Abuja – Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede on Monday officially took over as the 24th Chief of Army Staff, following a symbolic flag-lowering and hoisting ceremony at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
Oluyede’s appointment, which came after the untimely death of his predecessor, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, signals a new era for the Nigerian Army. His tenure formally began on Monday after President Bola Tinubu announced his selection on October 30, followed by confirmation by the National Assembly.
In a precursor to his formal assumption, Oluyede was presented with the insignia of office on November 1 by General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, in an act symbolic of the Armed Forces’ traditions under the Armed Forces Act.
Prior to this role, the 56-year-old served as the 56th Commander of the Infantry Corps in Jaji, Kaduna State, a position that underscored his military acumen. A graduate of the 39th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), General Oluyede was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1992, retroactively effective from 1987, and rose to the rank of major general in September 2020.
Notably, Oluyede shared a long-standing bond with his predecessor, Lagbaja, as both were coursemates at the NDA, adding a personal dimension to his new role.
The Nigerian Army is set to embark on a new trajectory under Oluyede’s leadership, as stakeholders closely observe his strategies and policies for the nation’s defense.
