Army Chief to Alumni: Be My Eyes And Ears, Together We’ll Keep Nigeria Safe.
By Reportcircle Abuja
In an emotional yet resolute gathering at the Army Headquarters, Abuja, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu (NAM), on Wednesday, hosted members of the 41 Regular Combatant Course Alumni Association, a brotherhood forged in the crucible of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and tempered by decades of service, sacrifice, and shared purpose.
It was more than a reunion. It was a call to arms not of weapons, but of will, loyalty, and vigilance.
Welcoming his coursemates, General Shaibu described the visit as “deeply personal and profoundly symbolic,” adding that the unbroken bond among members of the 41 Regular Course remains “the true DNA of military brotherhood.”
“The 41 Regular Course represents more than just a generation of officers,” he said. “It represents the spirit of commitment and unity that has defined the Nigerian Army through peace and adversity alike.”
The Army Chief paid glowing tribute to his colleagues many now retired, others still in active service for their continued support since his appointment as the 25th Chief of Army Staff, saying their wisdom, field experience, and insights have been “invaluable in shaping the vision for a stronger and more secure Nigeria.”
“You have been my eyes and ears,” Shaibu told them. “Our shared experience at the Academy binds us beyond ranks or titles. Together, we can make Nigeria safer, stronger, and more united.”
The atmosphere in the Army Headquarters Conference Hall was thick with nostalgia and pride, a sea of familiar faces who had trained, marched, and led together since their cadet days in Kaduna.
From the thunder of parade grounds to the calm of strategy rooms, the 41 Regular Course has produced commanders, technocrats, and policy drivers across the nation’s security architecture.
Leading the delegation, Major Lancelot Anyanya (Rtd), President of the Alumni Association, said the visit was both a homecoming and a statement of solidarity.
“Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu is not just our coursemate,” Anyanya declared. “He is a brother, a leader, and a symbol of professionalism and integrity who has brought pride to every member of the 41 Regular Course.”
He recalled their shared beginnings as cadets where Shaibu served as Academy Cadet Adjutant more than three decades ago, describing him as “a man whose discipline, courage, and humility have always inspired those around him.”
The 41 Regular Course, Anyanya said, represents the first Post-Jubilee Generation of NDA officers, known for excellence and distinction across the services.
“Your appointment, General, rekindled a sense of collective fulfilment among us,” he told the COAS. “We see in you the embodiment of all that we stood for dedication, patriotism, and the unbreakable spirit of the Nigerian soldier.”
General Shaibu used the occasion to reaffirm his commitment to the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, pledging that the Nigerian Army under his command would remain “uncompromising in discipline, proactive in strategy, and unyielding in defence of the nation.”
“The threats we face as a country require every Nigerian, serving or retired, to play their part,” he said. “This is a collective mission, one we must win together.”
He urged his coursemates to continue serving as mentors, advisors, and partners in national security, saying their network and experience remain critical to tackling emerging challenges.
“Our generation carries the torch of accountability and patriotism. We must keep that flame burning,” he emphasized.
The visiting delegation also extended warm congratulations to Mrs Safiyyah Hassan Shaibu, wife of the COAS and National President, Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), for her leadership and quiet strength.
“Behind every great soldier stands a great woman,” Major Anyanya said. “Mrs Shaibu’s steadfastness has been a pillar of support not just for her husband, but for the entire military family.”
What began as a reunion of old comrades evolved into a strategic moment, a reaffirmation that in the face of insecurity, unity of purpose remains the Nigerian Army’s strongest weapon.
General Shaibu’s message was unmistakable: the fight for peace is not the Army’s alone, it is a shared national covenant.
As the delegation departed the Army Headquarters, the echoes of old cadet chants met the gravity of today’s mission, a reminder that once a soldier, always a soldier.
“We may have left the parade grounds,” the COAS said with a smile, “but the mission to serve Nigeria with honour never ends.”
