President Bola Tinubu recently appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Nigerian Army.
Tribune Online reports that the decision follows the temporary indisposition of the current Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who is currently receiving treatment abroad.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, noted that General Oluyede, a seasoned military officer, previously served as the 56th Commander of the Infantry Corps in Jaji, Kaduna.
In this article, Tribune Online highlights 10 key things to know about the acting COAS.
1. Previous Role
He previously served as the 56th Commander of the Infantry Corps, based in Jaji, Kaduna.
2. Age
At 56, he is among the youngest to hold the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) position in the country’s history.
3. Military Career
Oluyede was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1992 and attained the rank of Major General in September 2020.
4. Connection with Lagbaja
Apart from being a colleague of Lt. General Lagbaja, the temporarily indisposed COAS, Oluyede was also his coursemate in the 39th Regular Course.
5. Leadership Roles
His extensive career includes several leadership positions, such as Platoon Commander and Adjutant at the 65 Battalion, Company Commander at the 177 Guards Battalion, and Commandant of the Amphibious Training School.
6. Operational Experience
The new acting COAS has participated in several critical military operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and, more recently, Operation HADIN KAI in the North East, where he commanded the 27 Task Force Brigade.
7. Awards and Honours
Oluyede has received various awards throughout his career, including the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.
8. Family
He is happily married and has three children.
9. Appointment Date
President Bola Tinubu appointed him acting COAS on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.
10. Temporary Appointment
The appointment of Major General Oluyede is expected to ensure continuity in leadership within the Nigerian Army. He will serve as acting COAS pending the return of the substantive COAS, Lt. General Lagbaja.
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