By Ade Iyamoye
When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Lieutenant-General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as Nigeria’s new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), on October 24, 2025, the decision marked a strategic recalibration in the country’s approach to national security.
Calm, disciplined, and quietly effective, Oluyede represents a new generation of Nigerian military leadership, one steeped in both battlefield experience and strategic reform.
From Ikere-Ekiti to the Nation’s Command Centre
Born in 1968 in Ikere, Ekiti State, Oluyede’s journey to the pinnacle of Nigeria’s Armed Forces began in 1987 when he entered the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), as part of the 39th Regular Course.
Commissioned into the Infantry Corps in 1992, his rise through the ranks has been characterized by resilience, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to operational excellence.
His early postings in the infantry exposed him to Nigeria’s most challenging security environments.
Over the decades, he has served as Commander of the 27 Task Force Brigade under Operation HADIN KAI, Nigeria’s long-running counter-insurgency mission in the Northeast, and later as Commander of the Infantry Corps, Jaji, where he oversaw the Army’s core combat training and doctrine development.
In October 2024, he was named Acting Chief of Army Staff, formally assuming the position two months later, a promotion widely viewed as recognition of his quiet competence and integrity.
A Strategic Mind with a Reformist Streak
An alumnus of both the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Oluyede is regarded as one of the most intellectually grounded officers of his generation.
His leadership philosophy blends tactical precision with strategic foresight, emphasizing inter-agency collaboration, intelligence-driven operations, and modernization of military logistics.
Colleagues describe him as “a soldier’s soldier”, one who leads by example, shuns publicity, and prioritizes merit and professionalism above politics. His record of disciplined leadership and his focus on results have earned him the Grand Service Star (GSS), and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Medal, among other honours.
Priorities at the Top
Now at the helm as Chief of Defence Staff, Oluyede faces the immense task of synchronizing Nigeria’s multi-branch security architecture.
His immediate priorities include:
•Strengthening inter-service cooperation among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
•Enhancing intelligence coordination and rapid response capability.
•Improving troop welfare and morale, especially in frontline units.
•Advancing local defence production and logistics reform to reduce foreign dependence.
His tenure comes at a time when Nigeria is contending with multiple threats, insurgency in the northeast, banditry in the northwest, secessionist violence in the southeast, and the persistent spectre of transnational terrorism across the Sahel.
A Symbol of Continuity and Change
Oluyede’s appointment is not just about military hierarchy; it signals a shift toward institutional stability and strategic modernization.
His leadership style, understated yet firm could be pivotal in rebuilding public trust in the Armed Forces.
As the nation’s highest-ranking uniformed officer, he stands at the crossroads of reform and resistance, balancing operational demands with the political realities of civilian oversight. How he navigates that balance may well define the trajectory of Nigeria’s security in the coming decade.
The Measure of a Leader
At 57, Oluyede brings to the role more than three decades of operational and command experience, but perhaps his greatest strength lies in his credibility, both among his troops and within Nigeria’s evolving defence ecosystem.
In an era when security leadership is under intense scrutiny, his calm confidence offers a steadying hand.
His ascent from the parade grounds of the NDA to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja is not merely a story of career advancement; it is the story of a soldier shaped by adversity, discipline, and a vision for a more secure, self-reliant Nigeria.
Lieutenant-General Olufemi Oluyede is, in many ways, the embodiment of a new chapter in Nigeria’s defence doctrine, one that seeks not just to fight wars, but to win peace through strategy, synergy, and strength of character.
