Profile of new Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), in a strategic move to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and enhance coordination among the Armed Forces.

General Oluyede, an accomplished officer of the Nigerian Army, is an alumnus of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, where he was a member of the 39th Regular Combatant Course. He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1992 and has since built a distinguished career marked by professionalism, discipline, and operational excellence.

Before his elevation to the position of Chief of Defence Staff, General Oluyede served as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), a role in which he championed far-reaching reforms to improve troop welfare, operational efficiency, and inter-agency collaboration. He also served as Commander of the Infantry Corps in Jaji, Kaduna, and previously led the 27 Task Force Brigade under Operation Hadin Kai in Nigeria’s North-East, where he played a pivotal role in counter-insurgency operations.

General Oluyede’s military career spans various command, instructional, and staff appointments, including:

• Platoon Commander and Adjutant, 65 Battalion

• Company Commander, 177 Guards Battalion

• Staff Officer, Guards Brigade Headquarters

• Commandant, Amphibious Training School, Calabar

A veteran of several international peacekeeping and defence missions, General Oluyede served in ECOMOG operations in Liberia and Operation Harmony IV in the Bakassi Peninsula. His wide-ranging field experience and strategic insight have made him one of the most respected officers in the Nigerian military hierarchy.

As Chief of Defence Staff, General Oluyede is expected to consolidate the professionalism and combat readiness of the Armed Forces, promote joint-service cooperation, and drive innovation in modern warfare tactics, including the use of new technologies in defence operations.

He is the recipient of several honours and decorations, including the Corps Medal of Honour, Field Command Medal, Grand Service Star, and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.

General Oluyede is married and blessed with children.