia, where he demonstrated exceptional professionalism and leadership.

In the course of his distinguished service, he has held several command, instructional and staff appointments of great importance. These include Platoon Commander, 245 Recce Battalion; ADC to General Officer Commanding 3 Division; GSO II Operations at Army Headquarters; Principal Staff Officer/Military Assistant to the Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of Liberia; Company Commander, 242 Recce Battalion; Chief of Staff, 23 Brigade Headquarters, Yola; Chief Instructor, Nigerian Army Armour School; Director Coordination and Directing Staff, National Defence College, Abuja; Commander, 21 Special Armoured Brigade, Bama; and General Officer Commanding 7 Division/Commander Sector 1, Operation HADIN KAI. He also served as Acting Chief of Training for Exercises and Training at Army Headquarters, Director of Defence Administration at Defence Space Administration, and Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI. Until his recent appointment as Chief of Army Staff, he was the Director of Armour Research at the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre.

A highly decorated officer, Major General Shaibu has been conferred with several military honours and awards, including the Distinguished Service Star (DSS), Distinguished Service Order (LR), Foreign Training Assistance Medal (FTAM), Pass Staff College (psc), Fellow National Defence College (fdc+), Command Medal (CM), Purple Heart Medal for Counter-Insurgency Operations in the North East, Field Command Medal (FCM), Field Command Medal of Honour (FCMH), General Operations Medal (GOM), and Defence Operations Medal (DOM). He is also a proud member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (MNIM).

Beyond his professional commitments, Major General Shaibu enjoys reading, early morning walks, and deep contemplations. He is happily married and the union is blessed with children.