Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede: 7 Things to Know About Acting Chief of Army Staff

Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede: 7 Things to Know About Acting Chief of Army Staff

  • President Tinubu on Wednesday, October 30, appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff
  • In a statement issued by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, Oluyede will occupy the position until Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja returns from his medical leave
  • Oluyede, a former coursemate of Lagbaja from the 39th Regular Course, previously served as the 56th Commander of the Infantry Corps based in Jaji, Kaduna

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede was appointed acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on Wednesday, October 30.

Profile of acting Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede
Olufemi Oluyede: Profile of Nigeria’s acting Chief of Army Staff. Photo credit: @aonanuga1956
Source: Twitter

He was the coursemate of the indisposed substantive COAS, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, announced Oluyede’s appointment on Wednesday. He stated that he would act in the position pending the return of Lagbaja.

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Key facts about the acting COAS Oluyede

1. Oluyede was the 56th commander of Infantry Corps

Until his appointment, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna state.

2. Acting COAS' connection with Lagbaja

Major General Oluyede, the 56-year-old, and Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja were coursemates and members of the 39th Regular Course.

3. Second lieutenant in 1992

He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987. He rose to Major-General in September 2020.

4. Oluyede was a platoon commander

He was platoon commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion, company commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer Guards Brigade, Commandant Amphibious Training School.

5. Oluyede's participation in ECOMOG Mission in Liberia

Major General Oluyede participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in the North East theatre of operations, where he commanded 27 Task Force Brigade.

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6. Oluyede's awards and honours

General Oluyede has earned many honours for his meritorious service in various fields of operations. These include the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, Passing the Staff Course, and Membership in the National Institute.

Others are the Field Command Medal, the Field Command Medal of Honour, and the Field Training Medal.

Oluyede also received the coveted Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.

7. His marriage and children

Having served in various capacities and operations throughout his career, General Oluyede is married and has three children.

Read more about the Army here:

'Lagbaja did not resign', army says

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Nigerian Army dismissed reports claiming that Lieutenant General Lagbaja had resigned from his position.

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The defence headquarters quashed an online report alleging that Lagbaja had submitted his resignation letter to President Bola Tinubu.

Nwachukwu labelled the report as “fake news” and urged the general public to disregard it.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

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Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Esther Odili avatar

Esther Odili (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Esther Odili is a journalist and a Politics/Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng with 6+ years of experience. She Holds OND and HND in Mass Communication from the Nigerian Institue of Journalism (NIJ), where she was recognized as the best student in print journalism in 2018. Before joining Legit.ng, Esther has worked with other reputable media houses, such as the New Telegraph newspaper and Galaxy Television. In 2024, Esther obtained a certificate in advanced digital reporting from the Google News Initiative. Email: esther.odili@corp.legit.ng.