Major General Waidi Shaibu: A Scholar-Soldier Takes Charge as Chief of Army Staff
Nigeria’s newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shaibu, stands out as one of the most academically grounded and operationally experienced officers to lead the Nigerian Army in recent years.
With over three decades of distinguished service, the Kogi State born officer brings a blend of intellect, strategy, and field experience to his new role.
Born on December 18, 1971, in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Major General Shaibu began his military journey in 1989 when he gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 41 Regular Course.
He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Armour Corps as a Second Lieutenant on September 17, 1994, marking the start of a career defined by excellence and dedication.
An accomplished scholar, Major General Shaibu holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Nigerian Defence Academy and a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.
He obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Calabar, another Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan, and a Master’s in Security and Strategic Studies from the National Defence University, Washington D.C., United States.
He is also an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s programme on Leadership for the 21st Century: Chaos, Conflict and Courage, and holds an Advanced Executive Certificate in Applied Leadership and Strategy from the National Productivity Senior Executive Programme.
The senior officer is currently pursuing a PhD in Strategic Studies at the University of Ibadan.
A product of rigorous military training, Major General Shaibu has attended several professional courses, including the Young Officers Course (Armour) in Bauchi, the Senior Staff Course in Jaji, and the Higher Defence Management Course at the National Defence College, Abuja.
His international training experience includes the Defence Resources Management Course in Kenya and the Counterterrorism Fellows Programme at the College of International Security Affairs in Washington D.C.
Over the years, he has taken part in numerous critical military operations both within and outside Nigeria.
These include Operation Harmony, Operation Boyona, Operation Zaman Lafiya, Operation Lafiya Dole, Operation Tura Takaibango, Operation Hadin Kai, and Operation Desert and Lake Sanity.
His international experience also spans peacekeeping roles under the African Union Mission in Sudan and the United Nations Mission in Liberia, where he contributed to Nigeria’s Foreign Training Assistance Mission.
Before his appointment as Chief of Army Staff, Major General Shaibu served as the Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai, leading the fight against insurgency and terrorism with distinction.
His appointment marks a new phase in Nigeria’s security leadership one that blends scholarly insight with battlefield experience. Many observers believe that under his command, the Nigerian Army is set to experience renewed vigour, professionalism, and strategic focus in tackling the nation’s evolving security challenges.
